Humble, means having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance. Humble also means Sergeant Matt Spoljoric, a full-time recruiter for the National Guard in La Porte and this week's Life in the Spotlight. Matt considers himself a “behind the scenes type of guy”. The National Guard has helped shaped who he is today, now he is the one helping shape other young recruits lives.
Spoljoric is a native to La Porte. During high school, he boxed with the Polish National Alliance. Matt graduated in 2010, enlisted two weeks later, and married all at the age of 18. He did two years of schooling at Ball State University before he was deployed to Kuwait.
Spoljoric volunteered to deploy even though he had a two-month-old son and wife at home. Although it would be tough on his wife Madelaine, he had very heartfelt reason for volunteering. You see not only is Matt a dedicated National Guardsmen full time, he is a dedicated family man too. If he deployed while his son Jackson was so young, he wouldn’t realize or remember daddy being away.
Before he left Matt was able to get a house and have things settled for his family. Sgt. Spoljoric was stationed in Kuwait for 9 months and spent time at two different bases (Base Arifjan and Base Beuhring) Thankfully, technology plays a big part in the lives of military personnel. Thanks to computers, Internet and Skype, Matt was able to keep in touch with his wife and see his young son Jackson grow.
After his deployment Spoljoric was asked if he wanted to be a recruiter, he was known as a fast talker, who never kept his mouth shut, perfect for the position. At first did he not want to be a recruiter, but when they offered him a recruiting position in his hometown of La Porte the answer was changed to yes.
For Matt the National Guard not only changed his life, the Guard saved it too. Because of this he jumped on the chance to recruit in his hometown, The National Guard had such a positive effect and impact on his life now Spoljoric had the chance to impact others lives in his own hometown. people he knew.
“Before I was in the National Guard I was kind of a troublemaker in high school so that definitely straightened me out. It gave me a focus and dedication to something that I didn’t have before, that I could carry on with me the rest of my life,” states Sgt Matt Spoljoric. “Now I have the ability to give that opportunity to someone else, it's amazing. It could change their life just like it did mine.”
One particular recruit stands out to Spoljoric in his two years recruiting in La Porte, Michelle Poplawski. Matt knew her and her older sister through a private school they went to growing up. She is 4’10’’ 92 lbs. and wasn’t in the best of shape when she joined. Michelle just finished basic training and was the honor graduate for the entire base.
What made her stand out to Matt out of all his recruits was that no matter her size, her dedication outweighed everything she couldn’t do.
“She never gave up, she never stopped, “ remarks Spoljoric.
Spoljoric’s favorite part of recruiting is seeing the changes that occur in the recruit after basic training, from civilian to soldier. He takes a picture with each recruit before they leave and after they return. You can see the transition that occurs in the recruit in these pictures hanging on the wall in his office.
Seeing the impact it has made on a recruit's life makes it all worthwhile to Spoljorice. He helps that student who is extremely smart get a college education they had no way to pay for before through the National Guard. Sergeant Spoljoric also plays a role in getting a job for those recruits who were unemployed. Matt helps the Guard make a big impact on his community like it did for him as an 18-year-old fresh out of high school and newly married young man.
Spoljoric now has two little boys, Jackson who is now three years old and Charlie who is one. Matt credits the Guard for all he has in his life from his home to his two kids being taken care of at birth along with his wife to even his education.
If you see him around town thank him for his service. He is truly humble and won’t accept it easily because there are always guys out there who have been through, done more and seen more than you have. Matt has made a difference in lives of new recruits in La Porte area. He has one more year left of his three-year assignment.