MILITARY MBAS

A Surprise Recall

After completing two deployments in Iraq, including leading men in one of the bloodiest battles of the war in Ramadia, Donovan Campbell was ready to begin a new career in business. Taking the advice of family friend, Steve Reinemund, then CEO of PepsiCo and a former Marine captain, Campbell decided that getting an MBA would give him the chance to ease into the business world while spending time with his family. Convinced that his military career was over, Campbell enrolled at Harvard Business School three years ago. He was still technically eligible to be called back for duty until his eight-year contract was fulfilled, but because the last Marine Corps recall was 35 years ago, his chances were slim to none. So he thought.

At 29 and halfway through his last semester the unlikely happened, and Campbell got a notice in the mail to report for duty. At the time he had a job offer at PepsiCo and a 2-year-old daughter at home. Today Campbell is stationed on a base in Kabul. PepsiCo, like many companies eager to recruit young, experienced vets, pays him a salary and covers his family’s benefits. A position at the company’s Dallas office awaits his return. Next year Random House will publish the book Campbell wrote about his war experiences.