MARIETTA, OHIO—Student of the Month Stratton Johnson credits the Army with molding him into the man he is today. As a soldier, the military equipped him with skills that he still relies on today, skills that he believes contribute to his classroom success.
During Johnson’s three-and-a-half years of duty, he served in Germany and Afghanistan where he charged through the ranks and made sergeant in just three short years, a feat that, as he explained, normally takes twice that long. During his enlistment, the Army instilled in him loyalty, duty, respect, selfless services, honor, integrity and personal courage; values that he ascribes to his success as a soldier and as a student.
Having been out of the classroom for more than a decade, the 29-year-old student Veteran admitted that refamiliarizing himself with math and English initially posed a challenge. However, his overall attitude toward school and perseverance, “treating school like I am going to work every day to get the most out of it,” has proven key to his ability to overcome the challenge.
Instructor Chris Carpenter described Johnson as a leader who is motivated to be his best. “He has a constant drive to better himself through knowledge.” He went on to say Johnson’s strong disposition for timeliness, personal pride and responsibility make his military service apparent. “The traits that have made him a great soldier and student will also serve him well in his career. He will be an asset to a business.”
Johnson anticipates graduating with his Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Technology – Welding next Spring and plans to seek employment with the plumbers and pipefitters union or with a local business.
