Photo By Cpl. Kevin Crist | Capt. Patrick Keplinger, a computer network service division officer with Headquarters...... read more read more
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SAN DIEGO - While most Marines are into video games or building classic cars, some Marines are into something completely different – hydroponic farming.
Capt. Patrick Keplinger, a computer network service division officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron and a Ukiah, Calif., native, recently completed the six-week Veterans Sustainable Agricultural Training program in Escondido, Calif.
Keplinger explained that he first heard about hydroponics in February when he attended a career fair aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and saw the VSAT program booth.
“I was walking around and all the booths looked the same, the VSAT booth was on the outskirts and caught my eye so I just gravitated toward it,” said Keplinger.
The instructors of the VSAT program teach veterans and active-duty personnel to grow fruits or vegetables in a hydroponic greenhouse, which uses the nutrient film technique – a system that requires the farmer to put a plant’s roots in a long channel of nutrient-filled water that makes the plants develop faster and cleaner, Keplinger explained.
Keplinger learned the benefits of hydroponic farming and has decided to make a career of it. His first step was the six-week program at which he excelled according to his instructor.
Even though Keplinger missed a portion of the course, he still managed to pass with flying colors.
“He studied for the most difficult test for every student who comes through this course, and he aced it. That was amazing,” said Karen Archipley, the co-founder of the VSAT program and Archi’s Acres.
He was nominated by all his classmates for the leadership award because he was approachable and helped everyone, explained Archipley.
“The leadership skills he learned in the military flowed right through to everything he did and he had compassion and intelligence,” said Archipley. “Patrick is a very humble, non-assuming guy who leads the pack whether he wants to or not.”
Keplinger expects to get out of the Marine Corps within the next year and plans to continue with hydroponic farming as a career.
“We are looking to have Patrick involved with us going forward,” said Archipley. “So as he transitions out of the military, he will not only have his own growing facility and crop production, but we would like to bring him in as a future instructor as well.”
He put himself through college and in 2009 obtained a master’s in Business Administration, which will assist him in the business aspect of hydroponic farming.
“I never would have imagined that I would be a hydroponic farmer,” said Keplinger. “I thought I would be a businessman wearing a suit and tie working crazy hours for someone else, now I can work for myself and provide food for my family and the community.”
| Date Taken: | 08.03.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.10.2011 18:25 |
| Story ID: | 75144 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 304 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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