A soldier and student
An ROTC cadet’s journey through college and the army.
By Michael Harjo
Issac Bei wiped the sweat from his brow, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath. His legs heaved and screamed out in pain, a noise only he could hear, a noise he chose to ignore. This was his first 6-mile ruck, a grueling test of physical and mental endurance that he refused to let conquer him. With only 2 miles left to go, Bei adjusted his straps, squared his shoulders, and continued on. He was motivated. Failure was not an option.
The initial ruck packing list required only thirty-five pounds. However, Bei had packed sixty. If he was going to ruck, he was going all the way. It wasn’t just about meeting the minimum requirements, it was about pushing his limits and proving to himself and others that he could go above and beyond.
“I want to keep pushing myself,” Bei said. “It helps me to be the best of the best.”
The ruck took place at Camp Ripley, a military base located in Minnesota. Alongside Bei on the ruck was Cadet Logan Giles, a member of his squad. Giles witnessed Bei’s leadership. For the past two months, Giles observed Bei in action, and the experience had left a lasting impression.
“He’s just a really nice guy, and it really does help,” Giles said. “He’s just good at getting on everybody’s good side.”
“I just felt called to teach the word of God.” — Issac Bei
“I am trained to be an officer rather than enlisted,” Bei said. “I felt like officers should probably go through that [Basic Training] too.”
When Bei isn’t at Camp Ripley, he spends his time at Bethel University. There he pursues a major in Biblical Theology. Bei harbors a deep aspiration to become a Chaplain in the army. He hopes to one day share his profound knowledge of the Bible with his fellow soldiers. To provide spiritual guidance in the face of any challenges they may encounter.
“I just felt called to teach the word of God,” Bei said. “There’s just so much evidence that God has put in my life that shows and points to that.”
Bei continues to stay motivated as he balances these two major commitments, military service and academic pursuits. His time commitments allow for very little personal time, prioritizing the hours he dedicates to sleep. When he’s not in class or on a ruck, you’ll find him with the army or at the gym, where he spends hours honing his physical prowess. Bei is determined to get stronger, to be the best soldier he can be. He says that with the state the world is in, he wants to be prepared for any potential deployment.
“I’m not looking forward to it,” Bei said. “But it will be an adventure to go on, even if it’s dangerous and I won’t be coming back alive.”
