Life never goes as planned. My back story is hectic and I thought I had a plan on what I wanted to do in life. From hopes of being an NBA player, a psychologist (because of USA Network’s Monk), and a fighter-pilot – it all ended up with joining the U.S. Army which now led me here, in Hawai’i, working for US Army Pacific (USARPAC).
Joining the Military
Joining the military wasn’t my first plan. However, my brother influenced me when he joined the USAF ROTC when he was in college. I was also heavily influenced by my grandfather, who was a Brigadier General for the Philippine Marines.
My first plan was to join go to Vincennes University in Indiana and study to be a commercial pilot. However, the tuition fee and dorm fee deemed too high, and my parents aren’t the type to provide that kind of money. I didn’t want their money, either, and feel like I owe them my education. So that is when I explored joining the Army, so they can pay for my college.
I enlisted at the start of my Freshman year at the University of Southern Indiana (USI). I joined the Indiana National Guard as well as the USI Army ROTC. I didn’t do so well my first year of college, mainly due to poor time management. I also gained military experience during that first year of ROTC, which gave me some advantage when I attended One Standard Unit Training (OSUT) at Fort Benning, GA, to be an Infantryman.
I finished and graduated college in December of 2012, commissioned into the Army Reserve as a 2nd Lieutenant, and moved to California all within two months. I will further provide additional details on how my college/ROTC life was, but for now, it will just be an overview.
US Army Reserve
As a US Army Reserve Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence field, you do not get to do much. I did not grow a lot during those times as an intelligence officer.
Orange County Sheriff’s Department
During my transition to California and into the US Army Reserve, I was in search for employment. It was tough, especially having no experience, but only with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. I later on found employment within the Orange County Sheriff’s Department as a Deputy Sheriff, and I will further write my experience in detail later on.
Transition from the Reserve to Active Duty Army
Long story short, my Reserve unit from California was “mobilized” to Fort Bliss, TX. We had a mission there to deploy individual augmentees to different parts of the world in less than a week turn around. It was a one year assignment. I was able to stay for a second assignment, in which half way through, I applied for the “Call to Active Duty” program. I was accepted within a month and my first official Active Duty position was in Fort Bliss. It worked out so I did not have to move.
After Fort Bliss, I attend the Military Intelligence Captain’s Career Course (MICCC). Upon completion, I was assigned to Schofield Barracks, HI, with the 500th Military Intelligence Brigade, starting fall of 2019. I have been in Hawai’i since, and it is time to move on!
My Cyber Security Plan
In later posts, I will break down my plan in further detail. My current timeline is to graduate in summer of 2025 with a Master’s in Cyber Operations. Before graduating, I plan to complete the CompTIA Security+ and CySA+ certifications.
If you have reached this far, thanks for reading! There will be more to come and I hope you enjoy my content!