Garett A. Ryskedahl has joined the United States Army under the Delayed Entry Program at the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion, Minneapolis.

The program gives young men and women the opportunity to delay entering active duty for up to one year.

The enlistment gives the new soldier the option to learn a new skill, travel and become eligible to receive as much as $85,536 toward a college education through the Montgomery GI Bill and the Army College Fund. For those who qualify, new soldiers can earn up to $65,000 for student loan repayment. After completion of basic military training, soldiers receive advanced individual training in their career job specialty.

Ryskedahl, a 2008 graduate of Austin High School, will report to Fort Benning, Ga., for basic training in April 2011.

He is the son of David and Koleen Riskedahl of County Road 46, Albert Lea.

Ryskedahl graduated in 2008 from Austin High School.