I enlisted as a Private in the Idaho Army National Guard while attending Northwest Nazarene College, after learning that the ROTC program required that I attend Boise State University for the two final years of ROTC. My MOS was 68M, an Aviation Weapon Systems Technician, assigned to Co. D, 116th Air Cav, in Boise Idaho. I was enlisted for 4 years, completing my enlisted service in the Oregon Army National Guard.
On 13 AUG, 1991, I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant by the Oregon Army National Guard, through the Oregon Military Academy. In the Oregon Army National Guard I went on to serve in Co. B, 1249th EN BN, as Platoon Leader and Executive Officer. I also served as the BN Project Officer and while there, was assigned as the Military Liaison Officer for the US Embassy in Jamaica, facilitating hurricane/earthquake reconstruction.
From Jamaica, I was transferred to the Republic of Panama where I served two years with US SOUTHCOM working on special projects throughout South and Central America. Following my scuba diving accident and miraculous recovery, I transferred to the Arizona Army National Guard.
While in the Arizona Army National Guard, I served as the Engineer Officer for the 852 RAOC, Commander of two separate Field Artillery Batteries, the State EEO Officer, and finally with the State Partnership Program. I deployed to Iraq with OIF II in 2003-2004, returning Christmas Eve 2004.
Other tours of duty included Korea, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait and Germany.
While serving in Iraq with the 852 RAOC, as Base Command for LSA Anaconda, my duties included S6 (Information Systems), H6 (Host Nation Liaison) and PAO (Public Affairs Officer). I went outside the wire on over 40 missions to local villages and other US bases across Iraq, and made countless positive impacts on local Iraqi citizens and community leaders.
I spent eight of the next eleven years on active duty, serving around the world. I completed my military service as the Bilateral Affairs Officer (BAO) at the US Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine. I retired from military service on 31 AUG, 2013 and returned to America with my wife and daughter on 29 NOV, 2013.