Why This Cavalry Officer Chose The Fight

Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Chris Manglicmot faced a defining choice at West Point after 9/11: continue toward medicine or enter cavalry and move toward the fight, choosing a path shaped by duty, family legacy, and a call to serve on the front lines. As a cavalry officer in Baghdad, Chris confronted a deeper challenge when attacks blurred his view of the local population until an unexpected insight led his soldiers to build trust through electricity, jobs, and opportunity. That experience reinforced a lesson he carried beyond the Army: purpose comes from moving the guide on forward together, preserving the camaraderie, shared values, and sense of mission that make service matter.