Veterans Day Spotlight: Mike Reddell

In celebration of Veterans Day, we invited members of the Douglas Elliman community who have served in the U.S. armed forces to reflect on how their service experiences have shaped their lives and careers in the real estate business. Mike Reddell, Real Estate Agent, Dallas, Texas Please briefly describe your military service. I enlisted in the Air Force and served immediately after high school for 6 12 years.  At the time, I hoped that the structure of the military would provide the much-needed direction in my life and give me a chance to “see the world.” During this time, I served in a number of locations (some of which are now closed), including March Air Force Base in California, a remote mountaintop in Turkey, near Istanbul, and Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.  I was trained and served my time as a Communications Specialist operating and maintaining a separate secure and encrypted communication system for the Department of Defense. In what ways, if any, has your service experience shaped the way you approach your life and career in real estate? My military service has shaped my view of the world and my perspectives more profoundly than any other time or experience in my life.  Regarding my real estate career, my military service left me with a deep appreciation for being an American, the importance of being a member of a team, adhering to rules and the importance of character. More than anything else, the time I spent in the military gave me the privilege of meeting and developing relationships with an incredible variety of people from diverse cultures and world views.  This experience at a relatively young age has allowed me to be more open and appreciative of people, regardless of their background or culture, than I probably would have been otherwise. What would you like your colleagues to know or understand about your service experience and what it means to you? Compared to others, my service was of little importance or sacrifice, but I am profoundly grateful to be an American and proud to have served.