Page 41 - November 2017 The Castle Pines Connection proof 7

CastlePinesConnection.com 41 Service to country runs deep in this family (Continued from front page)
All of the Conley children have attended Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) where they were dedicated athletes. The oldest son, Zach, played football and is a 2012 RCHS graduate. While he explored options from college visits and
the U.S. Air Force Reserves, he chose to enlist active duty the summer prior to his senior year in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP). This program allows individuals going into active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces to enlist rst in the DEP before they ship out to basic training. Zach felt the aviation experience was a route he wanted to pursue while having the opportunity for schooling. He served four years at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma as an air surveillance technician on airborne warning and control systems (AWACS). He currently serves in the Air Force Reserves in Colorado Springs in
the intelligence unit while attending college at Metro State University.
Austin Conley ran four years with the RCHS cross country team and graduated in 2015. He investigated every branch of the U.S. military before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps the summer prior to his senior year in the DEP. Austin is currently stationed at New River, North Carolina where he serves as a radar technician for air traf c control towers. As a third-year Marine, Austin is currently taking classes toward his college degree.
A passionate football player for RCHS Jaguars, Ryan Conley graduated in May with the class of 2017. Knowing from a young age that he wanted to be a Marine, Ryan enlisted with
the USMC in the DEP program. He left for
12 weeks of recruit basic training in San
Diego on July 10. Ryan became a part of the “few and proud” and gained a brotherhood through his extremely challenging boot camp experiences. “Knowing that I can rely on the brother to my left and right is really something special because I know we have gone through everything together,” said Ryan. With great pride, the Conley family attended his graduation on October 6 in San Diego where he was
announced as a U.S. Marine. His brothers attended in their service dress in support of each other. Ryan will continue his training in San Diego at Camp Pendleton for 30 days for combat training and then move on to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for technical school to study long range eld artillery.
Abby, the youngest Conley, is a senior at RCHS where her athletic passion is cross country.
She plans to pursue a college path in chemical engineering. Abby is immensely proud of the dedication and service of her dad and brothers.
As a family, the Conley’s value education; however providing service has allowed their sons to develop a skill set toward a career path that enhances their education. All who know the Conley family profess their fun-loving spirit, strength of character and love of country. They are a tight-knit family, which Shawn believes is in large part due to the military. They miss each other when they are apart, and they celebrate one another when they are together. Shawn shared, “Serving in the military is not something that anyone or anything can ever take away from you – the pride lasts a lifetime.”
Unable to attend her brother's Marine Corps graduation ceremony, Abby was proud to have Ryan in her cheering section as she competed in the Cross Country Continental League Championships in Sedalia.