Jake Dobberke

Captain, U.S. Marine Corps
Master of Business Administration, University of Minnesota

Following high school, Jake attended Iowa State University and joined the Naval ROTC while majoring in business management with a minor in military studies. He later attended Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia. After successfully completing his training and senior year at Iowa State, Jake graduated in 2008 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Jake worked as a logistics officer in Truck Company Bravo with positions as a platoon commander and executive officer before attaching to 8 th Marine Regiment and deploying to southern Afghanistan in January 2011. While at Camp Delaram II, Afghanistan his primary mission was to advise the Afghan National Army Brigade staff on logistical operations to support 3,000 soldiers.

On October 30, 2011, while conducting an escort mission in southern Musa Qaleh, Afghanistan, his vehicle was struck by a command-wired improvised explosive device (IED). After checking the status of his Marines and himself, Jake ordered his Marines to execute the secondary plan to communicate to the convoy commander that they had casualties because his radio was destroyed. Upon hearing security was in place, he applied tourniquets to both of his legs with the help of his driver. After being medically evacuated with his Marines, both of his legs were amputated below the knee, a fractured elbow was repaired, and a torn knee ACL was replaced. He underwent several months of physical and occupational therapy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center located in Bethesda, Maryland. His therapy returned the functional use of his left arm and the ability to walk again on his legs with the aid of prosthetics.

Following his recovery, Jake was accepted to the University of Minnesota’s MBA program at the Carlson School of Business in January 2013 and was accepted to Sentinels of Freedom for support during his educational journey. Sentinels of Freedom assisted Jake with a housing subsidy, and furniture for his new place of living, and provided a reliable vehicle for transportation. Jake was also connected to networking and mentoring opportunities throughout his time in school. Following his MBA program Jake applied to and was accepted to the Human Exploitative Rescue Operative (H.E.R.O.) program to learn computer forensics analyst skills to combat child trafficking and was later hired on by US Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He worked for several years before his nerve injuries ultimately became aggravated impacting his hands and arms due to the excessive computer work and he had to reevaluate this line of work.

Jake is currently in the process of finishing a children’s book and focusing on becoming an author. Any free time is spent with his wife and their three children.

“The support that myself and my family receive from Sentinels of Freedom has really meant a lot to me. Their generous giving has truly helped with my transition out of the Marines and into the civilian workforce. Through close work with my mentor, I was able to gain valuable job searching perspectives that helped me get a job within a month of going on terminal leave. Further, their financial resources have helped us with getting settled in our new residence and planning for the future. Sentinels (of Freedom) has truly been a humble supporter and the key to success for reducing stress in our everyday lives!” – Jake Dobberke