A New Mission: Tristan Mancisidor’s Journey from Soldier to Scholar
Submitted by: Skyler Hamman
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Tristan Mancisidor’s deployment in Afghanistan forever altered his understanding of success, purpose, and peace. At 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Army to challenge himself and push toward excellence. However, what he encountered in the military changed his worldview, reshaping him into the man he is today.
Mancisidor’s military journey began in January 2016 at Fort Benning (now Fort Moore), Georgia, where he joined the Army intending to become part of one of its most elite units. “I wanted to do something hard and join the most elite part of the army,” he said. His aspirations were soon realized when he was deployed to Afghanistan, where he faced the combat he had anticipated.
“I didn’t understand what I was signing up for,” Mancisidor confessed, speaking openly about his disillusionment with war and the harsh realities of military life. As a Specialist (E-4), Mancisidor quickly learned that mental conditioning for combat was more intense than he had imagined. He described how soldiers had to “see people as animals” to carry out their duties, explaining that dehumanization was a necessary part of military survival.
This brutal mindset allowed soldiers to endure the violence of war, often involving the mistreatment of innocent civilians. These traumatic experiences of U.S. soldiers who were following orders left lasting scars. “It was just uncalled for,” Mancisidor said, referring to the senseless violence inflicted on innocent people. His military experience was further marred by bullying and hazing from his peers, which he likened to “going to jail” due to the cliquishness and unchecked abuse within his unit.
Despite the painful memories, Mancisidor often smiles as he reflects on his past. The challenges he faced, he says, have ultimately helped him grow.
After completing his four-year contract in 2020, Mancisidor was ready for a change. The transition from the high-stakes environment of the military to the relatively calm routine of internships and college life was jarring. “It was almost too normal,” he said, reflecting on the difficulty of adjusting to professional settings. “It felt like recovering from a toxic relationship.”
Initially enrolled at the Los Angeles Film School (LAFS) in 2020, Mancisidor lived in Hollywood for a year. However, he soon realized that LAFS did not offer the fulfillment he sought. By 2021, he decided to transfer to George Fox University (GFU) in Oregon to pursue a degree in finance.
Excited to leave L.A. behind, Mancisidor moved to Oregon with his partner to start fresh. At GFU, he redefined his approach to life, moving away from a rigid, achievement-oriented mindset. As a self-described truth-seeker and question-asker, Mancisidor began to embrace uncertainty, understanding that it’s okay to start over if something doesn’t work out. This new outlook led him to adopt a pacifist lifestyle, including a commitment to veganism. Christianity, meditation, and mindfulness played crucial roles in helping him find inner peace.
“I’m ultimately grateful because my eyes have opened,” Mancisidor said, reflecting on the profound lessons he’s learned from his journey from soldier to student. For him, success is no longer about achieving a singular, predefined goal, but about living authentically, aligned with his values, and allowing space for personal growth.