In a uncommon transfer for the U.S. navy, Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer has reenlisted within the Marine Corps Reserve after 15 years out of uniform. Meyer says the choice comes from a deep sense of unfinished obligation and a want to encourage others to serve.
“There’s by no means been a greater time to serve our nation than proper now,” Meyer stated Friday on “America’s Newsroom.”
“There’s by no means been a necessity, like we want proper now, of fine women and men who’re prepared to face up and who’re prepared defend the beliefs of the American individuals, of the Structure, and to guard all of these issues in opposition to no matter enemy that’s prepared to attempt to step up and to attempt to threaten that.”
Meyer obtained the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions throughout a lethal 2009 battle in Afghanistan’s Kunar Province. Amid intense gunfire, he repeatedly drove into the fight zone in a Humvee to rescue fellow Marines and Afghans, saving dozens of lives. He was awarded the nation’s highest navy honor by President Barack Obama in 2011.
On Thursday, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth administered the oath of enlistment throughout a ceremony on the Pentagon. Meyer, now 36, re-enters service with the identical rank he held on lively obligation, sergeant, and can function an infantryman within the reserves.
“It hasn’t been a single day since I received out 15 years in the past that I didn’t get up and really need to serve once more,” Meyer stated. “I didn’t need to do it due to the rank. I didn’t need to do it for recognition. I simply did it as a result of the mission by no means left me.”
Hegseth famous that Meyer didn’t request a public ceremony, however that his return to service deserved to be acknowledged.
“I need the American individuals. I need your fellow Marines. I need different service members to have a look at the instance and say … you’re by no means too skilled, you’ve by no means achieved an excessive amount of that you could’t proceed to contribute,” Hegseth stated.
“He’s not simply signing up to enroll and be on a recruiting poster, he’s signing as much as do the true factor, which once more, is one more testomony to who he’s and what he represents.”
Meyer is among the many only a few Medal of Honor recipients in U.S. historical past to return to navy service.
He additionally hopes his determination will resonate with younger People contemplating navy careers.
“Changing into a Marine is by far one of many best accomplishments of my life,” he stated. “It’s an honor to serve subsequent to the individuals. It’s an honor to have the ability to serve the aim. And it’s an honor to be a part of the group.”
Meyer’s re-enlistment comes as navy recruitment has turn out to be a rising concern for Pentagon leaders lately. Secretary Hegseth says the U.S. Military shattered earlier recruiting data, with December 2024 being the best December in over a decade.
Protection officers be aware the recruiting rise started even earlier than the present administration took workplace. Former Military Secretary Christine Wormuth, who served till January, instructed Fox Information that the rise began earlier in 2024, previous to the election.
Meyer believes the surge is an indication that People are trying to find that means.
“Individuals on the market proper now are searching for a spot, they need to be a part of one thing larger than themselves,” he stated. “They [want to] be a part of the larger good. And I feel our navy is a spot the place they’re able to go discover that.”
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