Dakota Meyer, a Marine Corps veteran who received the Medal of Honor for his gallant actions during a 2009 battle in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, reenlisted into the Marine Corps Reserve during a ceremony at the Pentagon today, following a 15-year break in service.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth readministered the oath of enlistment to Meyer, now 36 years old, who retained his previous active-duty rank of sergeant and will continue to serve as an infantryman in the reserve.
During remarks just prior to readministering the oath, Hegseth said that — though Meyer didn't request such a high-profile ceremony — the secretary felt he wanted people to recognize the example Meyer was setting.
"[We're doing] this as big as we can because I want the American people, I want your fellow Marines [and] I want other service members to look at [your] example and [know] you're never too old, you're never too experienced [and] you've never done too much to contribute; and I salute you," Hegseth told Meyer.
The secretary also pointed out that prior-service Marines, like Meyer, returning from the civilian world is rare.
"It's not common practice that things like this occur, but you showed uncommon valor and continue to show uncommon commitment," Hegseth said.
"And, here at the Defense Department, we're grateful for you," he added.
Meyer, who said there's "probably not been a day" since he left active duty in 2010 that he hasn't thought about returning to the uniform — and who had to pass a pair of physical and combat fitness tests before being allowed to reenlist — credits realizing he still had more to give to his country with motivating him to finally go through that lengthy process.
"I love this country with every fiber of my moral being — I always have," Meyer told members of the media prior to the ceremony.
"The same reason I joined 20 years ago is the same reason I'm coming back in: I've got more to give, and it's just such an honor to be able to come stand shoulder to shoulder next to the men and women who are wearing the nation's cloth today," he added.
Being that Meyer has an elevated, celebrity-like status in the Marine Corps — and, to an extent, other branches of service and some segments of American society — he was asked whether he had any concerns about being sheltered and protected from the potentially dangerous assignments he might take on once back in uniform.
Meyer replied that was the first conversation he had with the Marine Corps regarding his potential reenlistment.
"[I said] that, if I was going to come back in … I didn't want any special treatment. I asked that I would be able to have the same opportunities as any other sergeant, and that's what we agreed on," Meyer said, adding that he wants to do "whatever the nation calls me to do."
Hegseth said Meyer's decision to reenlist is demonstrative of an upward trend in service-wide recruiting.
"You're responding to something we've seen Americans across the country respond to since President [Donald J.] Trump's election, which is a renewed inspiration to want to serve this country [and] getting record numbers … in recruiting of young Americans who were inspired by the president's leadership," Hegseth said to Meyer.
During brief remarks following his reenlistment, Meyer said that — while one's job title in life can often change — the mission always remains the same.
"It's to lead and to live with integrity and to be unconditional in everything you stand for," Meyer said, adding that he values getting to renew his commitment to the Marine Corps, the Constitution and the United States of America.
"I'm damn proud of the men and women who are standing in uniform … and I'm so proud I get to be one of them again," he said.
Having received the Medal of Honor from former President Barack Obama in 2011, Meyer is the second youngest living recipient.