Dylan Ralls is a 19-year-old with big dreams and large ambitions. Like his father and his grandfather, he wants to serve in the Army. 

Ralls has been debating this decision for almost all of his life; at a young age he was dead-set on joining the army. The older he got, the more he wanted to live a life where he could go to work and hangout with his friends.

“When I was about 17 is when I decided that I didn’t want to join the Army anymore because I just think the thought of it scared me,” Ralls said. 

With Ralls wanting to change his direction in his life, he had many people trying to get him to reconsider his decision, one of them being his girlfriend Lily Croy.

Croy joined the Army a little over a year ago, and is now deployed in the U.K.. She has been one of many Ralls’ motivations to join the Army because of how highly she speaks of it. 

“Joining the Army has been the best decision of my life because I get to live in London and meet new people and create new experiences and connections that I wouldn’t have had before,” Croy said. “I think the army is a great way to improve anyone’s life and future.” 

With Ralls jumping back on track with his past dream of joining the Army, he now must go speak to a recruiter about his decision.

“I went to the recruiter [on Wednesday] and there are a few issues that I have that could interfere with me being able to join the Army,” Ralls said.

Ralls has to go to the doctor to get his eczema checked out, because the Army is very strict on the health of a future soldier. Another problem Ralls has to face is that he broke his femur in 2019, resulting in him getting a titanium rod put into his leg.

“When I was 16, I got into a motorbike accident and I broke my femur and collarbone,” Ralls said. “It was honestly the hardest thing I had to deal with in my life. I had shattered my femur and thought that I would never be able to walk properly again.” 

Like stated previously, the Army is very strict on the health of America’s future soldiers. With Ralls having the metal rod in his leg, this could mean he would not be able to enlist without getting his rod removed first and being fully mobile and agile.

“I’m very scared and nervous for this decision I have to make, because it is my future; but at the same time, my future may not be up to me,” Ralls said.

With the endeavors Ralls has faced in his life, this may be the hardest moment he will ever face.