“My name is Tim Kennedy, and I was an 18B Weapons Sergeant for almost ten years in the United States Army Special Forces. I am currently 18Z, Special Forces Team Sergeant in the Texas National Guard. Throughout my career, I’ve deployed multiple times, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, in support of the Global War on Terror.

Before 9/11, I was more worried about what pair of designer jeans I was going to wear after my next MMA fight. I was ranked top ten in the world at the time, while working at a dot.com in California. Then I saw a bunch of Americans standing in a burning building in New York City looking out a window, looking back inside, and having to decide if they were going to burn to death or jump to their death. I was in the recruiter’s office later that day.

Individual responsibility is a real thing, and we all need to accept personal responsibility for our actions. I could go down the PTSD rabbit hole and drink too much. Or I can take the onus and responsibility to be a good husband, father, boss, and training partner in my life. All those things complement each other and create a foundation for me to continue to grow.”