The most successful people will confirm that it is not motivation that is needed, but rather discipline. Anyone can get excited after seeing a YouTube video or hearing inspiring words on a podcast. However, that feeling is fleeting and it takes that extra level of dedication that comes from discipline to reach the next level.
US Marine Corps First Lieutenant Kagan Dunlap is living proof of this, and there is plenty of evidence to show for his discipline. It is clearly visible when he is training, going to work or hard at work on a project in his role as a content creator. Keeping a regular schedule helps him in all facets of his life. It may not be what Newton had in mind with his first law, but in Dunlap’s case it applies.
“A body in motion stays in motion.”
Dunlap has had past family members serve, including both of his paternal grandparents, but he was actually inspired to serve himself by Rory Grosso, a colleague who had military experience. Hearing about Rory’s experience was the reason Dunlap decided to serve himself.
“I’m not sure Rory knows that,” Dunlap pondered. “He’s a great guy.”
Fast forward to the present day, and Dunlap will be promoted to Captain in early 2026. His more than decade of service included multiple deployments and assignments to… Supply Chain Management Officers Course (SCMOC)followed by an implementation to CENTCOM in direct support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). Whether he is supporting those he stands next to or protecting others in need, the call to serve is one he not only takes seriously, but he appreciates the opportunity.
“That makes me feel like I have a purpose here. I’m serving for something bigger than me.”
WHY PHYSICAL READINESS IS IMPORTANT
When you wear the national dress, staying ready is non-negotiable. That’s one reason Dunlap makes training a priority after he’s done working. That said, fitness isn’t just about staying in shape or maintaining high physical training (PT) scores. It’s part of who he is and something he enjoys.
Dunlap explained, “I train more for mental health than anything. That was something that was a turning point for me when I was younger, when I was dealing with depression and self-esteem. I discovered fitness in 2006 or 2007 and found it made me feel good.”
Although he no longer worries about being the strongest or biggest in his late 30s, Dunlap is still as dedicated to training as he ever was.
“I do it to be a competent person and to look good for my wife, as well as in uniform,” he said. “If you’re in the military, you should be in better shape than the average civilian.”
Exercising and being in shape mean so much to him that he commits to it as seriously as he does to a work schedule or his dedicated time to podcasting or posting on social media. That kind of discipline is what it takes to honor that commitment to self.
“I definitely have to make time for it,” he said. “I finish the work day and head straight to the gym, and that makes it a guarantee that I’ll get it in. Before I get anything else done, I have to go to the gym.”
CONSISTENT CONTENT CREATION
Many young Americans dream of becoming influencers, streamers, or pursuing a career in content creation. They may think it takes a full work schedule to make that happen, but Dunlap serves as an example that someone can still serve their country and build a personal brand at the same time.
“My day starts at 4:30 in the morning. I shave and have breakfast, then I work on making about five videos a day and scheduling them to post. I film and post between 4:30 and 7:30. They will be posted throughout the day, so I’m not always on my phone.”
Dunlap has a personal studio where he films and records his podcasts. He invested both time and money in this passion project because he saw the potential of what a large platform could do after helping a young Marine deal with a tragedy. This Marine lost both parents in 2022 in the aftermath of the shooting in Uvalde, Texas. His mother was murdered and his father died that same week due to heart failure. Dunlap shared this individual’s Go Fund Me information to several larger military platforms, and it resulted in that campaign’s goal being met and exceeded. He wanted to help, but saw that he could also do it in another way.
“Then I realized that I needed to make my social media big enough so that in the future I don’t have to ask for help; I can do it myself.”
As of December 2025, Dunlap has over 1 million followers on Instagram and over 970,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel. That next thing didn’t happen overnight. It was down to the discipline of filming and posting consistently.
“There have been a lot of twists and turns along the way. If you want to grow it, you have to spend money, which means you have to make money,” he said. “The whole basis of why I started it in the first place was to help people.”
THE END GOAL IS ALWAYS SERVICE
Staying physically fit, being in the military and working on a personal brand are all very different endeavors, but they have a common thread for Dunlap. They all require discipline to get the best out of themselves, as well as those around them, and they all care about others as much or even more than they care about themselves. Younger Americans can see him as an example of how they can achieve many goals if they are willing to work hard enough and put the betterment of others ahead of their own priorities. He also believes that the commitment to being your best self physically will become a great asset that will serve you as you serve others.
“You should want to be a capable and physically fit person because the people around you can rely on you no matter the situation. What makes me feel best is when I do something to help other people or care for people.”
For more information about Dunlap, visit to his website.
M&F Military Editor Rob Wilkins contributed to this article.
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