At John Jay College, we’re committed to providing our military service members, veterans, and their families the support they need to reach their academic, professional, and personal goals. These talented students sacrificed a great deal to protect our country and the ideals that we hold dear. We consider it an honor to further their education and create an environment focused on their success. As a continuation of the admirable work done by our Military and Veteran Services Center and Veterans Association, we’re excited to highlight the achievements of our military and veteran community in our “Salute to Service” article series. As you read about their journeys, accomplishments, and aspirations, two things will become abundantly clear: These servicemen and servicewomen are focused on their education—with a 90 percent graduation rate—and they know how to support each other. Whether they’ve served in the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy, their unique experiences and perspectives play a vital role in our community.

U.S. Army Combat Veteran and Criminal Justice Management major Javier Garcia Riancho ’22 grew up with dreams of working in law enforcement. At the age of 18, he joined the U.S. military as a natural steppingstone to reaching his goal. “I always wanted to work in law enforcement because it’s an honorable profession, and what better way to prepare for that career path than joining the U.S. military,” says Garcia Riancho. “I knew that being in the military would provide me with structure—which at the time I really needed—and would encourage growth, discipline, and a real sense of responsibility within me. Going through basic training, you become stronger both physically and mentally, and being part of the U.S. Army makes you feel like you are part of something bigger.”

Serving for over five years with the U.S. Army and twice deployed to Afghanistan, Garcia Riancho helped lead reconnaissance and sniper missions in some of the most hostile areas of the world, but what stands out most from his time serving in the military are the bonds he was able to form with his peers. “The camaraderie in the Army is unlike any other. To this day I still speak with the men I served with,” says Garcia Riancho, recalling one of his happiest moments in the military. “The most satisfying day for me was seeing a soldier who I mentored graduate the training program. He was from Colombia and didn’t speak a word of English when he started. I walked him through how to succeed. I shared my training and workout techniques, explained concepts, and provided guidance. Seeing him achieve his goal made me very proud.” We sat down with Garcia Riancho to learn more about his time with the U.S. Army and his goals for the future.

Tell us a little bit about your life. Where did you grow up and what was it like growing up there?
I was born in Havana, Cuba, and lived in Cuba until I was about 13 years old. Then we moved to Canada and lived there for a year before moving to New Jersey. I transferred from school to school a lot, so I was always the kid that wasn’t really paying attention and felt like I didn’t fit in. I graduated high school and then went to basic training.

I come from a family that really values education, they all have college degrees, so when I said I wanted to go from high school into the military they looked at me like I was crazy. They couldn’t understand it, but I just didn’t’ see myself going to college. To me, the most natural path to a career in law enforcement was to join the military.

What did a typical day look like for you while you were in the U.S. Army?
I had an outstanding group of guys I worked with and on days when we weren’t on missions, we’d spent most of the day prepping. I’d meet up with the team early in the morning and work out. Afterward, we would run drills, perform equipment maintenance, do any necessary paperwork, and end the day with more training.

What was the most challenging aspect of being a U.S. Military serviceperson and how did you overcome this challenge?
Like anything else in life, the most challenging part was working with people. Everyone comes to the table with different ideas on how to complete the mission at hand. In the Army, we had all these people from different countries and different backgrounds trying to come together to complete a common mission and coming up with a plan everyone agrees with led to some disagreements. I found that the best way to overcome the challenge was to listen to everyone’s ideas—not just hear what they were saying, but really listen and understand what they mean, then analyze it and see how it can help improve the outcome. Listening is so important, not just in the military but in everything you do in life, especially if you want to be a good leader.

What is your biggest takeaway from your time in the U.S. Military?
Serving in the military taught me to appreciate the people in my life a lot more—my family, my friends, the people I work and serve alongside. I tell people to show your love and appreciation for those closest to you. Tell them thanks, tell them you love them while you can. I also learned that you need to surround yourself with good people, people who are trustworthy, supportive, and there for you. Everything I accomplished in the military and in life is because I’ve had a group of outstanding humans by my side.

What was it about John Jay that made it the right college for you?
After leaving the military, I had all these leadership and communication skills. I could think quick on my feet, work well under pressure, and showed discipline in challenging situations. So, I knew I could be an effective leader in my career. But I felt like something was missing. I wanted to earn my degree. I wanted to have that curricular experience and gain proficiency in programs like Excel and in writing, that way I could be competitive in the job market and successfully communicate with the civilian population.

I was at a college in Albany before I transferred to John Jay College earlier this year. I knew that if I wanted a career in law enforcement and wanted to be in an environment where I’d learn from the experts in the field, I needed to go to John Jay, the best criminal justice college in the country. Once I learned about the veteran community at John Jay, it was clear that John Jay College was the right place for me.

How have the College’s Military and Veteran Services Center and Veterans Association impacted your journey at John Jay?
It’s such a great veteran and military community here at John Jay. Being on campus you feel the positive energy in the Veterans Center, and in the classroom, you can tell that everyone is on a mission to make their communities and the world a better place. That makes you excited to come to campus and be active in the community.

When I decided to transfer to John Jay, Richard Pusateri, Military and Veteran Services Manager, was a huge help. I was supposed to start John Jay back in January, but the Covid-19 pandemic slowed everything down and my financial aid package was delayed, so I couldn’t attend the Spring semester and my account was shut down. I reached out to Richard and his team, and they immediately began to make calls to learn what was causing the delays, and advocated on my behalf. They explained the situation and I was able to officially start classes at John Jay over the summer. I’m a 3.925 GPA student so that’s something I’m really proud of and I credit Richard and his team with making my journey here possible. They’ve been amazing.

In five to 10 years where do you see yourself?
I see myself with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Management from John Jay and hopefully with a law enforcement career in a U.S. agency. I would love to work at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). I’ve had an opportunity to meet with people who work at DHS and they all talk about the incredible working environment, the dedicated people that work for the agency, and the deep commitment to keep this country safe. It’s a mission I’d love to help accomplish.