First Lt. Christian ’18 Brings Military Mindset to Legal Studies

When First Lieutenant Andrew Christian ’18 is not planning and managing operations or coordinating law enforcement training for the 200 soldiers he oversees in three separate platoons, he is navigating through a full course load of law classes.

An officer in the U.S. Army Reserve since 2013, the first-year law student was awarded the Army Achievement Medal in December 2015, as well as the Army Accommodation Medal in early March 2016.

“In many ways, the military experience and the law school experience require the same discipline.”

The Military Police company Christian is a part of is a combat support unit that can perform multiple battlefield functions on its own, he explains.

Christian intends to use his experience to pursue a career in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), or in another federal law enforcement agency. He enjoys criminal law and governmental law, and is an active member in both the Veterans Association and P.A.D.

He continues to pursue careers in both tracks: this summer he will attend seven weeks of Army training while advancing his legal studies.

“In many ways, the military experience and the law school experience require the same discipline,” Christian said. “They seem to fit together for me.”

He added, “Stress management is key. I am fortunate to have both opportunities and I plan to take them both as far as I can go.”

Prior to law school, Christian attended Clarkson University, where he graduated with a degree in Psychology and War Studies. There he participated in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) offered by his university.

Upon graduation and successful completion of the Army program in Military Science, Christian received appointment as a commissioned officer at the rank of Second Lieutenant. Directly after graduation, Andrew attended six-month Military Police Basic Officer Leaders Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. While studying military law as a part of this training, he realized his interest in attending law school.

Christian’s motivation in pursing the military stemmed from his father, who is currently serving as an Army Reserve brigadier general. When Christian was young, his father would take him to Army Reserve weekends, which sparked Christian’s interest in the armed forces.