A(nother) Calling

A week ago I wrapped a quarter-century long adventure with the Marine Corps. It was definitely an interesting time: I got married, transitioned to a wartime military, deployed to combat in both Afghanistan and Iraq, toured the rest of the world on official duty, had kids, went to grad school, lived overseas, and eventually came back home to Alaska. Summing up an entire career in a sentence fragment doesn’t really do it justice, but that’s not really the point of this post anyway…

I started something new. That alone is significant, but it’s also worth noting that “starting something new” isn’t something I do very often. I was in my last job for 25 years, 4 months, and 9 days. What started off as a consequence for my actions (a story for another day) quickly turned into a calling for me. The Marine Corps is usually a calling for its Marines well before they attend Boot Camp. For me, the calling took a bit longer to arrive but once it did I found a perfect fit as an enlisted Recon Marine and eventually as an Infantry Officer. I loved my job but after 21 years of marriage, 13 household moves, 5 deployments, and 3 kids, it was time to close that chapter of my life.

I have a new calling. The people and communities within Alaska need help. The economy is down and crime appears to be rising. Many of our rural communities are being devastated by Covid-19, either because of the disease itself or economic fallout from the restrictive policies that are implemented because of it. The fossil fuel industry, which constitutes the majority of our State’s budget, is reducing its involvement in Alaska. If they leave in significant amounts it could devastate our economy. Alaska is a big place with the toughest people in the country. However, Alaskans need a reliable partner right now.

The military built this State. From The Alaska Pipeline, to the Railroad, and even the communication network, the military has been a part of development in Alaska since before Alaska was even a state. In fact, one of our governors, Wally Hickel, wrote a book about it titled: Why War? His thesis was that the military was a major partner in shaping the landscape of Alaska and that we shouldn’t wait until a crisis to develop our infrastructure.

I agree. This is my new calling: helping Alaskans develop their state through a partnership with the Military. If your community wants to pursue military activities as a way to develop your infrastructure, get in touch. There may be a way we can make a difference together. And if you are in the military and want to train in some of the most majestic, austere, and challenging environments on the planet, let me know. You’ll be surprised at what you are missing!

Ty Moore, Founder and CEO