Veteran finds fulfillment in a new mission at UNT Health
Raul Cantu grew up in Gatesville, Texas. The son of a Vietnam veteran, Cantu says
he always craved challenge and adventure.
Fresh out of Gatesville High School in 2000, he enrolled at the University of Texas at San Antonio but quickly realized college lacked the structure he wanted. At 18, just months before the September 11 attacks, he made a decision that would define his life: he enlisted in the U.S. Army.
Cantu’s original plan was simple. Serve four years, earn the GI Bill and move on. But the Army had other ideas. His first unit was considered a global resource, and in June 2002 he was deployed to Afghanistan. Upon returning, he found himself then headed to Iraq in 2003. Promotions followed. Deployments multiplied. Responsibilities grew.
“After the first three deployments, I felt obligated to follow through for the soldiers I was training,” Cantu said. “The gravity of that responsibility was something I carried every day.”
For Cantu, becoming an instructor was a natural progression. He attended Ranger School twice due to its high attrition rate and later became an instructor there.
“I needed to push myself physically and mentally,” he said. “Combat requires strength. That was the test for me.”
Over 22 years and eight months, he deployed four times, twice to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq. He led soldiers through dangerous missions, returning home with stories etched in his memory. One in particular stays with him: a soldier’s parent thanking him for bringing their son home safely.
“Of all the awards and recognition, I received, that moment made every missed birthday and holiday worth it,” he said.
His most recent deployment, from June 2022 to April 2023, was to Eastern Europe, reassuring NATO allies in response to the invasion of Ukraine. On returning, Cantu would officially retire from the Army in August 2023 after serving nearly 23 years.
Post active duty leads to UNT Health
Transitioning to civilian life was a shift. He initially taught high school physical science on an academic permit, following his wife’s footsteps in education, but sought more team-focused work. The answer came in after-action review administration and later emergency management coordination at UNT Health Fort Worth.
“My military experience was all about teamwork. In K-12, you are mostly on your own with your students. Here, collaboration between departments is crucial. I enjoy that,” he said.
Cantu’s work at UNT Health focuses on emergency management for the campus, skills honed in military operations and real-world crises like Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“The work is meaningful, and that made the decision to stay here easy," he said. "Our campus community is special and every team I have interacted with has been super helpful and responsive. There is a genuine sense that everyone wants to improve and I am super grateful to be a part of that process. We have a lot of work to do but there are so many talented people here that I am confident we will accomplish whatever we pursue. I am excited to be on this team.”
Feeling at home in civilian life
At home, Cantu is father to a 16-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son. After years of the Army’s transient lifestyle, moving his family seven times in 17 years, he is ready for stability.
Long-term, he plans to continue at UNT Health, buy back his military service, pursue continuing education and help grow the emergency management program.
Cantu shares his experience with other service members navigating life after the military in the hopes they will find the adjustment to civilian life just as fulfilling as their military experience.
“I would tell them, ‘You will be okay.’ The end of your time in uniform is always part of it. It does not matter if you serve four years or 20. The lessons and discipline you carry will help you on the civilian side,” he said.
For Raul Cantu, the mission has changed but the purpose remains the same. From leading soldiers in combat to working on teams for campus emergency preparedness, he continues to serve, proving that dedication and teamwork transcend uniform and office walls alike.