From military brat to Army officer: Georgia Southern’s Jaden Young is ready to lead

“Shoot for the stars.” It’s a simple phrase, but one that captures what Jaden Young is striving for after earning his commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during Georgia Southern University’s December graduation ceremonies.

“I want to climb the ranks to Army general,” he said, underscoring his determination to aim high. “If you shoot for the stars, even if you miss, you might land on the moon.”

A professional communication and leadership master’s graduate, Young considers Hinesville, Georgia, his home base after growing up as a military brat.

“My dad was enlisted in the Army, my great-grandfather was enlisted, a cousin served in the U.S. Air Force, and my twin brother is currently serving on the enlisted side,” he said.

His family moved often — an experience he considered an advantage, as it exposed him to people from diverse backgrounds. This upbringing, he believes, prepared him well for the demands of both college and athletics. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Christian University, where he also played basketball on an athletic scholarship. After graduating, he returned to Hinesville, enrolled in a master’s program at Georgia Southern, and joined the Army ROTC.

“The ROTC program instilled in me discipline, confidence and resilience,” Young said. “It also taught me the value of innovation. When things don’t go your way, it’s all about how you adapt and find a better solution.”

The move to Georgia Southern for graduate school presented a unique challenge. Young had to cultivate new relationships in both his master’s program and ROTC.

“I didn’t start with those people who were undergraduates or had already graduated from Georgia Southern,” he said. “My biggest challenge was building new relationships while being evaluated in both Army ROTC and my graduate classes.”

Looking back on his two years on the Statesboro Campus, Young recalled several events that shaped his experience. His mother had a Multiple Myeloma cancer diagnosis, while his dad was working overseas as a contractor.

“During my first two semesters, I had to balance ROTC, get her to her appointments, and make sure she was okay,” Young said. “That was hard, but it made me step up to the plate and take care of her. I pushed through. She beat it, and now she is doing perfectly fine.”

Other memories stand out, especially the demanding daily routine of physical fitness and academics.

“One of my favorite memories was waking up early at 5 a.m. to do my rucks (walking with a weighted backpack) with ROTC and then coming back to work on a paper right after that,” he said.

Reflecting on his time at Georgia Southern, Young admitted that it exceeded his expectations.

“I thought leadership was just about the basics of being a leader, being in charge, but my classes taught me it is much deeper than that,” he said. “It is also about how you communicate with others to achieve a goal. Trust, loyalty and character are all part of that.”

The new Army officer was also surprised by his achievements in the ROTC program.

“I ended up getting my number one branch in ROTC — military intelligence with an infantry detail,” he said. “Going in, I thought I might land one of my top five, but I really didn’t expect to get my number one choice. I was about fifty-fifty on whether it would happen.

As graduation day approached, the reality of his accomplishments began to sink in.

“It seems so surreal,” Young shared. “When you first start in a master’s program, two years seems like a long time. But when you reach the end, you cannot believe that you have finally done it.”

Looking ahead as he prepares for basic officer leadership training at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia, the graduate believes he is ready for his future.

“I left Georgia Southern a lot more prepared for my career,” he said. “I know how to manage adversity better than I ever did before, and I am much more confident in my ability to lead soldiers.”