Laney siblings plan to enlist after graduation

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Siblings Sarah and Donavan McKenzie have grown up together and will soon be embarking on a journey to make their bond even stronger.

Following their June graduation from Laney High School the two will enlist in the Army. Sarah will have basic training in Virginia while Donovan will be in Georgia.

“I’m just glad that he’s going to go through it with me,” Sarah McKenzie said. “Even though we’re not together, and we’re not going to be anywhere near each other, I’m going to still know he’s there for me.”

Donovan will specialize in infantry while Sarah will focus on health care.

“We were always taught to help others out and really, I want the chance to make a difference in my community,” Sarah said.

“I chose infantry because I wanted to be in the front, and I want to be the best,” added Donovan.

For Recruiter Sergeant Richard Betancourt finding siblings with that attitude is rare.

“You typically don’t always get both family members that agree to join the Army, so that was an awesome experience for me to actually do that for them,” Betancourt said.

The sibling’s parents said they’ll miss their kids but know it will be a valuable experience.

“Basically to help both kids mature, get something out of life, be able to give their kids something that we were not able to do and basically just open the gate for them,” said dad Jamie McKenzie.