HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — New members joined the National Guard on Wednesday at the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

The 18 recruits took their oath in the building’s main rotunda during an annual event highlighting the dual mission of supporting veterans and future service members. This year’s theme was “One Team, One Mission, Defending Freedom Since 1747.”

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“I was kind of in a situation where I wasn’t sure what to do, and I knew the National Guard would give me lots of great benefits and just meet new people and be able to, obviously, have a bigger purpose than just myself,” said Cael Harter, an Annville-Cleona High School graduate.

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Harter will head to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for tech school after basic training, then he will return to Harrisburg and join the 193rd Special Operations Wing.

Pennsylvania has the nation’s third-largest National Guard with more than 17,000 members.

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