Finn O’Brien’s father served in the Marine Corps, so Finn’s path was never in doubt. He enlisted after high school and served as a scout sniper—rising to the rank of sergeant.
“I was surrounded by Marines growing up and knew that was what I wanted to do,” said O’Brien, 24. “Luckily, I had a pretty good understanding of the Marine Corps going into it, and loved the idea of the Marine Corps’ infantry’s mission.
After serving as a team leader and chief scout and deployments to Haiti and Afghanistan, he put his military career on pause and enrolled at the University of Notre Dame. While serving in the Marine Corps Reserve, O’Brien wasted no time getting involved. He works with the Student Veterans of America campus chapter and helps organize activities for military-affiliated students. He even taught a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) class on machine gun employment and coordinates flyovers for the Fighting Irish’s home games.
We talked to O’Brien about his experience as a student Veteran and his plans to resume active-duty in the Marine Corps when he earns his degree.
How have your leadership roles as a team leader and chief scout shaped the way you approach challenges outside of the military?
Military leadership does a good job at teaching mental frameworks to approach problems. I see every task as a problem that needs to be solved, and I always have a plethora of tools to try.
What led you to choose Notre Dame, and specifically philosophy and theology as your areas of study?
I am an Irish Catholic kid, so I always loved Notre Dame. On deployment, I started reading a ton of philosophy books and fell in love with it, so I chose to continue that here at Notre Dame.
How has your experience as a student Veteran differed from that of your civilian classmates?
The biggest difference for me is that so much of school is now online. When I left school seven years ago, everything was still done on pen and paper for the most part. Over COVID, schools found ways to integrate more technology. It was a bit of a learning curve at first, but I am getting the hang of it now.
What do you plan to do with your degree once you return to active duty?
I plan on staying enlisted when I return to active duty. I will just be a slightly more educated enlisted guy.
You’ve played a big role in building the Student Veterans of America chapter at Notre Dame. What motivated you to take on that responsibility?
When I came into Notre Dame, the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs really helped me out. So, when they came to me asking for my help with setting it up, I was more than happy to help.
Can you share your experience representing Notre Dame at the SVA National Convention—what did you take away from that opportunity?
It was awesome to see a tangible community that has taken responsibility for advocating for Veterans at the federal level. Despite my using the current GI Bill®, I had no idea how hard organizations like SVA and the American Legion fought to get that through Congress.
How do you see the military-affiliated community growing or evolving on campus, and what part do you hope to play in that?
The military-affiliated community at Notre Dame is pretty small, but with new opportunities like the SVA chapter, there is a significant increase in student Veterans meeting one another.
How have activities like boxing, rugby and academic groups such as “conversations of purpose” shaped your college experience?
Extracurricular activities are the best way to find community around campus. I have met a ton of great guys through these activities that I otherwise would not have.
What was it like teaching a class for NROTC midshipmen on machine gun employment?
It was pretty neat to see entry level guys and talk through parts of my job. It was the first time I really thought back to what it was like joining the military and going off to boot camp.
Coordinating flyovers for Notre Dame football sounds unique—what’s been the highlight of that experience so far?
It’s really cool to see Notre Dame stadium packed with fans from the roof of the stadium. I never thought I would have an opportunity to see it. The SNOIC for the NROTC unit here really hooked me up with such an awesome opportunity.
What do you think are the biggest strengths military-connected students bring to higher education?
In the humanities department especially, the life experience that Veterans bring to class is unbeatable. Going out into the world before you step into class allows you to really sort through what is being taught.
What advice would you give other service members considering college, especially those who might be nervous about the transition?
Lean on the tools that the military teaches you, most of them work pretty well in every walk of life.
Looking ahead, what impact do you hope to have—both in the Marine Corps and in the broader military/Veteran community?
I just hope to be a good dude. The military is awesome because it’s filled with good dudes and being a good dude is the best thing anyone can do for their community.
Read this full article and more in the October 2025 Issue of G.I. Jobs magazine.