Dakota Meyer, a Marine who received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary bravery in Afghanistan, has reenlisted in the U.S. military after more than a decade out of uniform.
Meyer, now joining the Marine Corps Reserve, marked his return during a ceremony at the Pentagon where he was sworn in by former Defense Secretary and fellow Marine, Pete Hegseth.
The move marks a full-circle moment for Meyer, whose heroism on the battlefield has become a defining story of the Afghanistan War.
In a press briefing before the ceremony, Meyer told reporters, “I had more to give,” explaining his motivation to return to service.
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After earning the nation's highest military honor in 2011, Meyer built a high-profile civilian life, but said he felt drawn back to serve alongside Marines once again.
Though he’s previously been outspoken in political circles — notably criticizing the Biden administration’s 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan — Meyer emphasized his commitment to adhering to military standards regarding political activity while in uniform.
“The great part about being in the reserves is I'm still a citizen when I'm not on orders,” Meyer explained. “When I'm on orders I'll comply obviously with whatever the standard is."
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The ceremony was deeply symbolic, not just for Meyer, but for the institution he rejoined.
Standing with Hegseth, a close friend and influential voice in veteran and defense circles, Meyer took his oath and received a warm embrace from the former Trump defense official.
Their bond underscores Meyer’s proximity to national security circles even while transitioning back to a military role.
Meyer first captured national attention for his bravery during one of the most intense battles of the Afghanistan War.
On September 8, 2009, in the Ganjgal Valley of Kunar Province, Meyer’s unit was caught in a deadly ambush by Taliban insurgents.
Roughly 50 enemy fighters opened fire from both mountainsides and within the village, creating a chaotic, deadly battlefield. The lights in a nearby village suddenly went dark, and the ambush began.
As the firefight unfolded, Meyer repeatedly charged into the danger zone in a Humvee, defying withering enemy fire to evacuate wounded comrades and retrieve the fallen. He made five separate trips into the kill zone, manning the turret of the Humvee while a fellow Marine drove.
During the six-hour battle, Meyer’s actions were credited with saving 36 lives, both American and Afghan. He also personally engaged enemy combatants, killing at least eight Taliban fighters.
Tragically, not all were saved.
Marine Corps Cpl. Dakota Meyer and Staff Sgt. Aaron Kenefick pose for a photo in the village of Ganjgal, Afghanistan, while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Meyer received the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of several U.S. service members and Afghan soldiers on Sept. 8, 2009. He also rescued the bodies of four service members, including Kenefick, during that battle. (Courtsey Dakota Meyer)
Four American servicemen died in the ambush: 1st Lt. Michael Johnson, 25, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Staff Sgt. Aaron Kenefick, 30, of Roswell, Georgia; Corpsman James Layton, 22, of Riverbank, California; and Gunnery Sgt. Edwin Wayne Johnson Jr., 31, of Columbus, Georgia.
A fifth, Army Sgt. Kenneth W. Westbrook, 41, from Shiprock, New Mexico, later succumbed to his wounds. Their sacrifice, Meyer has said in the past, remains at the forefront of his memory.
In 2011, then-President Barack Obama presented Meyer with the Medal of Honor at the White House.
He became the first living Marine in decades to receive the award, and only the third living recipient for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan at that time.
Meyer’s humility and commitment to honoring the fallen have been hallmarks of his public appearances ever since.
After leaving the military, Meyer’s profile continued to rise. In 2016, he married Bristol Palin, daughter of former Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.
The two had two children together before separating.
Meyer also remained active in veterans advocacy and media, frequently speaking on issues of national defense and military leadership.
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He did not shy away from controversy. One of his most vocal campaigns involved defending Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who was jailed after publicly criticizing military leadership — including the Biden administration — over the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Scheller’s social media posts, made while in uniform, violated military rules, but Meyer took a strong stand in support of his frustrations.
Still, with his reenlistment, Meyer is making it clear that his focus is once again on service — not politics.
His return comes at a time when many in the military and veteran communities continue to debate America’s role in the post-9/11 conflicts and their aftermath.
Dakota Meyer’s story — from battlefield valor to national recognition and back to service — remains a powerful symbol of duty, sacrifice, and the enduring bond between a Marine and the Corps.
Now, with new orders and familiar purpose, Meyer steps once again into the ranks, answering a call he never fully left behind.
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