Justin Mosley, a 2012 graduate of Roxboro Community School (RCS) credits his high school math teacher with instilling skills he now uses to solve problems in his role as a Military Intelligence Officer.
Justin enlisted in the U.S. Army directly out of high school as an All-Source Intelligence Analyst. He said, “Service was always forefront in my mind, as well as the opportunities I knew the Army could provide.”
Justin deployed to Afghanistan in 2014, where he supported the diminishment of Taliban capabilities and assets in five districts and provided intelligence assessments to support the downsizing of military bases throughout Kandahar Province.
“After deployment,” said Justin, “I applied for and won the Army Green to Gold Scholarship and was one of four out of over 20 applicants on Fort Carson to receive the scholarship to become a commissioned officer.”
“After serving for over three years,” and earning the scholarship, he said he “transitioned to attending the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). I majored in business with an emphasis in marketing. Upon graduating, I commissioned into the Army as a Military Intelligence Officer.”
He said he enjoyed the small class sizes at RCS and “how engaged the teachers were. Looking back,” he said, “the toughest teachers had the biggest impact. Mrs. (Rose) Wilkerson, for example, had a massive impact on not only my college performance, but the way I look at problems in life. The way Mrs. Wilkerson taught math was a very strict ‘step by step’ approach, analyzing the problem again after each step. I’ve found that looking at problems like that in my current job, where lives depend on it in some cases, increases my ability to develop effective solutions.”
Looking back on his time at RCS, Justin said playing sports played a large role in the man and soldier he has become. He played basketball and lacrosse from eighth through 12th grade. He also played two years of soccer in high school.
“My two best memories are sports related,” he said. “The first and biggest was the basketball team winning the conference championship my senior year. All of us that were on that team still talk and keep up; just showing how much of an impact a team has on each other. Coach (Justin) Bettendorf, who led us to that championship, is still the head coach. I know he’s continuing to instill the same values and work ethic that he instilled in us.”
Another memory Justin treasures “is starting lacrosse at RCS,” he said. “RCS was the place I learned how to play lacrosse and it had a major impact on me. I continued and played for the club team at UCCS. Coach Jimmy (Reardon) and Coach Pete (Daly) were absolutely terrific coaches and showed us that hard work is the only way to get better.”
When asked what advice he would offer current high school students, Justin said, “Stay involved in the school and the community. Looking back, I wish I would have done more with the surrounding community. Work hard to be involved in extracurricular activities,” he continued, “not just for a college resume, but for the experience, because it undoubtedly will improve your outlook on life and enhance your experience.”
Justin said he hopes to soon have the ability to be more involved in the RCS community. He and his “beautiful and wonderful wife, Monica,” will be moving to Fort Bragg within the next year, he said. He hopes to find, “Just a small way to give back to the school that set me up to be where I am now.”