People have asked me at various points in my life what motivated me to join the military. It’s an interesting question, not because the answer is difficult, but because the answer changes depending on when you ask me.
If you had asked me that question when I was younger, you probably would have received one answer. If you asked me later in life, you might have gotten another. And now, as I look back on the entire journey, I realize that my motivations were shaped by several phases.
It wasn’t complicated.
It was simply more nuanced.
My First Exposure to the Military
My first exposure to the military came when I was in junior high school. At the time, the JROTC unit from Pine Bluff High School visited my junior high school, Bel-Air.
I remember watching the cadets perform their drill routines. They were in uniform, disciplined, organized, and operating with a clear sense of purpose. Even though I may not have had the words to describe it at the time, I recognized something that resonated deeply with me.
What I saw was order, structure, and leadership.
That structured environment made sense to me. The chain of command, the rank structure, and the clearly defined responsibilities all created a system where everyone understood their role. There was also something powerful about sharing that experience with others who were part of the same structure.
Looking back, if you had asked the 15- or 16-year-old version of me why the military appealed to me, I would have said it was about the opportunity to lead and the structure that came with it
Joining the Army Reserves at 17
As I got older, my motivations expanded.
While I was still in high school, I joined the Army Reserves at the age of 17. My mother gave permission for me to attend boot camp, which I completed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
I participated in what is known as split option training. That meant I completed boot camp during the summer between my junior and senior years of high school, and then I attended advanced individual training as a combat engineer between graduating high school and starting college.
During this time, the military introduced me to something I had not fully experienced before: institutional support and security.
There were benefits, bonuses, travel support, and resources available that made it possible to focus on the mission rather than worrying about the logistics of daily life.
That structure and support stayed with me as I entered college.
ROTC and Leadership Development
When I arrived in college, I joined Army ROTC and spent four years developing leadership skills alongside other individuals who were pursuing similar paths.
This experience reinforced what had initially attracted me to the military.
The military provided a framework where you could focus on developing as a leader. Many of the logistical challenges of everyday life were handled through the system, allowing you to concentrate on your responsibilities and growth.
Of course, the experience wasn’t always perfect. There were times when my personal definition of leadership didn’t always align with the expectations placed upon me. At times, that created friction.
But overall, the experience helped shape me as a leader and introduced me to people who remain friends to this day.
Becoming a Naval Officer
After college, I initially did not have the opportunity to go on active duty as I had hoped. However, later in life I was commissioned as a naval officer at the age of 26.
This transition reinforced many of the same themes that had attracted me earlier.
The military once again provided structure, stability, and an environment where leadership development was central. The organization took care of many of the logistical aspects of life, from relocation to living arrangements, which allowed me to focus on my responsibilities and professional growth.
Looking back, it was clear that the elements of structure, security, and leadership continued to draw me toward military service.
The Gen X Context
As I reflect on those experiences now, approaching my late fifties, I realize there was another factor that influenced my decisions.
It had to do with the culture of the time.
Growing up as a member of Generation X, the path to stability and success often seemed to follow three primary routes:
- Go to college
- Learn a trade
- Join the military
Entrepreneurship was rarely discussed as a primary option. While people certainly held regular jobs and pursued different careers, the messaging many of us received emphasized those three paths as the most reliable ways to build a stable life.
The military, in many ways, represented the best of both worlds. It offered technical training and skills development, while also providing leadership opportunities and career structure.
For someone like me who had already been exposed to JROTC and ROTC, that path made perfect sense.
The Influence I Didn’t Fully Recognize
But as I looked back more carefully, I realized that something even deeper had influenced my decision.
The real answer came down to family.
My mother raised me as a single parent, but she was very intentional about ensuring that I had strong, positive male role models in my life.
She had five brothers, and I looked up to all of them.
Four of those uncles served in the military. Two of them became officers. One became a dentist. Another rose to the rank of major and later became a principal.
My grandfather also served in World War II.
These were men I respected and admired. Their examples shaped my understanding of leadership, responsibility, and professionalism.
Interestingly, none of them ever told me to join the military.
They never said, “You should serve because it’s patriotic.”
They never told me there was a family tradition to uphold.
They didn’t need to.
The Power of Example
When I visited my grandparents’ home, I saw photographs of my uncles in uniform. I saw the respect they received in their communities. I saw the confidence and discipline they carried with them.
Representation mattered.
Seeing men I admired living that life made the military seem like a natural path.
In fact, when I eventually entered the military, I didn’t even ask them for guidance beforehand. I simply assumed that if they had been able to navigate that journey independently, then I should be able to do the same.
Looking back now, I realize that my decisions were influenced less by direct advice and more by the power of example.
What I Ultimately Learned
Today, when people ask me why I joined the military, I still acknowledge the practical reasons.
The structure.
The security.
The leadership development.
But the deeper truth is that the people I admired had already shown me what that path looked like.
Sometimes our life decisions are not shaped by speeches, instructions, or expectations.
Sometimes they are shaped simply by the examples we grow up seeing.
And in my case, those examples made the military feel like the right place for me to begin building my life.
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