Background and Current Role

Q: So just to start off, I know you were a former Army veteran, so can you talk about your former experience in the Army and what you do now at Deloitte as a consultant?

A: Yeah. So my path to the Army was through West Point. I graduated high school in 2015 — I went to Fordham Prep in the Bronx, so not far from you guys — and then started West Point that summer. I did 4 years there, graduated, and commissioned as an infantry officer. That took me down to Fort Benning, Georgia, which is now Fort Moore. I did my initial Infantry Officer Training, which is called the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course — about 5 months. That qualifies you for your branch, teaching you everything you need to know about being an infantry officer.

 

From there, I went to Ranger School, one of the military’s premier leadership courses — notoriously one of the most physically and mentally difficult. That was 2 months; I passed each phase the first time, which I was lucky to do, as it’s pretty rare. After that, I went to Oahu, Hawaii — my first real duty station — as a platoon leader in charge of a heavy weapons platoon in an infantry company: 20 guys and 4 vehicles.

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Then I decided I wanted to get into special operations, so I applied to the 75th Ranger Regiment. That took me back to Fort Benning for a 3-week assessment and selection course. I got selected, was reassigned to Second Ranger Battalion in Tacoma, Washington, and spent the rest of my time there — a little over 3 years — as a platoon leader for some reconnaissance elements. I deployed a couple of times, first doing counterterrorism and then global crisis response.

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After that, I decided to try something different and go into business. I did an internship at Deloitte while still on active duty, then came back full-time about 5 months ago. I moved back to New York City and now do finance transformations for large commercial clients.

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Requirements to Join the Military and Decision to Serve

Q: Could you tell us about some of the requirements to join the military and the Rangers, and what made you want to go down that path?

A: For a high school audience, there are two big buckets: the officer route and the enlisted route.

 

To enlist, you go to a recruiting office, see a list of jobs, do paperwork, and then attend basic training for your service branch. After that, you get advanced training in your job specialty before going to your operational unit.

 

The officer path has two main routes: West Point or ROTC. West Point has a more rigorous application process than most colleges, including securing a congressional nomination. ROTC programs are at most major universities or in partnership with others. You complete your undergrad and then commission as a second lieutenant, just like West Point grads.

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As for my decision — it was a call to serve, to be part of something bigger than myself. That sounds cliché, but it’s true. I also thought it would be an adventure, and it was — I traveled to parts of the world I wouldn’t otherwise have seen and met great people.

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Biggest Takeaways from Military Experience

Q: What was your biggest takeaway from being in the military, and how has it helped you in your current job?

 

A: Leadership. At a young age, especially as an officer, you’re responsible for many aspects of your soldiers’ lives. You quickly learn how to manage and motivate people to do hard things, physically and mentally. You also have to care for the whole person — including their family life — because the Army can take a lot of time, especially with deployments and training.

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That ability to lead, motivate, and care for people carries over to consulting. Funny enough, I had more responsibility at West Point and as a young officer than I do now — in consulting, I’m not in charge of as many people because of how the industry works. But I still use those leadership skills to consider the bigger picture before asking people to do something.

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Changes in the Military

Q: Do you see changes coming to the process of enlisting or the work being done once people join the military?

 

A: One big change I saw over my 5+ years is the rapid integration of technology. There’s still a huge human component, especially in the Army, but now there’s more tech layered on — both hardware and software. Every job, regardless of specialty, increasingly relies on technology.

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Advice 

Q: Do you have any specific advice for young people interested in either the military or consulting?

A: For the military: If you’re interested, just do it. Most people think it’s too hard for them, but that’s the point — you push past limits you didn’t think you could. It’s intimidating and scary at first, but you grow, often as a team, and your ceiling rises.

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For consulting: Find something you’re interested in — or at least interested in learning about — because curiosity will carry you far. Ask a lot of questions. Networking is huge, especially at a big firm like Deloitte. It opens opportunities, gives you perspectives, and helps you learn about innovations and roles you wouldn’t know about otherwise.

 

Career Reflection

Q: Would you have done anything differently in your career path so far?

A: No. I’m glad I went to West Point, glad I went infantry, and glad I joined the Rangers. Leaving the Army was a tough decision, but I have no regrets. I believe in being bold, making decisions, and jumping in fully.

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Short- and Long-Term Goals

Q: What are your short- and long-term plans?

A: Short term — keep learning my job until I’m confident enough to teach others. Long term — I’m not sure. I’m interested in hospitality, specifically food and beverage. I’ve thought about culinary school for a long time, so maybe that’s in the future.

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Daily Life in Consulting

Q: What does a typical day look like for you at Deloitte?

A: I usually wake up, work out, and either work remotely or go to the Manhattan office. On a client engagement, we start with a morning meeting — often with our India team — for status updates. The day involves meetings, presentations, problem-solving, and sometimes travel. For some clients, you travel weekly, Monday to Thursday. That can be tiring but also rewarding to work in person.

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Favorite Part of the Job

Q: What’s your favorite part of your work?

A: The people. Whether in the Army or consulting, it’s about the connections, friendships, and memories.

 

Balancing Work and Home Life in the Military

Q: How did you balance work and home life in the military?

A: It wasn’t too difficult because most units maintain predictable calendars. You generally know when you’ll be gone for training or deployment well in advance, which lets you prepare. Day-to-day Army life, when not deployed, is often like a regular job — workouts, maintenance, admin tasks, and being home most nights.

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We would like to thank Mr. Elmlinger for the time he spent speaking with us, and we hope you were able to learn something from the insight he provided

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From,

Cooper and Finn