Grandfather Personal Statement

Since I was a child, I have dreamt of joining the United States Military. Generations of my family served as soldiers since the 1940s. My Grandfather, who is my greatest hero, served during WWII as a Staff Sergeant. Throughout my childhood, I've had the honor of learning about my Grandfather and his wartime experiences. His accomplishments, courage, and sacrifices to serve our country enhanced my desires to follow my family's footsteps and further my career and commission as an Officer in the United States Army Nation Guard. Unquestionably, I have the heart and the mind of an Officer. I am a leader, mentor, and coach. Consistently being defined as someone who is instinctive, empathetic and loves to learn. Family, friends and colleagues would
Unwavering commitment and my ability to step up in these leadership roles led to several of my proudest accolades. The highest honors in football; receiving awards to include Mr. Football, All-Conference, All-Area, All-Western-North Carolina, and a scholarship to play in college. While at Appalachian State University, I continued to play Lacrosse and Rugby. My efforts and strong desires to achieve any mission, while executing well-developed strategies showed to be greatly admired by my peers. The last two years of college, I earned Captaincy for both Rugby and Lacrosse. Utilizing my experience as a leader, I transcended them into my professional career while maintaining a full-time school status. At a local outdoor adventure company, I was an office manager and guide overseeing a team of over 20 members. My team called on me to lead the more difficult river trips, due to my record as a quick thinking and fast acting rescue team leader. These skills are paramount when dealing with dangerous scenarios on the river. I received this role because I've always performed my best. After college, I continued down the path of becoming an even stronger