Remarkable Resident: Jared Moser Traveled the World With U.S. Army

Connecting and communicating are integral ideas in life of Sgt. 1st class Jared Moser. He helps connect people all over the world as a sales assistant at T-Mobile and connected with his fiancée, Jennifer Ulett, on eHarmony. He has also stayed connected with his friends and family after being in the Army and traveling around the world.

“I was in the Army Rangers, communications and special forces,” he said. “I’ve done a lot."

The Affton resident has had three tours of duty in Iraq and traveled around the world. Moser grew up in Desoto, MO and went to Desoto High School. He attended the University of Missouri, St. Louis before enlisting in the Army.

While growing up in Desoto, he liked outdoor activities such as camping or fishing.

“I still enjoy camping with my mother and stepfather,” he said. “They would take me on camping trips during summer vacation. We have been all over the United States backpacking. We usually took long, one month trips.” 

Although he hadn't thought of joining the Army at the time, camping and hiking helped prepare him for what was ahead. 

Moser decided to join the Army after high school. “I had a high school sweetheart, and we broke up that year,” he said. “In a depressive move, I enlisted in the Army (and) I asked for the most difficult thing they could give me. They told me I could try for ranger, but I would have to pass all the qualifying prerequisites.” 

Moser shipped off to boot camp at Fort Benning, GA, then Army Infantry training. After that, he went to airborn "jump" school and then the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP).

“This is to see if you can make it through ranger school,” he said. "RIP was the most difficult thing I have ever done. You get two hours of sleep a night, rationed meals, heavy land navigation and drills obstacle courses—all while no sleep.”

After passing the ranger indoctrination, he moved on to ranger school and then received the opportunity to become a sergeant by taking a primary leadership development course. 

“I was a bit nervous when I first deployed,” he said. “But I had a great group and was confident in my training and my teammates.”

His interest in connecting and communicating had him working as a ranger, which is elite infantry in special operations forces in communication. 

“I chose to take part in the communications as I have always been a techie person,” Moser said. “You get training in all types of communications and how to make communication when none are available.”

Moser had been all over the U.S. along with Egypt, Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania, Iraq and Afghanistan, among other countries while with the Army. He could not name them all for security purposes. He received an Army Commendation Medal and a Bronze Star for work done in Fallujah, Iraq. 

“I signed up for four years, then I kept re-enlisting,” Moser said. “I really enjoyed it. I was finally one of the best in the world at what I did and took much pride in that.”

Though he lost many friends to war, Moser said he feels lucky that he does not have the extreme post-traumatic stress disorder that many Iraq veterans have. 

After 12 years in the Army, he has a different life in Affton. He and Uhlett just bought a puppy together, so they have two chihuahuas. They garden and enjoy making homemade wine. Moser also fixes up cars as a hobby. 

“Lucky my girlfriend is really nice, and I’m learning to get domesticated,” he said. “I never had to worry about anyone, just myself. Now with her and the puppies, I’m learning all over again.”