(This article originally appeared in the October 2026 issue of Military Officer magazine.)

CW3 Ryan Koniak serves as a personnel officer assigned to the Special Operations Detachment-Global. During more than two decades of service, he has deployed multiple times, served in special operations assignments, and worked alongside NATO allies around the world.

A Family Legacy

“I accepted an appointment to the Virginia Military Institute in 2000 and enlisted in the National Guard during my second year,” Koniak said. “Over the next two decades, I deployed multiple times, rose to the rank of master sergeant, and in 2020 was selected for Warrant Officer Candidate School.

“At first, service was about upholding my family’s military legacy and doing something I’d wanted to do since I was a kid. Over time, it evolved into a deeper sense of responsibility to others.”

Beyond the Mission

“One of the highlights of my career was returning to Afghanistan in 2017 as a senior NCO in a special operations detachment. I made it a priority to learn the culture, speak Dari, and strengthen relationships with our Afghan commando partners.

“When Afghanistan fell in 2021, I helped one of those partners escape Kabul and eventually resettle in the U.S. The experience reinforced that service does not always happen in uniform or on a timeline. Taking care of people is a responsibility that can extend well beyond any mission.”

What Service Teaches You

“Most of us who serve are just hardworking, ordinary people who sometimes get the opportunity to do extraordinary things.

“One of the biggest things I’ve taken from the Army is that unfavorable situations are often completely out of your control. Learning to control your reaction — mentally, physically, and tactically — is a true life skill.”