The Brigham Young University alum remembers thinking in the early 1970s, while a Cougar undergrad, that he didn’t want anything to do with the military. That is, until he received a draft number of 92 and was told on a Thursday he had until Monday to decide what he wanted to do.

His decision was to enroll in BYU’s Reserve Officer Training Course.

Upon his graduation in 1973 the economics major was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the field artillery. He took advantage of the Army’s excess leave program, which allowed him to pursue his law degree, at his own expense, he explains, for the privilege of a four-year military obligation to follow.

Chandler was a member of the first graduating class at the then-new, BYU Law School in 1976. After passing the Utah state bar later that summer, he then went to the two- month-long judge advocate general’s course in Charlottesville, Va., before being assigned to the 1st Armored Division in West Germany for the next three years.

Chandler describes this time, from 1976 to 1979 when he acted as both an Army trial defense lawyer and a prosecutor, as very hard work, but work he loved doing.

"It was the hardest work I have ever done in my life," he said, "but incredibly rewarding as well and very challenging.

"Those were the days when we had a lot of drug users in the military, a lot of problem soldiers in the military, so the case load was incredible," he explained.

His next assignment gave him his first experience with West Point.

From 1979 until 1982, he was an instructor in the law department here and lived at Stewart Army Subpost. He left as an associate professor.

For the Chandlers, the years from 1983 on were spent bouncing between Washington, D.C., Germany, Alaska and Virginia.

Chandler and his wife, the former Stephanie Rich, along with daughter Chari, 20, live here.

Chari will begin her junior year at BYU in the fall.

The Chandlers also have to two grown children; son Chevoit, 25, and daughter Chandelle, 24.

Chandler looks forward to his current tour at the academy. He said that since 1973 he has said he will only stay in the Army as long as he liked it.

Being an Army attorney, he said, enables him to match several of his loves.

First he grew to love the Army, he explained. He also lists being an attorney as one of his loves along with the opportunity to change positions in his career field.

"I loved the quality of its officers, the patriotism and dedication to family," he said.

He looks forward to being a part of the West Point community.

He plans on taking advantage of many outdoor recreation activities that the academy offers including the opportunity to hike, bike, jog, golf and ski.