Challenge-craving Cadet finds calling

By Mark Payne

Staff writer

Ray Concannon craves challenges, which is why he is here at the Leader’s Training Course.

Cadet Ray Concannon suits up to join the rest of his squad for Call of the Wild training on a rainy Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Mackenzie Reiss

The soft-spoken, laid-back Warwick, R.I., native, decided to attend LTC after bouncing around with different jobs.

“I’ve been working around a lot, doing different things, trying to figure out what I want to do,” the Co. B 1/46th Inf. (Co. 7) Cadet said.

First, after getting his bachelor’s degree in theology, with a minor in history, from Providence College, he became an EMT.

“It was pretty good, but it wasn’t really a challenge. It wasn’t for me,” he said.

Next, Concannon stumbled upon a job as a sleep technician, running sleep studies on people. He didn’t like that job because he would go in around 6 p.m. and get off around 8 the next morning.

“I thought I had to go back to school,” he said.

So he went back, thinking he wanted to be a teacher, and got his master’s in theology from Providence in 2008. After he graduated he taught for a short time at a Navajo reservation,then moved to teach in Louisiana. This year was busy for Concannon because he married his wife, Stephanie, and then they birthed their daughter, Vanessa.

 “I love teaching and educating,” he said. “It was really easy for me. It comes naturally. I wanted to use my talents to do something better. It seems more professional to be an Army officer.”

He decided on ROTC after stopping by his school and realizing that he could go back to school and join ROTC.

He feels his teaching experience has helped him at LTC because he is already comfortable in a leadership role.

“He is a great Cadet. He is always striving to be the best that he can,” said 2nd Lt. Aaliyah Al-Mahdi, a Bravo Co. squad tactical officer. “If he has any questions as far as how he should take on leadership, or how he should interact with his Cadets, he is always comfortable asking questions.”

When Concannon arrived at LTC he thought he wanted to be in field artillery. But since arriving at the course and hearing stories from drill sergeants and cadre, he has changed his mind and is now considering the medical corps or transportation.

“It’s really nice when they tell stories about what they’ve been through, so I can get a clearer picture,” he said.

Al-Mahdi described Concannon as a resilient and empathetic.

“I can tell that he’s very well-rounded,” she said. “I can tell that he’s very knowledgeable, based on how he performs.”