#FacesofUtah
U.S. Army Sgt. Haylee Braiden, information technology specialist assigned to the G-6 unit, signal operations, communications, and information technology, played a critical role in keeping the network up and going for Utah National Guard service members during the government shutdown at the beginning of the 2026 fiscal year.
“We all do one little piece of this huge puzzle, and we get it all up and working,” said Braiden. “If something were to happen, we have to troubleshoot and make sure the network can still be routed, and you are able to work.”
Braiden started her military career as a fire control specialist, which she described as the “IT nerd of artillery.” Fire Control Specialists work with artillery data systems to analyze bullet trajectories and system wear-and-tear, and work alongside fire support specialists to gather information on weather and field conditions.
“That was probably my favorite,” said Braiden. “Dealing with that, doing live missions, hearing the rounds go off, and being a part of that has been a big highlight.”
When she first joined, she was looking for something different and found everything the military had to offer appealing. Her father brought up school benefits, and she liked that too.
“I love shooting, I love rappelling, and everything outdoorsy,” said Braiden. “I might as well get paid for doing things that I love, and the longer I’ve been in, the more benefits I see.”
During the COVID pandemic, Braiden was seeking a career change and was interested in a different IT position.
“I told someone who worked at the G-6 at the time, Captain Debbie Beaman, ‘Man, I’ve been doing a bunch of IT stuff with artillery, but no one has given me a shot to try IT stuff on the civilian side,’” said Braiden.
For those interested in joining the National Guard, Braiden explained that adversity is inevitable; however, the friendships and camaraderie you build along the way are unforgettable, and that is what keeps people coming back to serve.
#Army #utahnationalguard #UTNG #G6
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