Year 0: How I Got Here
Year 0: How I Got Here
I’ve always liked history. That really started with my grandma. Every summer, I’d stay with her, and we were always doing something historical, museums, old forts, presidential libraries, plantations, documentaries, anything we could find. Those summers shaped me more than I realized at the time. They made me pay attention to people who served, people who sacrificed, and people who stepped into something bigger than themselves.
And then there was my grandpa.
My grandpa served in the Coast Guard, and I’ve always been thankful for him, probably more than he knows. I’ve looked up to him my entire life. When I was a kid, I had every Coast Guard Lego set I could get my hands on, and I loved them because that’s what he did. I didn’t understand the full depth of service back then, but I knew this: whatever he was, I wanted to be more like that.
For as long as I can remember, as I was growing up, I just assumed I would join the military, but where I went to high school, that path wasn’t really talked about. The expectation was college. That was the option. My path was laid out for me:
Graduate → go to college → that’s the only option.
So that’s what I did. I graduated, and never even paused long enough to reflect on what younger-me had always imagined.
So for as long as I can remember, the military has always been in the back of my mind. I still love it today. If I’m watching YouTube, it’s probably something about war heroes, rescues, war strategy, or someone sharing their experience. And out of every branch, the Coast Guard has always stood out to me. Their mission is simple and meaningful: save lives and protect the homeland.
And the truth is… that’s something I want to do.
And honestly, driving boats while saving lives feels like the coolest way to do that for sure.
2021 — The First Time I Almost Joined
In 2021, I didn’t just randomly get interested in the Coast Guard. There was an actual moment it started.
I was in North Carolina by myself, sitting at The Provision Company in Southport. I love eating there. Where I always sit looks right over the sound, the water, the boats, everything. I was eating lunch, minding my own business, and then out of nowhere a Coast Guard small boat came flying by.
I just sat there staring at it.
It looked so cool.
The crew.
The mission.
The boat.
All of it.
And something clicked in me.
It wasn’t dramatic.
It wasn’t emotional.
It was more like, “I could see myself doing that.”
That small moment turned into curiosity.
Curiosity turned into research.
Research turned into hours of the Smarter Every Day Coast Guard series on YouTube.
If you’ve never watched it, Destin breaks everything down, training, rescues, qualifications, how the boats work, how the stations run. And the more I watched, the more it felt like something I wanted to be part of.
A few months later, I remember sitting at Rickenbacker Airport, filling out the actual online application to join the Coast Guard. I wasn’t thinking reserves. I was thinking full-time active duty. I even met with a recruiter, and took the ASVAB.
For a little while, it felt like I was really about to do it.
And honestly? A lot of people were excited for me.
Coworkers, friends, people thought it fit me.
But a few people didn’t.
My parents were not excited at all.
And neither was my best friend, Philip.
They weren’t mean about it, they were just worried.
Worried about me leaving.
Worried about the unknown.
Worried about everything that comes with active military life.
And because their voices were the loudest in my life at the time, I listened.
I eventually decided not to do it.
I told myself it wasn’t the right time.
And I walked away from the idea.
Or at least I tried to.
The Idea That Never Went Away
Life kept going. I kept growing.
I started working full-time at the airport.
I built Leaders of Today.
I grew a lot personally.
And I got married, Sadie is my wife now, and I love our life together.
But even with everything going well, the Coast Guard never left my mind. It stayed right there. Every time I saw something about the Coast Guard, a rescue video, a boat crew, a training clip, a cutter launch, I felt something. And the more I tried to ignore it, the more it kept coming back.
This wasn’t a phase.
This wasn’t something I “almost did once.”
This was something I still wanted.
2023–2024 — Taking Another Look
As life settled down a little, the Coast Guard started coming back into my mind again. Not in a dramatic way, just one of those quiet thoughts that shows up over and over until you finally pay attention.
So I started looking into everything again, but this time I kept it to myself at first.
No big conversations.
No big announcement.
Just me doing research.
That’s when I realized something that actually made sense for where my life is now:
the Coast Guard Reserve.
Right away, it felt different than it did in 2021. It fit my life better.
I could serve.
I could actually be part of the mission.
And I wouldn’t have to walk away from Sadie, the airport, or Leaders of Today to do it.
For the first time, this dream didn’t conflict with everything else I’ve worked so hard to build, it fit into it.
I figured out the rating I wanted: Boatswain’s Mate (BM).
It’s boats, hands-on work, leadership, actual skills, basically everything I like. It is the most Jordan job in the United States Military.
I figured out where I’d be stationed: Port Clinton.
I met with another recruiter, got my information updated, and everything lined up again just like it did the first time.
But the hesitation this round wasn’t coming from my parents.
It was coming from thinking about Sadie.
She has never once told me “no.” She’s always said something along the lines of:
“If you really want to, you can. I’m just worried about the time you’ll be away at the beginning.”
And she’s not wrong.
Basic and A-School are real.
Those first months are tough, and they’re not just tough on the person going, they’re tough on the person at home.
And here’s the honest truth:
If this were only about me…
If I didn’t have to think about how this affects someone else…
If I could do everything on my timeline…
I would probably already be through basic by now.
When I talked to the recruiter again, retook the ASVAB, and got everything lined up, I was ready. I would’ve gone right then if it was just my decision.
But it’s not just my decision anymore.
I’m married.
Sadie is my wife, and I love our life together.
So I’ve been trying to figure out how to hold both things at the same time. This desire that keeps coming back, and the responsibility and love I have for her.
Even with that, the desire hasn’t gone away.
It’s still here.
Honestly, stronger than before.
And I’m still trying to figure out what the right next step is.
Why I’m Writing This
I’m calling this Year 0 because nothing is official yet. This is the year before anything happens, the year where I’m thinking, praying, planning, and trying to figure out what this looks like for my life, my marriage, and my future.
I’m writing this because:
I need a place to get these thoughts out
I want to keep a record of this whole journey from the very beginning… kinda beginning
And I want this to help someone else who’s right where I am, wanting to serve, not sure how to start
This isn’t an announcement.
I’m not leaving next month.
I’m not posting this to make a big splash.
This is just me being honest:
I want to join the United States Coast Guard Reserve.
I’ve wanted to since 2021.
And now I’m finally trying to figure out how to make that real.
This is Year 0.
Let’s see where it goes.
Why I Write
I write these posts to stay honest about where I am, what I’m learning, and who I’m becoming. This Coast Guard path has been on my heart for a long time, and writing helps me sort through the tension, the excitement, the questions, and the growth that come with it.
I write to remember the process — not just the milestones. I want a record of the decisions, lessons, and moments that shape me as a leader, a husband, and a follower of Jesus.
Whether this journey takes me through training, onto the water, or somewhere unexpected, this space helps me stay grounded, pay attention, and move forward with intention.
Observe. Reflect. Adjust. Share.
Dream big — and start again.