I had the great honor and privilage of being born into the greatest fighting force known to man: The United States Marine Corps! Ooh Rah! I say this because my father is a retired Marine Corps Colonel. As you can see, I love the Marine Corps. I was born to Terron and Angela Sims. I have a younger brother, CPT Doug Sims, West Point Class of 2004, and a younger sister, Helene Sims.

As a Marine Corps Brat, you can imagine that I moved around a bit as a kid. I've lived in Pittsburgh, CA, Quantico, VA twice, Camp Pendelton, CA, San Antonio, New Orleans, and Prince William County Virginia. Growing up, I attended 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools. I joke with my friends that the longest I have had one address was my PO Box at West Point.

Speaking of West Point, what is great and unheard of is that in my senior year high school english class, 5 of us graduated from West Point: 3 of my friends went straight to West Point, I went to the Prep School first, and another friend enlisted in the Army first, before heading to the Prep School, and then on to West Point.  

I graduated from CD Hylton Senior High School in 1995 and went on to attend, and then graduate from, The United States Military Academy Preparatory School at Ft Monmouth, NJ in 1996. Attending the Prep School first was the best thing that could have happened to me as a cadet. The Prep School taught me the true meaning of teamwork, duty, and leadership. When I went on to West Point's Cadet Basic Training, better known as Beast Barracks, because the Prep School was such a growing journey for me, Beast was like summer camp. I had a great time! In May 2000, one of the most joyous days of my life occurred; I graduated from West Point. Attending West Point is one of the best decisions I have ever made. Without going too far off on a tangent, I just have to say that I love West Point like I love my family!

After graduating from West Point, I was an assistant basketball coach and executive Tactical Officer back at West Point's Prep School. I consider that 6 month period as West Point thanking me for a job well done. The times my friends and I had while at the Prep School were some of the best and most memorable of our lives.

From the Prep School, I went on to Ft Sill, OK to attend the Army's Field Artillery Officer's Basic Course (OBC). That was an interesting time. Having gone from the Prep School, which was located on the Jersey Shore and a short drive from both NYC and Atlantic City, to Lawton, OK was a serious culture shock. Needless to say, my friends and I made the most of it and had a great time.

When I graduated from OBC, finally, a year after having graduated from West Point, I reported to 1st Howitzer Battery (Cobra), 1st Squadron 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) at Ft Polk, LA. My first assignment in the Cobra Battery was as a Fire Direction Officer. After holding that position for a year, I then became a platoon leader: arguably the best leadership position in the Army because it is the only time an officer is truly working directly with troops. For TRUE leaders, that is what matters most: being with soldiers.

As a platoon leader is when 2d ACR deployed to Iraq. We spent a year in Baghdad and just short of 3 months in Al Kut. 2 months into the deployment, my squadron commander assigned me as the Squadron Fire Support Officer (FSO). Because there were no enemy artillery fires to worry about, he had me serve as the squadron's principal civil military officer. Once I received this assignment, that is when the real fun began. I have written an extremely fascinating book about my exploits that goes into several interesting details that are not public knowledge, yet I remain unpublished.

My deployment in Baghdad was the greatest time of my life, and I truly believe it is going to be an extremely long time before I do anything that comes close to that ever again. It is rare when one is ever able to truly be a part of something bigger than himself. My time in Baghdad was one such rarity.

When we redeployed home, I became the Deputy Cheief of Training for Ft Polk and the Joint Readiness Training Center. This position was a great deal of fun, and I learned a lot about every aspect of garrison operations. The highlight was when I designed and oversaw the first phase of the Combined Arms Collective Training Facility (CACTF), which is used to train soldiers and Marines prior to deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan.

After having proudly served 5 years in the United States Army, I resigned my commission and became an undercover civilian. The reason I left the Army, though I had a great time and still miss it everyday, was to enter the world of public service- commonly known as politics. My decision to return home to do so was an easy one. I could not imagine "doing politics" anywhere but in my home state of Virginia. Never do I regret the decision I made to enter public service. Doing good for others is one of the best things any of us can do and is a charge that GOD has placed upon all of us.

Be well...