In Their Own Words
The following interviews were conducted at the Digital Media Studio at Lehigh University. They all follow a general arc from enlistment, to training, military service, and discharge.
Stephanie enlisted in the Navy. Initially she was interested in Cryptology, but she ultimately worked in Personnel Management. After the end of her enlistment, Stephanie moved to Pennsylvania and began teaching at the Delaware College of Art and Design. She now works as Coordinator of Veterans Services at Kutztown University, Pennsylvania. She talks about the importance of Veterans Services and what they are doing at Kutztown University to help bridge the gap between civilian and military populations. She specifically talks about Green Zone Training, student veterans, and the importance of a veteran support system.
Erik Leeds (1973-) enlisted in the United States Navy and is currently serving as an officer in the United States National Guard. After completing basic training, Leeds served as a Navy electrician during the Gulf War and the Bosnian War. He chose not to reenlist in the Navy, and instead attended Kutztown University and became a teacher at Northwest Middle School in Reading, Pennsylvania. In 2000, he reenlisted in the Pennsylvania National Guard with the intention of becoming an officer. In 2005, he was deployed to Ramadi, Iraq as part of a Maintenance Platoon. A year later, his unit was demobilized and he returned to the United States. He currently works as a middle school teacher and continues to serve in the National Guard.
DJ Todd (1975-) joined the United States Marine Corps via the Platoon Leaders Course program at Lehigh University. Upon graduating college in 1998, DJ received his officer’s commission, went through The Basic School (TBS) at Quantico, Virginia, and then completed flight school and helicopter training at Corpus Christi, Texas, and Pensacola, Florida. From 2003 to 2005, DJ performed flight missions in and around Iraq, Liberia, and Haiti. In 2006, he attached to a Marine infantry unit in Ramadi as a forward air controller, and the following year he left the military. Over the course of the past decade, DJ received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Lehigh University, worked in the retail operations division at Vanguard, and joined a nonprofit organization that provides clean water solutions to countries around the world. He is married and has two children.
Bryan Kinsely (1978-) enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1996. Following basic training at Parris Island, Bryan went to Camp Geiger to learn his Military Occupational Speciality (MOS): O481--Basic Landing Support Specialist. From 1997-1999, Bryan was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, where he was assigned to a Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group (MSSG) tasked with evacuating the staff of embassies that were under assaault. In late 1999, Bryan transferred back to stateside and spent time at Camp Lejeune and Camp Pendleton. He currently works as a journeyman lineman for PPL in Williamsport, PA, where he lives with his two daughters.
Andrew Morris (1989-) enlisted in the United States Army in 2010, as part of a newly created enlistment option (18X) for individuals interested in pursuing a special forces career path. He completed basic training, advanced individual training (AIT), and airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia. After graduating from airborne school, Andrew was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Andrew deployed to Iraq in 2015 as part of combat operations against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). In 2016, Andrew left the military and is currently working at a German Shepherd rescue shelter while pursuing a degree in business at Kutztown University.
Tymish Halibey (1982- ) enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2007. After completing ten weeks of Officer Candidate School (OCS) and six months of The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia, Tymish received his commission as an artillery officer and was stationed in Hawaii. Following training exercises in Okinawa, Japan, and Camp Pendleton, California, Tymish deployed to Helmand Province in 2011 to train Afghanistan artillery forces. In 2012, he left the Marine Corps and began working at Home Depot. He is currently using his GI Bill to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at Lehigh University.
