Ryan Garner – I am a native of St. Charles, Missouri, and enlisted in the Army in June 1997. After reaching the rank of Specialist, I applied for admission to the United States Military Academy. After graduating from West Point in May 2004, I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and attended Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
As an Armor officer, I served as a Scout Platoon Leader in Operation Iraqi Freedom III and Executive Officer. Upon returning from Iraq, I was then chosen to be the Adie-de-Camp to the Deputy Commanding General for United States Army Recruiting Command. Following this assignment, I served in USAREC as a Company Commander in Wilmington, NC, and Operations Officer for the Raleigh Recruiting Battalion.
I currently live in Englewood, FL, and work for Goodwill Manasota Veterans Services assisting veterans who face barriers after their service in finding employment.