Experiences of a lifetime
Growing up in Red Hook, Philip Kraft remembers always wanting and waiting to join the military.
From the time he was small, the military was a dream he and his brother shared together. Their father, a military man himself, was part of the Navy for 16 years, and both of his sons wanted to join the service as well.
“Joining the military had been the plan all my life. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” Kraft said.
The family moved upstate to Preston in 2000, just two years before Phil graduated from High School. During that time, he played football and took courses in Martial Arts in Norwich. Directly following his high school graduation from Oxford Academy, Phil joined the Marines. The country already at war, Phil was uncertain were his decision would take him and how much of the world he would see. His first deployment took him overseas to Spain for two years. He worked in Security Forces on the Spanish African border, doing anti-terrorist missions.
Phil says he made a lot of close friends in his travels, and the thing he misses most about his time overseas was the sight seeing and traveling he got to take advantage of. During the two year stretch, he started having problems with his ankle, which in time would pose a problem and require surgery.
Shortly after the surgery, Phil traveled back stateside where he was again deployed, but this time to the beaches of Hawaii. Stationed at Kaneohe Bay, Kraft would take a job as a teacher. With his ankle still recovering, he taught new Marine recruits how to get ready to be deployed to Afghanistan.
While in Hawaii, Phil says he used to love the beaches and the atmosphere of it all. While there he also got to travel and see great things, which he says he misses. After a year deployment, Phil had finished his time in the military and made his journey back home.
He came home in April and says the best thing about being home is just that; being home. After taking some time for himself, he enrolled in college at the Norwich Extension of SUNY Morrisville for Liberal Arts as a full-time student. He says he likes taking courses and is still trying to figure out what he wants to do in the future. Kraft says he takes one day at a time. He misses traveling and seeing different places but being here is where he is happy.
Along with taking college courses, Phil spends time teaching children Martial Arts, the same way he was taught years ago. He has a passion for Martial Arts, and just weeks ago he completed his training for his black belt.
So far Phil has followed through with the agenda he had always planned for himself. He followed in the family tradition of joining the military, and he got the chance to explore and see things he says otherwise he never would have seen.
From the time he was small, the military was a dream he and his brother shared together. Their father, a military man himself, was part of the Navy for 16 years, and both of his sons wanted to join the service as well.
“Joining the military had been the plan all my life. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” Kraft said.
The family moved upstate to Preston in 2000, just two years before Phil graduated from High School. During that time, he played football and took courses in Martial Arts in Norwich. Directly following his high school graduation from Oxford Academy, Phil joined the Marines. The country already at war, Phil was uncertain were his decision would take him and how much of the world he would see. His first deployment took him overseas to Spain for two years. He worked in Security Forces on the Spanish African border, doing anti-terrorist missions.
Phil says he made a lot of close friends in his travels, and the thing he misses most about his time overseas was the sight seeing and traveling he got to take advantage of. During the two year stretch, he started having problems with his ankle, which in time would pose a problem and require surgery.
Shortly after the surgery, Phil traveled back stateside where he was again deployed, but this time to the beaches of Hawaii. Stationed at Kaneohe Bay, Kraft would take a job as a teacher. With his ankle still recovering, he taught new Marine recruits how to get ready to be deployed to Afghanistan.
While in Hawaii, Phil says he used to love the beaches and the atmosphere of it all. While there he also got to travel and see great things, which he says he misses. After a year deployment, Phil had finished his time in the military and made his journey back home.
He came home in April and says the best thing about being home is just that; being home. After taking some time for himself, he enrolled in college at the Norwich Extension of SUNY Morrisville for Liberal Arts as a full-time student. He says he likes taking courses and is still trying to figure out what he wants to do in the future. Kraft says he takes one day at a time. He misses traveling and seeing different places but being here is where he is happy.
Along with taking college courses, Phil spends time teaching children Martial Arts, the same way he was taught years ago. He has a passion for Martial Arts, and just weeks ago he completed his training for his black belt.
So far Phil has followed through with the agenda he had always planned for himself. He followed in the family tradition of joining the military, and he got the chance to explore and see things he says otherwise he never would have seen.
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