Has it really been 20 years?
TLDR: Life has been crazy the past 20 —looking forward to retiring after 2029 or they force me out in like 2034, but still ready for whatever comes next. Thanks for the support, and I owe you all a beer.
When I joined the Delayed Entry Program in June 2004, I was just a nervous kid standing beside my equally nervous parents. Little did I know then how profoundly the Army would shape my life.
My journey began at Fort Benning, GA, in Delta 2-58. Basic training was a fun experience that I enjoyed. Meeting people from all over the United States, this place turned us from kids to men. In the middle of war, they trained us to shoot, move, and communicate. As Infantry (11B) and pushed into the 11C (indirect mortarmen) platoon, it was a fantastic experience.
A week before graduation, An unexpected twist with my contract led me to Baumholder, Germany, with the 2-6 INF, 1st Armored Division. This was my first platoon, and the memories I made live with me every day. From there, in 2005, we would deploy to Kuwait and push our way into Iraq. Those were challenging times, and we lost some incredible comrades. Life was simple, but the bonds we formed were unbreakable. I remember doing patrols all day and night, the chaos, the explosions, and firefights. All to return to the FOB and get a strawberry-banana smoothly made it all worth it. As we left, our FOB would be hit with an enemy’s lucky mortar round that decimated our ammo point. After Iraq, I was moved to Fort Riley, Kansas, and joined the 2d Battalion, 70th Armored Regiment in the 1st Armor Division, which later reflagged into the 1-63 AR, 1st Infantry Division.
In June 2008, I would pack up my belongings and take the 24-hour drive back home with my pops. I couldn’t just put the uniform in my footlockers, so I stumbled into the Spring City Armory with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. With my “I-love-me” book and all my history and paperwork, I was offered an AGR full-time position as a recruiter. Around this time, I experienced one of life’s greatest joys: becoming a father figure to Cameron Gross with her mother, Danielle Gross, by my side. The birth of Ryan in 2010 prompted another shift. I resigned from the AGR, went part-time in the Guard, and enrolled at the Montgomery County Police Academy.
Balancing family, education, and the military was (and still is) no easy feat. I often sacrificed my home life for schools, annual training, and Army events. I took on annual orders to teach the Warrior Leaders Course, climbed the ranks, and eventually became a Platoon Sergeant and Section Leader. The military took as much as I gave, but the experiences were invaluable.
Teaching ROTC at Lehigh and Kutztown Universities was a rewarding chapter. Yet, to make ends meet, I volunteered for deployment to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. As a Team Chief and Operations NCO, I felt I was making a real difference. However, the cost was high. Watching my youngest child be born over Facebook Messenger was a wake-up call.
Thankfully, once I returned, I found my way back into the Regiment full-time as an instructor and took various duty positions. Each role brought new challenges and rewards, shaping me into who I am today. It’s been a rough but fulfilling road from a nervous recruit to a seasoned veteran who has seen a thing or two.
My family’s sacrifices, tears, and unwavering support have been my rock throughout this journey. My parents stood by me from day one; my children gave me a reason to strive harder; and my friends, brothers, and sisters in the Army, who shared the highs and lows, thank you.
As I look ahead to the possibility of retirement by 2029, I find myself contemplating the future. Looking at what has come before and what lies ahead—the next twenty years will lead to more challenges, but hopefully, they will also bring new opportunities for growth and fulfillment. I have a few years to get E-8 and maybe even become the Command Sergeant Major all my boys in basic said I would be.
However, in the meantime, I am excited about spending more time with my family and pursuing new passions as I continue my military career.
To all who have walked this path with me so far —thank you. Your support has been invaluable; we’ve navigated this incredible journey together. Here’s to the future, whatever it may hold, and the new adventures that await.
