Passion for Your Job. Passion for Life.


“I’ve been able to achieve every goal I set for myself: finish college, square away my retirement, and work every day at a job that I’m passionate about.”

Staff Sgt. Murray having fun with students at a recruiting event

Staff Sgt. Brandon Murray, a recruiter for the Tennessee National Guard, has one unique resume. He’s a radio DJ, has a cybersecurity degree, played trumpet at a collegiate level, and commentated an E-Sports video game competition for millions of fans.

“I was 29 years old and weighed 315 pounds,” Murray recalled. “I worked as a radio DJ, I owed rent, and I had neither insurance nor a retirement plan. I decided my life needed some direction and stability, so I enlisted in the Tennessee Army National Guard. I dropped 120 pounds in ten months. It has been the best decision I ever made.”

Murray took full advantage of every opportunity offered to him by the National Guard, and continues to pursue his goals as a recruiter and noncommissioned officer. He used Federal Tuition Assistance, a benefit offered to service members, to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Science Information Systems Security, with a concentration in cyber security. His passion for helping young people stretches back to his radio DJ days, when he also worked part time at a church mentoring teenagers and young adults. In the Guard, he pursued a certification as a HEAR (Helping Everyone Achieve Respect) trainer. HEAR is a bullying prevention program that challenges students to adopt respectful personal behavior. Working with the HEAR program enabled Murray to positively influence and encourage young people while simultaneously helping them improve their lives and the lives of those around them.

In addition to being a HEAR trainer, Murray also became a Junior Achievement teacher. The program teaches career success skills and personal finance fundamentals to high schoolers. An avid believer in setting and achieving goals, Murray embraces his role as a Junior Achievement teacher because he firmly believes in the values the program imparts on students.

Murray, in short, does everything loves to do — help others, mentor young people, positively influence those around him, and build a better tomorrow for himself and others. “Everything that the Guard promised it would help me with, it has gone above and beyond,” Murray affirmed. “Due to hard work and opportunities provided by the Guard, I’ve been able to achieve every goal I set for myself — finish college, square away my retirement, and work every day at a job that I’m passionate about. That is why I love being a recruiter. In this role, I can help other people get on the path of success.”

Staff Sgt. Murray commentating an Army E-Sports event

When asked about his favorite memory in the Guard, Murray quickly recounted the time he used his radio DJ skills to broadcast professional videogaming to millions of people. “Being an Army E-Sports commentator was an absolute blast,” Murray said with a smile. “It was an exciting and unique experience that I’ll never forget. You never know what doors will open next with the Guard, and experiences like that are so uplifting and really makes me excited for the future.”

Story by Content Writer Sgt. Leann Roggensack

Tennessee Army National Guard

Written by

Live the life you imagined. Or even better, live a life you could never imagine. Tons of Careers. College & Healthcare Benefits. A Team for Life. Call today.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade