Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

GROVES — Port Neches-Groves High School graduate Carson Broussard is heading into the Armed Forces this summer.

After swearing into the delayed entry program in December, the 18-year-old is ready to get his career started.

“I want to serve my country and I couldn’t really see myself anywhere else besides the military,” Broussard said. “My mom wanted me to join the Air Force because she says I’m too smart for any other branch, so I went with it. I feel like I can get a lot out of the Air Force.”

The Groves native’s ultimate goal is to make a career in homeland security by joining Security Forces in the military police.

“I want to help protect the United States, keep our country safe at all times, both within and outside its borders,” Broussard said. “It’s my passion.”

Outside the strict discipline of the military, Carson is an athlete and has a playful personality at heart.

“I’m a very hardworking person and a very outgoing guy,” he said. “I’m the type of person that just goes with the flow, and I’m a very goofy person.”

The 6-foot-2-inch graduate played basketball and football in high school, was a member of the honor society and Young Life church organization and graduated with a 3.93 grade point average.

Playing sports in high school taught Broussard the value of discipline, hard work and balancing education.

“The higher the education, the better job you get,” he said. “It just takes some time and you have to be patient. Your discipline defines who you are as a person.”

Head football coach and athletic director Brandon Faircloth said Carson is the definition of a PNG Indian.

His work ethic, attention to detail and discipline are second to none and make him an excellent leader and teammate, Faircloth said.

“I have no doubt he will be a huge success,” the veteran coach said.

Looking forward to making new friends and traveling the world on a ship, Broussard’s proudest moment in life is swearing in to the armed forces.

Although currently stuck at home due to COVID-19, Broussard is using the time to work out, social distance, spend time with family and reminisce on favorite high school memories.

Broussard’s absolute favorite pastime is Mid-County Madness.

“All the people in the stands, and the bands playing, it sounds totally different on the field, plus the muddy Nederland field,” he said. “I’m just going to miss football because the bond of brotherhood made during those times could never be broken.”

Sticking to his athletic side, Broussard’s favorite quote comes from an all-time great NBA player, Kobe Bryant: “If you are afraid to fail, then you are probably going to fail.”

Broussard said he interprets this as “live your life to the fullest.”

“You can’t be afraid of doing the wrong thing, because it will end up happening,” he said. “Live your life with nothing in your way.”

Broussard is hoping to leave for basic training sometime this month.