If you don’t know what to do after high school, one potential path is joining the military. 

Imagine Prep has many alumni, staff, and students who are now in the Armed Forces or are planning on enlisting to join after graduation. We recognize these veterans and active members in our front office with our Wall of Honor. Joseph Burtrum and Alex Osmond are recognized in this wall.

Burtrum is actively serving in the Army. Burtrum graduated from Imagine Prep in 2018. He said that the reason he wanted to join is because he feels it is something he needed to be a part of.

“[I] always thought that service to [the] country was something that everyone should be a part of and it’s always something that I felt called to do,” Burtrum said.

When Burtrum’s football career didn’t work out, he knew the Army was the best route to take.

Burtrum said he wouldn’t change the branch he went into, and that he knew “for a fact that [he] made the best decision and set [himself] up to meet [his] goals.” 

Burtrum’s piece of advice for people who want to join the military in the future is to not underestimate yourself. Although Burtrum wasn’t the “toughest or the fastest,” he still managed to make it through. 

Burtrum said that the person who motivated him to join the Army the most was Assistant Principal, Daniel Hattley. He said that Hattley was his fifth grade teacher and “was under his supervision [until Burtrum] graduated”. Hattley “always made sure [Burtrum] was doing the right thing and pushing [him] to be better”. Burtrum said that “that mindset has really helped [him] succeed in [his] military career.” 

Osmond is currently serving in the Army’s Infantry. Osmond graduated from Imagine Prep in 2017. He said that the reason he wanted to join is because he wanted to do [his] part.

When asked if Osmond would change his branch, he said no. He stated that he’s met great dudes that [he’ll] know for the rest of [his] life and that’s what makes it worthwhile. 

Osmond’s piece of advice for people who want to join the military in the future is to not quit.

“Don’t give up. You may want to quit, you [may be] tired, [but] just keep pushing through. Be open minded and learn from your mistakes,” Osmond said.

Osmond stated that the person who motivated him to join the Army the most was Burtrum. He said that Burtrum had already [been] sworn in before [he] did and that Burtrum had an impact on [Osmond] choosing that path.