Jody had always thought about becoming a soldier when he was growing up, but after high school decided to pursue a business degree at the University Of Alaska Anchorage.
While living with his foster family he traveled to New York with his foster father and brothers shortly after 9/11. There he saw the wreckage of the Pentagon and Ground Zero and was deeply moved by the experience.
This weighed on his mind and after a time it became obvious that the path he wanted to take was serving his country in the military.