On any given day Robert Flynn could be found helping conduct a boundary survey at the Babcock Ranch in Florida, and the next he could be sitting in the gunner seat of an armored vehicle trekking through the sands of the Middle East.

Rob, an instrumentman on our surveying team, enlisted in the United States Army Reserves in 2008 while still a junior in high school. Shortly after graduating, he was off to Advanced Individual Training (AIT), where new soldiers receive specific training in their chosen military occupational specialty (MOS). For Rob, that was a 88N/H or Transportation Management Coordinator, where he was assigned to the 1st Calvary division in Florida.

It wasn’t long before his unit was deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2011, Rob had to leave his wife Julie and infant son Hunter behind, spending the next 14 total months living in B-Hut with seven other soldiers. During his deployment, he endured dangerous combat situations and was fortunate to make it home safely. He attained the rank of E5 becoming the Sergeant in command of his detachment. Rob also successfully completed a Spur Ride passing a series of physical and mental tests, earning him a Stetson and Spurs, which is a prestigious honor within the Cavalry.

Rob joined Johnson Engineering in 2014 and has been working on a field crew in our surveying and mapping group. In 2016, Rob was called back to active duty, this time he was deployed to Kuwait as part of the 623rd Inland Cargo Unit, then was forward-deployed and cross leveled to a Combat Sustainment Battalion and Special Purpose Marine Air & Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) in Iraq. Again, Rob was placed in the line of fire, experiencing combat and withstanding the sounds of war, this time for nine months.

Back stateside again, it’s only a matter of time before Rob could possibly get deployed yet again. Through his experience, he was able to meet some interesting people along the way, working with allied troops from countries such as Spain, Denmark, Britain, and Australia. He has also made lifelong friends of those soldiers who stood side-by-side with him on the front lines.

We are thankful that he has made it home safe and want to take this time to truly thank him for his service in protecting our freedom. From all of us at Johnson Engineering, Rob, thank you.