Erik always dreamt of becoming a firefighter, and prior to fulfilling this dream he joined the military where he served for 10 years, during his active duty service was deployed overseas for 15 months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom V.  Despite the danger and challenges he faced, Erik remained committed to his mission. After completing his time as an enlisted soldier, he went on to become an officer in the United States Army Aviation Corps, piloting the UH-60 and eventually achieving the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2 before separating from the United States’ Military.