(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Army National Guard Sgt. Demarcus Keaton.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Cleveland, Miss., Aug. 21, 1987.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I attended East Side High School in Cleveland, and I also attended Delta State University.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I’m a recruiter for the Army National Guard. My job basically consists of going out in the community and finding youth to join the military. The National Guard has been around for a long time, and we have a very strong position in the community of citizen soldiers serving their community. My job is to replenish the ranks when soldiers get a little too old and find fresh new faces.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: My recruiter came out and talked to me. I didn’t have a way to pay for college, and the National Guard was offering great education benefits. He did a classroom presentation and talked to me, talked to my mom and sold me on the college benefits. I used my college benefits, and now I’m here today.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: As far as being a recruiter, I love helping people. Anything I can do to help a person, I love helping. Whether it’s being influential, giving them advice, helping them move or helping them get anything they want in the world, I love doing it.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A: The most challenging aspect is finding the right candidate and also pushing the negative image of the military out of their heads. Most people think when you join the National Guard that you’re going to go get your legs blown off, but it’s not that. It’s pushing that negative image out and bringing the positive image in.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned in your career?
A: Patience. When I was younger in my military career, I messed up a lot because I would move faster than I was able to go. I had to learn patience.
Q: What would you like people to know about the military and the National Guard?
A: The National Guard has a longstanding tradition of serving the community and serving our country as well. There are great educational benefits. It’s the best part-time job in the world.
Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: I wanted to be some type of musician or conductor. I love music and used to play baritone in the high school band. I played in the church as well.
Q: What was your first job?
A: My dad owns a construction company, and I worked with my dad.
Q: Who are the people who have been most influential in your life?
A: My dad, Clarence Jones, and my mom, Felicia Keaton. My upbringing was a little rough, but even though they were separated I had parents that were always there in my life. My dad would pick me up every day after school and take me to work with him, and he showed me how to work for things that I wanted. My mom made sure I didn’t get into the wrong crowd. They pushed me to become what I am now.
Q: What is your spouse’s name?
A: Ekeista. She’s a nurse.
Q: Do you have children?
A: I have three: Chykiya, Demarcus and Dallas.
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: It has to be a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. That’s my meal.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Costa Rica. I google a lot of images of Costa Rica, and I catch myself fascinated with the rain forests and the water surrounding it.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I’m a diehard four wheeling enthusiast. I have a saltwater tank aquarium. And music.
Q: What do you enjoy about Columbia?
A: I have never moved to a town that had a stronger military presence. I’ve been in the Camp Shelby and Hattiesburg area, but Columbia has a very strong military presence. Everywhere you look there’s people thanking you for your service and just throwing themselves at you just to say thanks. That’s what I like about this community. It’s a close-knit community that always works together when something is going on. Nobody has a nasty attitude. They’re here to help.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: Dave Chappelle is my idol; I love Dave Chappelle. I’m also a big New England Patriots fan, so it would have to be a lunch with Chappelle, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. If I could invite all three of them to a lunch, that would make my day.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on who you are today?
A: My brother committed suicide, and I was always strong for him. But at that moment I realized he was gone, and I had to become a better person. I had to get out of the environment I was in, and that really challenged me to become the person I am today.
Q: What is one thing you want to do that you’ve never tried?
A: I’d like to be a highway patrolman. I was also fascinated with the highway patrolmen. They’re always out there on the road by themselves. I’ve always idolized them even though I’ve gotten a lot of tickets from them. That would be a job I’d like to do.
Q: Using one word for each, what are your top three morals?
A: Integrity, selfless service and honor.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: As an energetic, charismatic, funny guy. I don’t need to leave a big legacy behind. I just want to be a guy helping out the community.
— Joshua Campbell
Pictured Above: Army National Guard Sgt. Demarcus Keaton serves as the National Guard’s recruiter in Marion County. He said he loves being able to help people reach their dreams by providing them unmatched opportunities. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
