HESPERIA, Calif. –
Twins in Hesperia, California will see their paths converge once more on July 22 when, even without requesting it, the Army will ship them to basic training together.
Jayvin and Lilly McCormick are turning 18 on May 22. Their lives have been intertwined in many ways, but basic training will likely be the last time they attend the same school. After basic, Lilly will head to nursing school for several months, while Jayvin will study to become a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear specialist.
“I don’t think I was really considering the Army or military service, that’s what Jayvin was interested in,” said Lilly. “But he was really enjoying the [High School] Cadet Corps, so, I joined and the instructor really taught us great lessons about life, as well as the normal drill routines. That made me pay attention to the military as an option.”
Lilly earned more than $35,000 in incentives between a signing bonus and student loan repayment. The Army will prepare her for a career in the medical field with a combination of coursework and hands-on experience. She’ll become a practical nurse in approximately a year.
Jayvin’s shorter technical training will prepare him for a wide variety of careers outside the military including safety, engineering, disaster response, hazardous material management, logistics and systems management. While he’s serving, he’ll be a ensuring the Soldiers he works with will be protected against environmental hazards.
“They’re both clearly driven individuals,” said Staff Sgt. Ryan Skorker, the twins’ recruiter. “They’ve spent the last year of the pandemic focused on their future, and have made big decisions to enlist. Lilly enlisted in October and Jayvin in January.”
Skorker made initial contact with the siblings during a Cadet Corps event, and stayed in touch largely through Social Media in the past year. He used several creative techniques to walk them through the enlistment process, and built a rapport with each. Lilly wanted to stay near home, so going reserve will allow her to do that. Jayvin had other motivations.
“Please, send me anywhere but California,” Jayvin remembers saying. “I heard a lot about going abroad to Japan as CBRNE, so that’s the direction I wanted to go.”
The opportunities provided to the twins by the U.S. Army accommodates their instincts to stick together by wearing the same uniform, while also enabling them to have new and separate experiences in different careers and parts of the world.