WHY I WANT TO BE AN ARMY OFFICER
Leadership means many things excellence, strength, awareness along with many other
essential qualities. But above all, leadership means accountability. It is the responsibility to own
one’s actions, whether or not anyone is watching. True leaders lead by example. They live by the
principles they speak, even in moments of solitude, because if you don’t believe in your values,
no one else will.
I strive to be this kind of leader if I have the honor of being accepted as an officer. I know
the United States Army and the American people deserve nothing less. I want to be part of
something greater than myself, something that demands accountability, discipline, and purpose. I
am driven by a deep desire to fulfill a meaningful mission and to see that mission through to its
fullest extent. Becoming an officer is not just a career goal; it’s a calling I have had since
childhood to serve with integrity, lead others with conviction, and dedicate myself fully to the
responsibilities that come with the role.
Whenever I commit to something, I give it everything I have. In 2023, I ran the
Steamtown Marathon not just for fitness or recognition, but to test my resolve in the face of
adversity. I wanted a self-imposed challenge that would push me beyond my comfort zone and
show me what I was truly capable of. Before signing up, the most I had run at once was two or
three miles a few days a week. But two weeks out from the race, I decided to run 19 miles to see
how far I could go. For the next two weeks after, everything hurt: my legs, hips, and ankles. On
race day, I woke up feeling sick and sore, but I taped up my ankles and showed up anyway. I had
made a commitment and intended to follow through, no matter how I felt.
I finished the race in 4 hours and 8 minutes. No one forced me to run that marathon. In
fact, my family advised me not to, warning me it might be “dangerous.” But once I committed,
both in my mind and out loud, there was no turning back. I had made a promise to myself, and I
was determined to see it through. I intend to make the same promise to the Army, one of
commitment and fulfillment, to complete any task assigned to me, be fair but firm, to represent
the Army and the United States of America as a gentleman, and to exhibit only the highest
qualities. I will bring this same mindset to my leadership role as an Army officer. I know I will
be an effective Army officer because I would never ask my soldiers to do something I would not
do myself. I will never lead from the back; I will always be the first to go and the last to give up.