Sergeant aims to survive
By PAT BERMAN
Lea “Sarge” Masters of Columbia insists he can do whatever it takes to win. But can the U.S. Army sergeant first class really change his stripes to win $1 million in the new season of “Survivor” that will debut Sept. 16?Masters, an 18-year Army veteran who has been a drill instructor and trainer at Fort Jackson for four years, auditioned for the popular reality series last January wearing a flak jacket with a “Drill Sergeant Survivor” patch affixed to it. He peered out from under his wide-brimmed drill instructo’s hat, fixed his piercing blue eyes on the camera and said, “You’ve had the rest, now have the best.”Masters’ audition tape and his physical presence — he’s about 6feet, 3 inches tall with a booming voice — suggest a fierce warrior, but his supervisor, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Coveney, said Masters was “kind of laid back. He’s easy to get along with.”Coveney, who has seen episodes of previous “Survivor” shows, said what might work against Masters was “his honesty. That might hurt more than help.” Deceit and trickery often play big roles in advancing competitors to the next rounds.Masters, 40, has a variety of skills that should serve him well, Coveney said. He has a maste’s degree in chemical engineering; is a master barber with the perfect “high-and-tight” haircut; is a trained emergency medical technician and is credentialed in scuba diving and advanced mountaineering/rappelling. He has traveled the world, including Korea, Germany and Greece, and served throughout the Middle East. On his audition tape, Masters refers to training soldiers now serving in Iraq.Masters, who lives in Columbia with his wife, Lupe, and their 18-year-old son, Chris, signed an agreement not to discuss the show.It was taped this summer on Vanuatu — a chain of islands in the South Pacific — with 18 “castaways” competing for the $1million prize.Previous “Survivors” say Masters might have tough going. When asked about Masters on Tuesday’s “CBS Morning Show,” million-dollar winner Amber Brkich said, “You can’t be too bossy out there. Bossy ones get voted out quickly.”Patricia Jackson, a Lugoff resident and one of South Carolina’s two previous “Survivor” contestants, agreed that those who stayed low on the radar screen were likely to last longer.”You have to keep your lip zipped,” she said. The best advice Jackson could give Masters was to “form a real strong alliance the minute he hits the beach.”The new “Survivor” will be the ninth, after a string of hits for CBS.
Source: The State Written by Pat Berman
