Photo By Cpl. Emaney Wilson | U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Corey Gulley, assigned to Bravo Company, 95th Adjutant...... read more read more
FORT SILL, Okla.- Standing inside a boxing ring or on a military training range, the principles of survival remain exactly the same: angles, levels, and constant movement. If you stand still, you become a target. For Sgt. 1st Class Corey Gulley, a 43-year-old infantryman and Drill Sergeant assigned to Bravo Company, 95th Adjutant General Battalion, 434th Field Artillery Brigade, this is more than tactical advice. It is a philosophy that has defined a 22-year Army career, a professional boxing record, and a lifetime spent defying the odds.
On Sept. 11, 2026, Gulley will step back into the ring for the main event of the Fort Hood Fight Night at the Abrams Physical Fitness Center. Having not fought since 2018, this return is not about seeking personal glory. In fact, Gulley did not even ask for the match; his brigade command sergeant major, recognizing Gulley’s unmatched work ethic and leadership, submitted his name and pushed him to accept. For Gulley, the invitation felt like a calling, an opportunity to prove that the human spirit can overcome any barrier, regardless of age, background, or physical toll.
To understand the depth of Gulley’s resilience, one must look past his impressive amateur record of 13 wins and 2 losses, as well as his professional record of 2 wins, 4 losses, 2 draws, and examine the crucible from which he emerged. Growing up in deep poverty in Fort Worth, Texas, Gulley faced an environment where the path to success was virtually non-existent. However, driven by a deep sense of patriotism after witnessing the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Gulley chose the uniform in 2004, finding a purpose larger than himself. He didn't just survive; he transformed. Starting with a high school equivalency from the Job Corps, Gulley pushed himself to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Exercise Science and Kinesiology, accomplishing all of this while serving in the military, proving that you can truly "Be All You Can Be." In doing so, he embodied his ultimate guiding principle: where you start in life does not dictate how far you can go.
“Just because I was born into a very poor family in a reckless environment, and just because other males in my family took a wrong turn, doesn't mean I'm going to turn out as a statistic,” Gulley said. “I built my mind, I got my degrees, and I never gave up because I knew I had a purpose.”
This relentless pursuit of excellence has made Gulley an exceptional leader of Soldiers. At Fort Sill, his training regime is grueling. To prepare for the fight, Gulley wakes at 3 a.m. to hit the speed bag and work technical sparring with his wife, an amateur boxer herself. Beyond these early-morning workouts, the fight has also forced him to reverse two decades of physical habit through a disciplined nutrition program. Throughout his career, Gulley has always competed at a baseline of 135 pounds, but for this bout, he must build his weight up to a heavier 165 pounds.
By 4 a.m., his personal training ends, and his focus shifts entirely to his basic trainees. To Gulley, putting trainees first is the hardest but most rewarding part of his mission. His leadership style, encapsulated in his standing instruction, "do what I do," demands absolute professionalism, ensuring his trainees never see him rattled, unprofessional, or out of character. This tactical discipline translates directly to the field, where he teaches his trainees the fundamentals of angles, levels, and constant movement, instructing them to shoot and move instead of firing twice from the same position, the exact same way a boxer cannot stand still and expect to stay upright.
Sgt. 1st Class Gulley’s life is a testament to the fact that leadership is not about where you start, but how you invest in others and how you handle adversity. He carries the memory of his great-grandmother, who raised him and taught him how to face hardships before passing away just hours before his plane landed from an Iraq deployment. When he steps into the ring on September 11, walking out to the beats of the Grandmaster Flash & The furious Five’s "The Message," he will be carrying her legacy, along with the hopes of every young infantryman watching the fight that night.
“I'm doing this for the infantrymen coming after me, anybody younger than me,” Gulley said. “No matter what you've been through in your life, you can still do anything you put your mind to. Never quit, never give up, and never be afraid of any challenge, because that is what makes you who you are. You have to start somewhere. Just Take the risk.”
Ultimately, this fight is a masterclass in the Army’s enduring priorities: showcasing professionalism to inspire others, cultivating lethality and readiness, and investing deeply in our people. Win, lose, or draw, Sgt. 1st Class Corey Gulley’s return to the ring serves as a powerful reminder that no matter what hardships a person has endured, they can still be all they can be. For Gulley, this bout is not driven by animosity, but by the soldierly bond of iron sharpening iron, a shared opportunity for two competitors to push and improve one another. His journey proves that with faith, discipline, and a refusal to quit, any Soldier can rise above their circumstances and write their own destiny.
| Date Taken: | 09.04.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2026 14:59 |
| Story ID: | 574108 |
| Location: | LAWTON, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Web Views: | 23 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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