b'Rodeo Jock to Welder/Kyle Lamon joinedthe Army in 2012.he said. I had a rodeo scholarship. At Fort Bragg, Before he left high school, he found himself aloneI started riding bulls at a small operation. I met living with a friend. His dad was in the Marinemy fiance at a rodeo. I have participated in Corps, but due to Kyles medical condition, Kylerodeos all up and down 75. I used to ride the Pro-knew the Marine Corps would not be an option.fessional Rodeo Association (PRA) rodeos. I have He enlisted in the Army with an Option 40 con- the broken bones to show for it. When I was tran-tract, which is a Ranger assessment selectionsitioning out, I felt like I didnt have a lot of op-phase. Kyle said, I went to basic in 2012, and intions. My buddy told me about the VIP welding 2013, I completed jump school, and after jumpprogram at Fort Campbell. I applied and got in. school, I went through a pre-Ranger selectionAfter completing the welding program at Fort process, and I decided I didnt want to go for theCampbell, it was time for Kyle to pick where he Ranger side of things, so I went back to the 82nd.would like to continue with his apprenticeship. At Bragg, I was part of the long-range surveillanceHe said, My dad and stepmom were from Sper-unit (LRS), an elite, specially trained surveillanceryville and Gatlinburg, and I knew I wanted to be unit employed for clandestine operations by mili- in the mountains. I originally tried to get into the tary intelligence. I was part of the water opera- local union in Knoxville but, the job market was tions platoon, so we were able to do all of thestronger in Chattanooga, TN, so I picked zodiac stuff. I was a scout swimmer. From there, IPlumbers and Steamfitters Local 43. I love Chat-decided to get away from North Carolina, and Itanooga, and there is so much work here. Growing reenlisted at Fort Campbell, because soldiers thereup, my dad did some mason work, but the union were going to Afghanistan. Three months after Iconcept was new for me. I am now about to be a got there, I went to Afghanistan and spent ninethird-year apprentice. Ive worked in a hydrogen months there. After that, I decided I needed a wayplant. We ran 16-inch titanium lines, and I welded out. Before Afghanistan, I had done some peace- some hangars out there. I went to the Wacker keeping duties in Kosovo and Germany.polysilicon plant, where we were working 7/12s Kyle loved the Army, but it got to the point(seven on, 12-hour days) for like three months, where it was getting monotonous, he said. Hewhich was awesome because I have never made wanted freedom. When youre 26 and have tothat much money in my entire life. Ive also ask permission to leave for a weekend, it gets old,worked in various fabrication shops. Now Kyle 12 opsCAREER'