New Oven, Stronger Home for Marine Veteran

After high school, one recent Pancakes For Roger recipient found himself at a crossroads. College didn’t feel like the right fit, and the future seemed uncertain as he juggled jobs at a grocery store and a pizza shop. With encouragement from his family and his then-girlfriend, now wife, he walked into a Marine Corps recruiting office, a decision that changed the course of his life.

He enlisted in 2012 and attended basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina, before serving as a Cyber Network Operator at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. His service included a six-month deployment to Bahrain, experiences that strengthened his discipline, adaptability, and sense of purpose.

“The biggest lesson I took from my time in service,” he shared, “is that when you see something that needs to be done, or somewhere you can make an impact, you should take responsibility and do it, regardless of whose job it is.” That mindset has guided him through higher education and into a successful civilian career as a cybersecurity engineer.

After earning both a master’s in computer science and an MBA through the GI Bill, he and his wife returned to their home state of New Hampshire, where they are raising their two children.

A recent Pancakes for Roger grant is helping their family replace their broken oven, a meaningful improvement that provides stability and comfort at home. “This grant will give us a more reliable way to cook for our family,” he said, “and free up funds for other needs.”

His story is a reminder that service extends far beyond the uniform through responsibility, perseverance, and the impact we make in our communities.