After a 15-year break in service, Sgt. Dakota Meyer, who received the Medal of Honor in 2011 for his actions in Afghanistan’s Kunar Province in 2009, has re-enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve.
On Thursday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth administered Meyer’s oath of enlistment.
On Friday, the 36-year-old Meyer spoke with Fox News, telling “America’s Newsroom” that his decision “comes from a deep sense of unfinished duty and a desire to inspire others to serve.”
“There’s never been a better time to serve our country than right now,” Meyer shared.
“There’s never been a need, like we need right now, of good men and women who are willing to stand up and who are willing defend the beliefs of the American people, of the Constitution, and to protect all of those things against whatever enemy that is willing to try to step up and to try and threaten that.”
From The Department of Defense:
During remarks just prior to readministering the oath, Hegseth said that — though Meyer didn’t request such a high-profile ceremony — the secretary felt he wanted people to recognize the example Meyer was setting.
“[We’re doing] this as big as we can because I want the American people, I want your fellow Marines [and] I want other service members to look at [your] example and [know] you’re never too old, you’re never too experienced [and] you’ve never done too much to contribute; and I salute you,” Hegseth told Meyer.
The secretary also pointed out that prior-service Marines, like Meyer, returning from the civilian world is rare.
“It’s not common practice that things like this occur, but you showed uncommon valor and continue to show uncommon commitment,” Hegseth said.“And, here at the Defense Department, we’re grateful for you,” he added.
Meyer, who said there’s “probably not been a day” since he left active duty in 2010 that he hasn’t thought about returning to the uniform — and who had to pass a pair of physical and combat fitness tests before being allowed to reenlist — credits realizing he still had more to give to his country with motivating him to finally go through that lengthy process.
“I love this country with every fiber of my moral being — I always have,” Meyer told members of the media prior to the ceremony.
Watch Meyer’s remarks to Fox News:
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