Robinson’s military background is unique
SERVICE STORIES – Merritt Island native Drae Robinson was recently promoted to the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army after serving in Iraq in 2020 supporting Joint Special Operations Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. mission to defeat the Islamic State.
Robinson’s military background is unique as he joined Merritt Island High School’s Army JROTC program as a freshman in 2010 and immediately fell in love with the students and military leaders he grew up following. found surrounded – and knew it was his future and his family.
Under the mentorship and guidance of Merritt Island High JROTC Senior Army Instructor, retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Scott Waggoner, he was inspired to become an officer in the U.S. Army.
“As I entered my senior year, Lt. Col. Wagoner and First Sergeant Juan Torres, the army instructor, inquired about my future intentions,” Capt. Robinson said.
“I knew I wanted to be an officer in the military, but I didn’t have the GPA to be competitive for this year’s group for a standard ROTC scholarship at a four-year institution or senior military college.”
Lt. Col. Wagoner suggested that Robinson attend Georgia Military College, a junior college in Milledgeville, Georgia, and use the Early Commissioning Program, an opportunity to receive an accelerated commission in two years rather than four, at the expense of waiving an active-duty opportunity at the end of school.
“In August 2014, I started my adventure in Army ROTC,” said Captain Robinson.
“Georgia Military College, after all, was a military college. I wore a cadet uniform every day, inspected the rooms to make sure the beds were made, and had morning wake-up trainings and evening tap trainings.
Robinson spent two years in Milledgeville in order to receive his commission early and earned his associate’s degree.
After graduating from Georgia Military College in 2016 and commissioning into the U.S. Army Reserve as a military intelligence officer, Robinson attended Mercer University to complete his bachelor’s degree, while actively serving as a drill lieutenant in his reserve unit.
As a Second Lieutenant, he served as a Company Platoon Leader from 2016 to 2017 and was promoted to First Lieutenant in November 2017. He was subsequently Company Executive Officer in 2018 and Acting Company Commander in 2019.
“In January 2020, I was selected to deploy to Kuwait and Baghdad, Iraq to support Special Operations Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (SOJTF-OIR), the US mission to defeat ISIS , resulting in the detention and elimination of more than 250 IS fighters,” said Captain Robinson.
Upon his return to the United States, Robinson assumed the role of officer in charge (OIC) of an open-source intelligence cell at Fort Gordon, Georgia – a role he will continue to hold after his promotion to the rank of captain on January 1. in active service.
“I really have to pay tribute here, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the exemplary character of Lt. Col. Scott Wagoner and First Sgt. Juan Torres,” Robinson said.
“They took an exuberant, inattentive child and made me into a driven, motivated and disciplined young man. Not a day goes by that I don’t lace up my boots and think of these brave gentlemen.
