How I Ended Up in the Army
I wish I had a big, noble reason for joining. I didn't. I was a shy kid from Rupert who did what he was told. A recruiter caught me my junior year at Minico, and I signed up through the Delayed Entry Program because I didn't have a better plan and didn't know how to say no.
My family didn't think I'd make it. They thought I was too gentle. Four or five of us from my group signed up. Two of us finished. I'll admit that still feels pretty good.
I shipped out of MEPS in Boise to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. An Idaho kid is not built for Missouri humidity. Then winter came and that same wet air turned bitter cold. It was miserable. I made it anyway.
Learning the Law, One File at a Time
After basic, I trained as a 71D legal specialist at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis. Then I served three years of active duty in Germany, followed by five years in the active reserves.
I worked up at battalion with our lieutenant colonel. I handled Article 15s, smaller courts martial, and the paperwork to process soldiers out of the Army. Every page mattered, because one mistake could change someone's career. I got good at it, and I learned to answer questions on the spot because people needed answers, not guesses.
That turned out to be good training for real estate. A home purchase, and a VA purchase especially, is a stack of paperwork with deadlines where small mistakes cost real money. I bring the same care to every file.
Germany Changed Me
I took German in high school, which may be why the Army sent me there. I got sick and missed the first few days of language orientation. When I finally showed up, the instructor asked for volunteers to read out loud, and I raised my hand. Nobody expected the guy who showed up late to read German. I wasn't fluent, but I knew how to say the words.
In Germany I met my best friend, a guy from Georgia who lives in Boise now. We traveled all over Europe together. I learned about other people and other cultures, things I would have been too scared to try on my own back then. Honestly, I don't know who I'd be without that time.
What the Army Taught Me
I learned duty. I saw customs most people never see: the formal balls, the receiving lines, the history behind all of it. I also got put in my place. I picked up the way the officers talked and started using that voice with people who outranked me. Our battalion adjutant made it clear that wasn't okay. I needed that lesson, and I still carry it.
One of my sergeants told me it's better to ask forgiveness than permission. That stuck. When a client needs something done, I don't wait for someone to tell me it can't be.
I was also trusted to look out for soldiers going through hard times. That's where I learned how to help people who are scared. Buying or selling a home can be scary too.
Why I Do This
I've always loved this country, and taking the oath made that love real. My faith, my family, and my time in uniform shaped me into someone who cares about people and wants to see them build a better life. Veterans hold a special place in my heart, and I'm proud to help them use the home loan benefit they earned. But I'll work just as hard for any family trying to find their place here in Southern Idaho.
Working With a VA Lender I Trust
I've closed a number of deals with Tyler Newton at SecurityNational Mortgage in Twin Falls. She knows the VA loan inside and out, and she takes good care of my clients. If you want to know what you qualify for, she's a great first call.
VA Home Loans in the Magic Valley: Quick Answers
Do you really need zero down? Can you buy acreage? Will sellers take a VA offer seriously? This short video covers the questions veterans ask most.
Tyler Newton, Mortgage Loan Officer, NMLS# 95755
SecurityNational Mortgage, 205 Shoshone St N, Ste 202, Twin Falls, ID 83301
Call (208) 404-6528 or email tyler.newton@snmc.com
See Tyler's profile at SecurityNational Mortgage
SecurityNational Mortgage Company, Co. NMLS# 3116, Branch NMLS# 1008268. Equal Housing Lender.
Let's Talk
If you're a veteran thinking about buying or selling in the Magic Valley or Mini-Cassia, call or text me at 208-431-5179. No pressure. Just a conversation.
Moe Garcia
Forever Idaho Real Estate, Westerra Real Estate Group