I AM 742: A New Beginning

Chris Ley is committed to doing the best job he can do, whether as a U.S. Airman or as a number one dad. This year is a new beginning for Ley and his daughter Kaylee. They recently moved to St. Cloud to be closer to family. Ley was also looking for a fresh start. Westwood Elementary School became Kaylee’s new school.

“It was kismet,” says Ley when he describes Kaylee meeting her first-grade teacher, Ms. Voigt. “She [Kaylee] fell in love immediately and she absolutely loves school.”

Ley had planned a lifetime career in the military, but instead he just finished his degree in drafting after serving 12 years active duty in the U.S. Air Force. Serving is an honored tradition in his family with military service both in the U.S. Marines Corps and U.S. Army.

While serving, Ley was in law enforcement where he eventually graduated to the control and command division of law enforcement. He was stationed in Colorado, Montana, Texas and New Mexico. Ley was deployed twice to Southeast Asia. There, his unit was charged with searching vehicles for contraband, whether it was firearms, ammunition, bombs, narcotics or anything else on the list. It was a scary and dangerous time. Radios could accidentally set off a bomb.

In 2010, Ley made the lateral move to combat arms. He trained marksmanship to seasoned soldiers with pistols, rifles, shotguns, machine guns and rockets- essentially, training advanced combat skills. He was also charged with weapon maintenance.

Chris Ley instructing marksmanship
Chris Ley instructing marksmanship

Ley loved the work and his career. When Kaylee was born, she traveled the world with him. But as Kaylee grew, Ley’s mind began to shift. His concern for Kaylee to have a dad around all the time became his focus instead of a career in the military. He made the difficult decision to move home, so Kaylee could be his primary focus.

Now, a civilian with his newly obtained degree, Ley enjoys drawing on the computer and creating things.

“It’s much safer than being shot at,” laughs Ley.

With his long family history of military service, he knows there may come a day when Kaylee may approach him about being in the military.

“She can go her own way, but I’m not going to push it,” he says. “I see why my family didn’t. They wanted me to make my own decision. It’s not one that is faintly made. It’s a big choice. I don’t think that I understood the gravity of my decision at that time. Being 17 and deciding I’m going to join the military- I don’t think that you can fully accept what it is that you’re doing. There were so many times that I was in over my head, but I did it because I promised [signed a contract]. … But having the choice, I’d do it all over again. But it’s going to be her choice.”

As Veterans Day approaches, Ley reflects on his military years and those he considers his second family.

“When you’re with a certain group for so long, you become enmeshed. You have responsibilities to the people that you know and care about,” explains Ley. “Then one day, someone says, ‘Hey, I got orders to leave.’ Five, six years down the line you come across them and literally it feels like you’ve never been apart.”

However, there are those that are never seen again.

“So, remembering your family and those that have gone before you is what it’s [Veterans Day] about,” says Ley.

This Veterans Day, Ley will honor his family members who have served. He’ll give special thanks to those who have gone on before him and have ensured that he and Kaylee have their fresh start and new beginning.

I AM Dad. I AM U.S. Air Force. I AM a veteran.

Chris Ley
Chris Ley