Vance Lear, Sophomore, Sports Management

"During my deployment I traveled to multiple countries with my unit, the first of the 138th Infantry Regiment, and saw many different places to include Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Erbil in Iraq. This deployment was a part of Operation Spartan Shield and our main responsibilities were base security and Patriot missile site operations. The most significant part of our mission came after the Hamas attacks on Israel, October 7. My squad got word that we were hopping on the next flight to Iraq to work with engineers and Air Defense Artillery personal to stand up 8 new Patriot missile sites on the outskirts of our base while conducting patrols. As an aspiring officer in the Infantry, I was able to learn a lot from my amazing NCOs and PLT and CO leaders. Being put into a team leader position benefitted me greatly because I learned what it means to lead troops and make sure that no matter how little the task it needs to be completed with 100% effort. Most of what I learned comes in the form of hands-on practice and shadowing my LTs on what it really means to lead soldiers in stressful situations." CDT Lear hopes to continue his career in the Infantry upon commissioning and attend SFAS.