Keegan Erikson is the breed of veteran who served in the military prior to attending college. Erikson was a member of the United States Marine Corps (USMC), where he was a helicopter dynamic components mechanic and a 440 mechanic, which, according to him, “is basically someone who worked on all the drive systems, from the blades to the transmission.”

Currently in his junior year at Colorado Mesa University (CMU), Erikson is studying mechanical engineering and pursuing a minor in Spanish.

Erikson started out as a general maintenance worker, but finished his career at the rank of sergeant, while also acting as a supervisor and quality insurance inspector. 

“I met people who became as close as family. I had lots of good mentors and got to see the world and its different people myself. That was really cool,” Erikson said.

Erikson also feels that people have misconceptions of the military. “I’d have to say is that most people have a very poor view of the military. They don’t understand what a gift, and how safe, being in the military really can be. There is a false notion that people who join the military become robots who just take orders, or they are stupid and couldn’t get into college. But it’s actually the opposite. I would argue our military and veterans are actually more human and more intelligent, and less robotic.”

“Our veterans have learned to keep their life in order, handle the small things, and handle stress and confrontation, and do what they say they will. Discipline is the art of freeing oneself from natural impulses and social pressure,” Erikson said. “You have to see yourself and others tested to know who you are and to understand others. Leaving the military, you will feel like an intelligent, competent, and strong adult, who is capable of anything. And you cannot be a good person without that.”