Soldier sees Army life from different angle

By Patricia Radcliffe
Casemate staff writer

A simple online ad moved a private from a disappointed trucker to serving the highest ranking officer on Fort Monroe.

Pfc. Andrew McKee became the photographer for Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Commanding General of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, earlier this year through uncanny circumstances that resulted from his online listing. He installs home theaters to earn extra money for his small family.

Retired Sgt. 1st Class Rhonita Brightly needed to have a flat-screen TV installed at her Hampton home and consulted craigslist.com. She found McKee’s ad that told of his previous work experience with a major electronics firm.

Brightly wanted to give him a chance, she said, because he is a Soldier. Brightly was positively impressed because he was on time, fast, neat and walked in with suggestions for the best installation.

“He had qualities of a sharp Soldier and I thought he was very mature for a private first class. I guess I’m still in NCO mode even though I’m a civilian now. I still want to instruct, groom, mentor and recruit (Soldiers),” she said.
Employed as the administrative assistant in the TRADOC Public Affairs Office, Brightly was aware of the need to find a photographer for the Commanding General, and McKee seemed like a good prospect.

“He was polite and mature. Something about him made me believe he could do the job. I just had a feeling about him and asked if he knew anything about photography. He said he shot a few pictures in his time.
“Then I told him to look me in the face and tell me if he was overweight or pending an Article 15 or if there was anything adverse going on with him. I knew he would be checked out thoroughly if I gave his name to my boss. He told me, ‘no,’” she said.

Of all the people for Brightly to “have a feeling about,” she chose someone who at age 23 is a 10-year veteran of photography. McKee’s father, Pat, operated McKee Photography Shop in their Huntington, W.Va. hometown, was a science teacher in the public school system and now teaches Photoshop throughout the Cabell and Wayne Counties, also near their home. He has been working in photography for more than 30 years.

The private first class started shooting photographs professionally with his father when he was just a teen.
McKee was accepted as part of the CG’s staff in February. His duties include recording events where the commanding general makes appearances for posterity. McKee said he doesn’t take his job lightly and also appreciates those who work with and around him.

“They tell me I’m the lowest ranking person who has ever worked on the CG’s staff. Personally, I think it’s the experience of a lifetime. And I feel so fortunate and blessed to be around all these people and have an opportunity to learn from them. I have so many great people to look up to. I think the next person up is a sergeant with 10 years in. That’s 10 years of experience I can absorb and their reception (of me) has been immense,” McKee said.

The private credits his parents – Pat and Jane – for his work ethic and the successes he has enjoyed thus far. But, he said he can see “God’s plan” in the circumstances that brought him to Fort Monroe.

While working as a home theater installer in a Huntington Best Buy, McKee joined the Army National Guard. When he returned home from basic training, his job no longer existed. After a legal contention with the company for three months, and a dwindling wallet, he began to consider that maybe he was cut out for a different type of career – that of an active-duty Soldier.

McKee enlisted hoping to serve as a computer technician — the field he knew. But because of a mix up with his security clearance, he was assigned as a trucker in the 24th Transportation Battalion at Fort Eustis. McKee said he was disappointed, prayed, talked with friends and family members then decided to do the best job he could where he was.

“As soon as I got settled into the military lifestyle I realized this is what I really want to do. This is something that makes sense for me. I’ve always worked hard. And being an 88M is just another learning experience for me.
“I’ve always tried to think and work above my rank. I don’t look at myself as a private first class, but as somebody who can bring something to the table,” McKee said.

McKee will be leaving at the end of June for Fort Eustis, and then deploy overseas within the next few months. He said he cherishes the opportunity he was afforded at Fort Monroe.

“It is an honor and a privilege to learn from someone of the CG’s stature. Seeing the different cultures and people — the things that a PFC at Fort Eustis will probably never get to see — I’ve had an opportunity to experience.

“Like, going to New York and seeing the Fighting 69th Infantry Regiment as they came back from fighting in Afghanistan. Gen. Dempsey was one of the keynote speakers at their homecoming. Being in that environment with the head of the Training and Doctrine Command, that was just cool.

“There are no words to describe it. We were in New York City on St. Patrick’s Day and the Fighting 69th is an Irish Infantry Regiment. Things like that, not everybody gets to experience.

“We went to VMI where (Dempsey) spoke to the graduating cadets. I took pictures of him speaking and I looked at all of these graduating, soon-to-be-commissioned officers, and they were looking and taking in every word and taking notes. This is my boss, I thought. This is awesome. I get to work for this wonderful mentor. I get to do this. I kind of have to pinch myself every now and then.

“I’m really excited to bring back documentation of everything they do at this office. Gen. Dempsey speaks at so many varied events, it’s an honor for the people who invite him to speak because he has so much knowledge and his sheer presence is inspiring. I’m excited to capture these moments and show the great things he is doing,” the private said.

McKee said the only down side is that he is frequently away from his family – wife, Tiffany and daughter Emilee, 4.

“But this is a privilege. I could not do this without my wife’s support. She understands how big an opportunity this is and I consulted her before I even accepted it.

“It’s the Army, that’s what I signed up for. I’m proud to do it,” McKee said.