Joe Wankelman joined the Army in 2000 at the age of 18 as a forward observer. He did his first tour to Iraq was 2004 as a forward observer.  In 2006 at the  rank of E-6 was selected for warrant officer program flight school. He did 2 tours in Iraq (2008-2009 & 2011) as AH-64D pilot/ pilot in command. Did one tour in Afghanistan 2014 as an AH-64E Pilot in command/ Air mission commander/ Maintenance Test pilot. He medically retired in 2017 due to kidney failure. He just finished getting his BA in Business with emphasis in marketing and entrepreneurship. He's currently working as the COO for BoneForg coffee.