Joshua Knobel: Religious Calling

Joshua Knobel: Religious Calling Josh didn’t see West Point as dramatically different from his other college options, but an overnight stay in 1997 caused him to reassess. Joshs’ host (Class of 2000) stayed up late studying the night before and wasn’t prepared for the upcoming day. His classmates in that moment bent over backwards to makes sure he was. Josh couldn’t imagine that happening at any other college, and it sold him. Josh didn’t participate much in sports before West Point, but he played football his senior year to prepare himself for the physical rigors of the Academy. Josh continued to push himself at West Point, but also sought refuge in his friends and in his faith. Joining the fencing team, participating in intramurals, and participating in events at the Jewish Chapel. Josh would graduate from West Point and join the Signal Corps, serving at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona and deploying to Iraq and Ft. Bragg, North Carolina and deploying to Afghanistan. Josh would push himself to accomplish the mission in both organizations, but more importantly he grew in his faith and his desire to be a part of something bigger than himself. In the Spring of 2008 Josh would redeploy from Afghanistan, hand off his Company Command, leave the military, and begin his journey to becoming a Rabbi. This is his story.