Part 2:
I earned my Commission in 2004 from Marion Military Institute (MMI). MMI is one of five Military Junior Colleges offering a commissioning program called the Early Commissioning Program (ECP) which offers the opportunity to earn an Army Commission in just two years. As a high school student having just witnessed the events of 9/11 and eager to "get into the fight" the two year option was the best option for me. So, at the ripe age of 19, my wife and my grandfather, a retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant, pinned a par of gold bars on my shoulders.
My first full-time assignment was as the Officer Strength Manager for the Tennessee National Guard. Those first five years were some of the most formative years of my life as a professional. As an Officer Strength Manager I was in the envious position of educating prospective Officers of the benefits of becoming an Officer in the Army and helping develop solutions for the next six to eight years of their lives! I am very proud of my time as an Officer Strength Manager as many of my prospective Officers have accomplished some incredible things; successfully leading units around the world in support of Overseas Contingency Operations and leading disaster relief efforts here at home.
My next assignment was as a Convoy Security Company Platoon Leader and Executive Officer assigned to Mosul, Iraq with B-Battery, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment. This was one of my most treasured times as an Army Officer and an experience I will never forget. Most Officers in the Army will tell you that the best job an Officer will ever have is to lead Soldiers in combat and I couldn't agree more! I am proud to have served with those 34 men and women in combat as we logged more than 5000 miles throughout northern Iraq having not one of them receive any combat related injuries. We were the only platoon out of 9 Convoy Security Platoons to not receive any damage to either our customer vehicles or our own vehicles by enemy contact to include: small arms fire and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). 34 Soldiers in, 34 Soldiers out!
I was then assigned to Camp Atterbury, Indiana as a Team Leader of an Observer Controller/Trainer (OC/T) Team from late 2010 to late 2011 where I planned and facilitated training for more than 5200 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and DOD Civilians mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom, the Horn of Africa, Multinational Forces Observers, and Kosovo Forces.
In late 2011 I was then assigned to 1-335th Infantry Battalion as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander until 2012 where my culminating assignment was as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander for 205th Infantry Brigade.
I earned my Commission in 2004 from Marion Military Institute (MMI). MMI is one of five Military Junior Colleges offering a commissioning program called the Early Commissioning Program (ECP) which offers the opportunity to earn an Army Commission in just two years. As a high school student having just witnessed the events of 9/11 and eager to "get into the fight" the two year option was the best option for me. So, at the ripe age of 19, my wife and my grandfather, a retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant, pinned a par of gold bars on my shoulders.
My first full-time assignment was as the Officer Strength Manager for the Tennessee National Guard. Those first five years were some of the most formative years of my life as a professional. As an Officer Strength Manager I was in the envious position of educating prospective Officers of the benefits of becoming an Officer in the Army and helping develop solutions for the next six to eight years of their lives! I am very proud of my time as an Officer Strength Manager as many of my prospective Officers have accomplished some incredible things; successfully leading units around the world in support of Overseas Contingency Operations and leading disaster relief efforts here at home.
My next assignment was as a Convoy Security Company Platoon Leader and Executive Officer assigned to Mosul, Iraq with B-Battery, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment. This was one of my most treasured times as an Army Officer and an experience I will never forget. Most Officers in the Army will tell you that the best job an Officer will ever have is to lead Soldiers in combat and I couldn't agree more! I am proud to have served with those 34 men and women in combat as we logged more than 5000 miles throughout northern Iraq having not one of them receive any combat related injuries. We were the only platoon out of 9 Convoy Security Platoons to not receive any damage to either our customer vehicles or our own vehicles by enemy contact to include: small arms fire and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). 34 Soldiers in, 34 Soldiers out!
I was then assigned to Camp Atterbury, Indiana as a Team Leader of an Observer Controller/Trainer (OC/T) Team from late 2010 to late 2011 where I planned and facilitated training for more than 5200 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and DOD Civilians mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom, the Horn of Africa, Multinational Forces Observers, and Kosovo Forces.
In late 2011 I was then assigned to 1-335th Infantry Battalion as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander until 2012 where my culminating assignment was as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander for 205th Infantry Brigade.
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