That desire nearly led SSG Tucker to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to play football, but a knee injury disrupted those plans. Still, while it wasn’t on the path that he originally hoped to follow, SSG Tucker remained steadfast in his pursuit of service.
“After my knee surgery, I earned a scholarship to run track and field at Park University,” Tucker recalled. “I found out that they had an ROTC program, and a year later, I was sworn into the military.”
SSG Tucker went on to prove himself worthy of leadership in the years that followed, earning the responsibility of being a scout team leader.
“My job is essentially manning command and control of anywhere between six to eight other senior enlisted soldiers,” Tucker explained. “The scout section is what we can a specialty platoon. We carry a three-day pack into an area on a mission, and we’re responsible for relaying information and gathering intelligence.”
It’s a critical role that sets various operations up for success, and for SSG Tucker – who has a true appreciation and passion for leadership – it’s a responsibility that he doesn’t take lightly. In fact, it’s something that he began preparing for long before he earned his own command.
“You have to follow before you can lead,” Tucker said. “I’ve always wanted to be the guy with the big ideas, but as part of my evolution in the military, I learned – as a follower – how leaders handled certain situations. I took that and now apply it to my own role.”
SSG Tucker has gone on to earn his fair share of accolades, too, as he was named the Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for both Missouri and the seven-state region in 2023. He represents the very best of what makes our nation’s Armed Forces so special, and as the Chiefs took on the Bills earlier this year, the crowd at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium had an opportunity to show their appreciation for his dedication to our country.
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