TOPEKA (KSNT) – After nearly 20 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, Josh Peters continues to serve his country while also working in law enforcement in northeast Kansas.
Peters first joined the Army Reserve in 2006 while attending high school in Holton. He said serving in the military was something he had wanted to do for a long time.
“I always wanted to serve in one facet or another,” Peters said. “Got kind of connected with the recruiters in high school, and they offered what was called a split option program where you could basically attend basic training between your junior and senior high school.”
Throughout his military career, Peters has worked as a transportation management coordinator. His responsibilities have included organizing and overseeing the movement of troops, vehicles and cargo by different modes of transportation.
His service has included three overseas deployments: Iraq in 2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, Kuwait in 2020 in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Jordan in 2024 in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve.
During his 2024 deployment, Peters was stationed at Tower 22 in Jordan, where he served as the noncommissioned officer in charge of movements. He helped coordinate incoming supplies and equipment, as well as movements from the base into Syria and returns from Syria to Jordan.
One of the most memorable moments of his military career came on Jan. 28, 2024, when a drone struck Tower 22.
“Probably one of the more recent ones that I can think of is on my, um, deployment to Jordan, just reacting to the, the, uh, drone that hit the base,” Peters said. “And just hopping up and helping out where I could.”
According to Peters’ biography, he was among the first people on scene following the attack. He helped render aid and search the site for victims. In the days afterward, he also worked alongside local contractors to reinforce the base’s defenses by setting up approximately 435 concrete barriers, each 10 feet tall.
Peters said his military experience has taught him the importance of looking after the people around him, both while serving and in everyday life.
“Just making sure you’re being there for the people that you’re in charge of, take care of to ensure that they are taking care of,” Peters said. “To ensure the mission gets done and to kind of translate it to life of making sure that kids, family and all that are taken care of in one way or another to make sure that they can thrive and push through with what they need to do.”
Topeka veteran reflects on more than 30 years of military service
Peters has also competed in the U.S. Army Reserve Small Arms Competition, placing 28th out of 119 competitors in November 2021. He placed ninth in the combat pistol portion of the competition.
His military awards include the Army Commendation Medal with combat device, Army Commendation Medal, eight Army Achievement Medals, Combat Action Badge and the German Armed Forces Badge of Marksmanship in gold.
Today, Peters continues serving in the Army Reserve while working as a law enforcement officer. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children.
For Peters, military service has always been about answering a calling and making a difference.
“Service to me is one of the things that, like I’ve said earlier, I’ve always wanted to serve,” Peters said. “I know that there, in my opinion, was a higher calling for service to push through and to make through, make sure that we could, um, make things better than what we found them is what I would say.”
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