John was inspired to apply to West Point from rural Michigan due to the examples of his father and uncle and the guidance of his mother.

John was prepared for the physical and military rigors of West Point, but needed to lean upon the academic skills and expertise of those around him.

John had success and enjoyed his time at West Point because of the individuals he surrounded himself with.

John joined the Field Artillery branch and posted to Fort Hood with his peers. John had success and fulfillment within that community, but didn’t see a future in military service beyond his initial service obligation.

John transitioned from active duty to the Texas National Guard and Caterpillar. Those groups were critical to his transition; allowing structure, purpose, and community.

John left the Texas National Guard and Caterpillar to get get closer to family and to build roots in a community.

John found his roots in Team Red White and Blue. Where they help veterans build community through physical fitness, camaraderie, and community.

This is his story.

Dave lived near West Point for several years as a young boy and later grew up in Red Hook, New York—a small town two hours north of NYC. He was inspired by West Point early in his life and his connection with the land there brought him back later in life.

Dave distinguished himself in the application process by networking and cultivating relationships within his community. Starting from the bottom and earning his application through hard work and persistence.

Dave replicated this model at West Point and throughout his military service. Engaging people, identifying tasks, and accomplishing difficult things with individual work and network support.

Dave left the military at the end of his initial service obligation and returned to Upstate New York. Dave started at the bottom of real estate investment and solar construction and leveraged his skills and network to build success, becoming LG’s Senior Manager for Solar Sales.

In 2018 Dave left LG and started his own Solar Energy consulting and electric vehicle charging station installation company.

Starting at the bottom, building and engaging his network, and doing hard things.

This is his story.

Mike left San Antonio, Texas to attend the Military Academy. Mike graduated as an Economics and Computer Science Major and served as an Armor Officer in Kuwait and Iraq.

Mike was selected to serve as the Rear-Detachment Commander for his Tank Battalion when his unit was tapped to deploy for a second tour 9 months after their first.

As the Rear-Detachment Commander Mike was critical in creating systems to support communications and care between service members and their families at home and overseas. Mike was successful in this effort through his ability to enlist talent, communicate effectively, and navigate the services available at his duty station.

When Mike left the military at the end of his service obligation he would apply those skills and his degree in future civilian jobs.

Mike has served in increasing positions of influence at USAA, Disney, and Amazon ushering in quantitative improvements to their business practices.

Mikes success has been based on his hard earned skills in facing adversity and solving complex problems.

This is his story.

Shane was inspired by his father and 80’s military movies to become a pilot.

Shane threw himself headfirst into academics and extracurricular activities to build his resume and increase his chances of attending a military academy and becoming a pilot.

When Shane attended West Point he found that the academic rigors of the school forced him to choose between his passions and to adjust his expectations.

From intramurals and the Brigade Open, to Cadet Troop Leader Training with Special Forces Shane had a passion to experience the ideal, but grew frustrated when reality fell short.

Shane graduated from West Point and branched Aviation. Shane served in Iraq as a Pilot in Combat, as a Leader of Soldiers on the ground, and as an officer on the Army Central Command staff.

Shane left the military and sought a life of success and fulfillment in the civilian world.

Shane found success, but struggled to find fulfillment until he returned to his roots and his passions.

This is his story.

Torrey started as Class of 2000 before serving a break year in the force and returning as Class of 2001.

Torrey was highly recruited out of his home town, but shouldered the expectations of his friends and family alone. Torrey was reluctant to ask for help until it was too late.

Torrey was given the chance to serve in the force as an enlisted Artillery soldier for a year to mature and return the Academy.

The NCOs at his duty station invested in him proactively and Torrey came back better.

Prepared to graduate and ready to lead as an Artillery Officer.

This is his story.

Brian wasn’t accepted to West Point out of high school or after a year at the New Mexico Military Institute.

Brian’s intelligence and work ethic remained hidden behind his test taking abilities. After a year at NMMI and the United States Military Academy Preparatory School his talents began to shine through.

Brian graduated in the top third of his class and married a 2001 Classmate.

Brian would be tested again at Ranger school, the National Training Center, and while deployed with his spouse in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is his story.

Tom was a three sport varsity athlete and two sport team captain with dreams of attending West Point.

Tom put all of his efforts into attending a service academy. When he wasn’t selected he chose to enlist in the Army as a Tanker.

Tom captured the attention of his leadership at his first duty station and they were instrumental in getting his application resubmitted and approved.

Tom’s experience as an enlisted soldier and at the preparatory school gave him the tools to be successful at West Point, but also aimed his sights out of the mud and into the sky.

Tom commissioned as an Aviation Officer and became an Apache Pilot; serving overseas in S. Korea and multiple times in Iraq.

Tom retired as a trained Physician Assistant and now serves the sick and injured in an Emergency Room.

This is his story.

Mike was impelled to serve by the examples of his veteran parents.

West Point was not his first choice, but their strong cadet candidate program and luck resulted in his acceptance and attendance.

Mike was the epitome of grit and threw himself at multiple challenges and opportunities while at the Academy.

Mike fell short of some of those goals, but graduated as an Infantry officer with the skills and repetitions necessary to succeed at Officer Basic and Ranger school.

Mike reported to the 3rd Infantry Division and caught their train up and deployment to the liberation of Iraq. Fate struck him and his platoon and he was separated from his team after tragedy.

Mike served the remainder of that deployment on rear detachment separate from his platoon with scars forming on his psyche.

The path to redemption has been long and hard fought.

This is his story.

Deb grew up playing GI Joe and watching his Dad serve in the Army.

Deb learned to succeed in periods of conflict as a cadet and as a junior signal officer and excelled in areas of collaboration where he could leverage his intelligence and interpersonal skills.

Deb was able to support strategic level communications from his positions in Germany and Ft. Bragg early in his career, and transitioned to Operations Research and Systems Analysis after Signal Company Command.

It was at West Point as an Instructor and at the Pentagon influencing budget appropriations where Deb excelled.

The Army doubled down on their investment in Deb and sent him to USC where he earned his PhD in Computer Science

Everything was going his way until…. it wasn’t.

This is his story.

Laura had limitations placed upon her early in life.

West Point was the means Laura sought to push herself beyond those limits within a structured environment.

Laura’s deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom was anything but structured.

In the chaos of war, Laura found her true self and returned forever changed.

This is her story.