09/15/2026
He's Not Afraid
Story and photos by Sgt. Taylor Kurto, 114th PAD
Pvt. Matthew Scaccia stood at the open door of a C-130, 1,250 feet above Fort Benning, Georgia, looking toward the ground below. As the first soldier out of the aircraft, he felt a mix of emotions.
“It’s this sickly mix of anxiety and excitement,” said Scaccia, an infantryman assigned to Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard. “You’re like, ‘Oh, this is so awesome, I’m about to jump out of an aircraft.’”
Scaccia’s final leap into the air, the last of a five-jump requirement, did more than just earn him jump wings. It marked the end of a grueling, nearly 10-month training track spanning infantry One Station Unit Training, Ranger School and Airborne School from Oct. 27, 2025, to August 12, 2026.
For a junior enlisted soldier, the accomplishment was significant.
“An entry level soldier completing the courses without being recycled speaks volumes to the type of soldier Pvt. Scaccia is and the character he possesses,” said Lt. Col. Brooks Hayward, his battalion commander.
Inspired by the soldiers who came before him, like Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy, Scaccia enlisted to serve his country and carry on the tradition of those who sacrificed before him.
After graduating from Londonderry High School in 2020, Scaccia worked as a carpenter while considering when to enlist.
Sgt. 1st Class Isabella Igoe, Scaccia’s recruiter, recognized his determination in their first meeting, five years later.
“He came in knowing exactly what he wanted, doing his research before our initial appointment,” Igoe said. “Not many people come in that prepared and that motivated.”
Scaccia knew he wanted to become an infantryman and pursue Ranger School. He trained extensively with his father, a physical therapist and strength coach who helped him build the strength and endurance needed for the demanding course.
Ranger School pushed Scaccia physically and mentally. It required him to lead Soldiers under pressure.
“It’s going to challenge your ability to decide not to quit and stick to it, to commit to a goal,” Scaccia said. “Challenge your ability to be a leader.”
Scaccia also learned that earning a Ranger tab is not an individual accomplishment.
“You have limited energy, you have to choose when to use it,” Scaccia said. “When your buddy becomes squad leader, you have to do what’s best for them, so when it’s your turn to lead, they do their best for you.”
Scaccia credits his squad, platoon and family for helping him through the school, which has a recycle rate of around 50 percent.
“It wasn’t all me,” he said. “I really owe it to other people.”
Scaccia’s next goal is to put what he learned into practice. He reports to his unit in October for his first official drill weekend.
“The person to your left and your right is counting on you,” Scaccia said. “You don’t get your tab without your squad”.
Hayward said Scaccia’s experience will benefit more than just himself.
“Soldiers who have completed the course and earned the tab elevate the overall professionalism of the entire unit,” Hayward said. “They serve as not only an incredible source of knowledge for their team but as a great example and inspiration to the entire unit, especially the junior soldiers.”
