TRSF Competitor Highlight: Cody Kemper

Cody Kemper is one of our most active members in the foundation. He currently holds a billet that oversees merchandise and uniforms for the foundation. Cody is an Active USPSA competitor and is very active in the Athletics realm of the foundation.

My name is Cody. I served active duty in the Marine Corps between 1992-1996 followed by the Arizona National Guard in 1996-1999. While active duty, I was an 0311 with 3/8, 2/8 and 8th Marine Regiment. Lucky enough, I never got to see combat but was in Operations Deny Flight and Provide Promise off the Bosnian coast where we were on standby for about three to four months of our MEU deployment. Having to be in that mindset on and off took a little toll on the 20 year old mind I had back then.

After getting out I still had that sense of purpose to serve my country. I entered the National Guard where my friend of mine was stationed. This is were I thought I could make a difference but saw some BS I did not want to deal with. After my contract I did not re-enlist.

A couple years later 9/11 happened and I was going to reenlist in the Marine Corps but saw I had a bigger purpose of being here at home to help raise my boys. A day has never passed were I did not wonder if I could have done more. Regardless, in my short time in, I did see some different things that weighed on me.

During boot camp had a recruit fall from the third deck and land next to me. I'll never forget the sound of his head hitting the ground. On my first deployment, I met two guys from EOD and got to know them pretty well. Then our first exercise after we got back there was an explosion involving C4. Myself and a couple other were setting up security on scene to find out it was my two buddies.

Fast forward to years later where I’m 40 years old and have lost my sense of purpose in life combined with other anxieties that I haven’t dealt with, my wife got me going to the VA to get my injuries dealt with. She also got me to find something that I can call mine that could help with my mental state. I started running with my youngest son and found that when I was doing it, my mind was finally freed. Five years later and my knees and hips started hurting and need to find something else.

I found shooting which is something I hadn’t done since 1999 and, during that time, it was never with a pistol. I started watching YouTube and at the same time, tried to find a veteran based organization to work with. That’s when I ran into RSF and Mike Keevil. Keevil said that there was a guy named Goking out my way and to start talking with him.

The past two years have been such a great therapy for me. I still hit the gym regularly and run, but shooting is where my brain turns off from all the outside noise. When I’m out competing, all I see or hear is what is precisely in front of me. I never knew that there was a place outside of running which I’ve been advised to quit, by the way.. This became another outlet where I can reliably lose all my worries and enjoy life more. I still do it to this day.

Thanks to all that I have ran across these past couple years and I hope to see and do more!