On Saturday, Oct. 12, Kyle Wise, Alabama Law student and Alabama Military Law Society president, will lead his company in a four AH-64 Apache helicopter flyover for the Alabama vs. South Carolina football game. Though alumni from Alabama’s ROTC program are often involved in the game day aerial showcases, it is rare to have a current student leading the company and piloting the aircraft.
In addition to attending law school, Wise is a commander in the 1-151 Attack Battalion, a South Carolina National Guard aviation unit where he oversees a 36-member Attack Aviation Company. In this position, he travels to South Carolina several times a month to conduct flights and support his crew while juggling classroom responsibilities. This requires an extra level of communication and accountability as he has to miss several classes each month while he commutes, conducts multiple flights, and handles the administrative needs of his company.
“I do many of my class readings the week before so I can prepare for the next week in between flights,” Wide said. “If it is not a training or drill weekend, I’ll leave for South Carolina on Wednesday and come home to Alabama on Friday to start lining up on the classes that I missed. If it’s a drill weekend, I usually won’t return until Sunday at midnight and will play catch-up throughout the week.”
Wise attributes his ability to manage this demanding schedule to the support provided by Alabama Law faculty.
“All of my professors have been so understanding and accommodating,” Wise said. “From providing recordings for the classes that I missed or making time on their calendars to ensure I am able to speak in person, I haven’t met any resistance when it comes to helping me succeed.”
Before coming to Alabama, Wise was deployed to Afghanistan, and he also taught as a military science instructor at the Citadel in South Carolina. Wise had never seriously considered attending law school until he saw the role lawyers played in every aspect of his work.
“As I spent more time flying, I noticed attorneys were involved in every aspect of our operations,” he said. “From asset purchases to FAA regulations and technology development, attorneys were essential.”
Inspired by these experiences, Wise decided to pursue a law degree so he could better navigate the complexities of government contracts. He was particularly drawn to Alabama Law due to its strong connections with Huntsville, home to the Army’s Aviation and Missile Command, as well as major defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Raytheon.
“Huntsville is a thriving hub for government contracting,” said Wise. “With the presence of major federal agencies and many of the leading aerospace and defense companies, Huntsville offers a vibrant environment where I feel my passion for law and public service can truly flourish.”
“I haven’t met any resistance when it comes to helping me succeed.”
Wise credits the Law School’s Career Services Office and his professors for helping him secure multiple internships in Huntsville and Washington, D.C., which opened doors for the next phase of his career.
“After completing the bar exam, I’ll be moving to Huntsville,” Wise said. “I’ll be starting as an Associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Government Solutions group, practicing exactly what I came to Alabama Law to do — government contracts!”
For more information on the opportunities available to military and veteran students at the University of Alabama, visit the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs website.