By Chris Moffitt

      So, what about the military? As our national security continues to be threatened, and as teens are deciding what to do after graduation, questions and curiosity about military service are certainly arising. What many may not realize, however, is that there is a large body of TPA alumni who might be able to answer some of these questions, satisfy a portion of this curiosity, and share their own experiences.

One of these individuals is Kevin Wilkison (TPA Class of 2011). He began his distinguished military service in September 2011 with Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Then he began training with the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). Describing his current activities, Kevin says, “I am at the Yakima Training Center in Washington as an EOD team member. My rank is Specialist (E-4). My job is to assist the EOD team leader in the disposal of any Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive hazards (CBRNE).” Essentially, Kevin is part of a brave team of soldiers that are the first responders to dispose of dangerous explosives!

Along with his regular training, Kevin says, “I have been competing in EOD Team of the Year competitions. The first day of any competition includes an Army Physical Fitness Test, a ruck-march of a typically unknown distance, weapons qualification, and anything else that might be used to measure your level of fitness. The idea is to exhaust the competitors and then provide them very little time for rest in order to see how they do in their core EOD skills in those conditions.” Despite the incredibly difficult challenges, Kevin and his team have finished amazingly well in these competitions. His team won 1st place in the competition that determined the best team on the western half of the US! He and his team also just finished a week long competition in Hua Hin, Thailand, where they placed second out of 27 teams!

All of this training has now prepared Kevin for his next adventure. He plans to be deployed to Iraq with the Department of State this spring.

Kevin’s decision to join the military resulted from a longing for purpose and meaning in his life. “Toward the end of my high school career,” he says, “it became apparent that I was not ready to take on college. I needed structure. I wanted to do something where good performance meant more than a good report card.” The military was definitely able to provide this environment for him.

Kevin also leaves TPA with some words of wisdom. “My advice to TPA students,” he says, “is that they go to college and live a little bit before making any big life decisions. If someone is thinking about joining the military, do all your research. If you’ve done all your research and you still don’t know exactly what you want, wait. Go get a good college education, figure out what you like and want, then revisit the idea. I don’t regret joining the military out of high school, but a college education would have been a great help.”

Joining the military is definitely an honorable decision, but it is also a major decision that requires serious deliberation. The De Equitibus Staff, along with the Tempe Prep community, expresses gratitude for Kevin’s service for our country.