Specialist Phillip Watkins joined the US Army July, 1975 and served until June 1978. During his time in the Army he was assigned to 249th Engineering Construction Battalion in Germany. While in the Army he was awarded the Army Expert M-16 Marksmanship Medal and the Army Grenade Qualification Bar. After SPC Watkins received his Honorable Discharge from the Army, SPC Watkins decided to join the Air National Guard so he could be close to his future wife who had also joined the Air National Guard. SRA Watkins was assigned to 185th Tactical Fighter Group, Iowa Air National and was stationed at Sioux City Iowa until Dec 1984.