From the Navy to the Gridiron: How Football Bolstered a Veteran’s Return to Civilian Life and Academia

“I think playing football really helped with my transition into civilian life because I get that same camaraderie and bond with my teammates as I got while I was on active duty.”

Meet David Garland ‘26GS: economics major, defensive lineman for the Columbia Lions football team, and a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Football has always been a big part of Garland’s life. When he came to New York to start his Columbia GS journey after seven-plus years in the Navy—he spent most of his time in the Pacific Northwest as an M240 gunner on a harbor patrol boat, achieving the rank of Master-At-Arms Petty Officer Second Class and serving as the Anti-Terrorism Tactical Watch Officer at Naval Base Kitsap in his final six months—he connected with the Lions’ coaching staff and walked onto the team in fall 2022.

“Football keeps you busy, but I like to think I do well with structure and I really enjoy the grind,” Garland said. “My first year in particular I learned that as a football player you really have to humble yourself, and separate age from experience. I’ve learned to take advice on how to hone my craft on the field from 19 year olds with game experience, and that in turn has translated really well to the classroom.”

During the season, the student-athlete life is quite full and for Garland, came with unique challenges. He not only had to adapt to the rigors and training of an Ivy League football schedule, but also navigated returning to academia after his service. “My first semester was a real adjustment period in adapting to college football and academics. Like anything, it gets better the more you work at it. You learn how to prioritize your time and take care of your body to hold up over the course of the school year. I think it is essential to prioritize your mental health as well,” he said. “I’m a big advocate of meditation and taking walks to keep a clear head when the chaos of midterms and finals set in. Student athletes here are asked a lot in terms of academics and what they put their bodies through on a daily basis, but you won’t find an experience more rewarding.”

For Garland, his mornings are typically full of classes, followed by afternoons at Baker Athletic Complex to practice, lift, watch film, hit the training room—or some combination of all three, depending on the day. In the evenings, he’s often doing homework in Butler Library until bedtime, though he strives to ensure he gets at least eight hours of sleep a night. The structure and repetition of the student-athlete grind serves Garland well, as does his experiences as a veteran that he brings to the table. “The military is all about discipline, teamwork, and being able to adapt to whatever circumstances life throws at you. I think all three of those qualities have helped me immensely during my time here,” he said.

The multitude of skills Garland is building at Columbia—leadership, communication, “and calculus,” he joked—are priming him to return to the military as an officer after graduation.

Though Garland does occasionally get, in his words, the “old man joke” from his younger teammates, his time on the football team has been the pinnacle of his Columbia experience.

“As a kid from Missouri, my sense of gratitude and how special I realize this opportunity is, to not only play Division 1 football but to also be attending an Ivy League institution in New York City has not been lost on me. I frequently catch myself looking around Columbia’s famous campus, taking in how far I’ve come and how fortunate I am to be here, and I sincerely hope my fellow GS students are able to do the same,” Garland said. “General Studies is an amazing school that provides nontraditional students with opportunities no other Ivy League can mimic and I’m always grateful to see my fellow GS students in class and hear their stories. I’d love to see even more of you in the stands this year!”

Cheer on Garland and the rest of the Columbia Lions this season—check their schedule for the latest games: 2024 Columbia Lions Football schedule