‘You Have to Hunt the Good Stuff:’ Soldier Finds Community in the Minnesota National Guard 

By Sgt. 1^st Class Sirrina Martinez, Minnesota National Guard 

At a very young age, Army Sgt. Romeo Hall moved to Minnesota from San Diego, living in Atkin for 10 years and then Brainerd for another decade. Raised by a single mother with his sister and two brothers, he learned a lot about building resilience and relationships.

“It was difficult as you can imagine,” he said, referring to being raised in a single-parent home. “But I’ve also been blessed with many lifelong friends and bonus family that even today, support me in ways I’ll never be able to pay them back for.”

Growing up in a somewhat rural community made it difficult to find people with whom he shared similar life experiences, Hall said. But through his military service, he was able to meet people that he could connect with.

“I grew up in Brainerd and had a hard time finding many friends who I shared things in common with as a queer person of color,” he said. “I deployed with the task force in 2021. I went to Kuwait and Syria and got the opportunity to form bonds with other Soldiers that will definitely last a lifetime.”

Hall joined the Minnesota National Guard in July of 2018 as an automated logistical specialist with Golf Company, 134^th Brigade Support Battalion. For the first year of his career, he served part-time before taking a job as a production controller at Camp Ripley. In that role, he processed hundreds of work orders amounting in hundreds of thousands of dollars-worth of repair parts to support his unit’s mission. After returning from his deployment in 2022, the newly promoted Sgt. Hall applied for a production controller position at the field maintenance shop at the Arden Hills Army Training Site where he currently works full-time. His work as a technician for the military has taught him many valuable lessons about accountability, professionalism, and drawing boundaries, he said.

People who work with Hall see his value. One of his leaders, Army Maj. Margaret Gregg, who serves as the field maintenance manager, describes Hall as a leader who embodies dedication, resilience, and intrapersonal skills that contribute to the success of the organization.

“As a production controller, Romeo is responsible for the flow of operations in the shop, but he is also the face that our customers see and interact with,” she said. “His ability to connect with people while finding different ways to support them through operational needs is unique and ahead of his peers.”

Throughout his life and his military career, Hall has had female mentors that have shaped who is he today.

“I’ve always been heavily influenced by the many matriarchal figures I’ve had throughout my life,” he said.

His first mentor in the military, Army Sgt. Kelsi Davis who worked with Hall at Camp Ripley, served as an example of what it means to “lead from the front,” he said.

“She’s an incredible mother at home, an exceptional Soldier at work, and both places would fall apart without her,” Hall said. “She taught me what a backbone is and how to use it. For that, I asked her to pin on my new rank when I became a sergeant, beginning my time as a noncommissioned officer correctly.”

Choosing a favorite memory from his career thus far is impossible, Hall said. But one that stands out in his mind the most took place in the spring of 2023 while he was at the weapons qualification range at Camp Riley with the Stillwater-based 34^th Military Police Company. From that experience, he gleaned an understanding of what it means to mentor others.

“I’d never seen senior leadership so enthusiastic, helpful, and willing to train any group of Soldiers through constructive criticism, positive reinforcement, and an easygoing attitude that made Soldiers comfortable enough to learn at their own pace,” he said. “It felt like my first, ‘Welcome to the 34MPs,’ and I’ll remember that forever.”

His time in service, Hall said, has helped him to connect with other members of the queer community who serve alongside him and to build a shared experience with others.

“In my short time in the military, I’ve had the privilege to meet many other members of the queer community, it’s always a pleasant surprise being reminded that not only are we here, but we’re here in numbers that I think would surprise anyone,” he said. “Most of my personal friend group is comprised of queer Soldiers in various stages of our careers. We’re always wanting the best for each other, taking that, ‘battle buddy,’ mentality straight into our personal relationships, all thanks to the military.”

Whether he continues to serve for another five, 10, or 20 years, he is looking forward to building memorable relationships with those around him, he said.

“Regardless of how much time I have left in the military, I look forward to using every moment to make more meaningful connections with the incredible Soldiers that make up this organization,” he said. “You have to hunt the good stuff, keep an open mind, and be curious, not judgmental. The next Soldier you meet could be a chance for a business venture, lifelong friend, or a new roommate.”

About the Minnesota National Guard: Established in 1856 and headquartered in St. Paul, the Minnesota National Guard has more than 13,000 Soldiers and Airmen who serve in 58 communities across the state. The Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen of the Minnesota National Guard are ‘Always Ready’ to fight the nation’s wars, protect the country, respond to state emergencies, and contribute to local communities. For more information about the Minnesota National Guard, visit www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.ng.mil.