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Three brothers from Meridian join the U.S. Army in a three week span

Posted at 5:06 PM, Dec 27, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-28 00:22:05-05

MERIDIAN — The Miller brothers decided it was time for a change and decided that change will be joining the United States Army.

Jonathan Miller is the oldest and will be an infantryman, Micah is the youngest and he joined a week later, he will defuse bombs as an explosive ordinance disposal technician and then one week later Jeremiah joined and he will be a PATRIOT fire control enhanced operator/maintainer.

"I'm nervous but also super excited to start something new," said Jonathan Miller. "I was bored from working three jobs."

Jonathan admits he had an influence on his younger brothers, something that both of them agree with.

"I was influenced by my older brother he joined first and prior to this I was going to school at Boise State and it really wasn't a fit for me," said Micah Miller.

The United States Army allows future warriors to choose their job after a rigorous process that decides what they can pick and if they even qualify to be a soldier, the Army does a background check and potential recruits need to take a test called the ASVAB.

"25 percent of the population is qualified to join the Army," said Staff Sergeant Patrick Wood. "But only one percent actually take the oath of enlistment."

All three brothers will take that oath on January 2, that same day Micah will be the first to ship off to basic training.

"I'm just excited to be honest," said Micah Miller.

The brothers grew up in Meridian and graduated from the Ambrose School where they played lacrosse.

SSGT Wood says he has never seen this many siblings join around the same time.

"I have been on recruiting duty since 2012 and this is the first time I have ever seen three brothers who have decided to take the same oath, I've seen a brother here or a sister there but never within a three week time period."

The Millers received a combined signing bonus of $64,000, they will get the Post 9/11 GI Bill that will allow them to go to school for free if they choose or if they serve for ten years they can give that benefit to their children, something SSGT Wood is doing.