They devote their lives to protecting those that they've never met, selflessly stepping forward to defend all that we hold dear in this country.

These individuals don't join the service for recognition or fame, it's just simply what they feel called to do, forgoing personal ambition to become a part of something much larger than themselves.

They're the brave few who make up our Armed Forces, and some of our nation's very best are right here in Chiefs Kingdom.

The Chiefs have a rich history of supporting our men and women in uniform throughout the years, including through the "Tribute to the Troops" program at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, which recognizes the real heroes in our community during every home game.

That initiative took place once again last season, as Lt. Col. Richard Hayek was recognized as the "Tribute to the Troops" honoree presented by Crown Royal during the Chiefs' matchup with the Denver Broncos.

A member of the Marine Corps since 1997, Lt. Col. Hayek originally joined our Armed Forces in the spirit of showing that his drive to succeed had no bounds.

"Growing up, I was the kid who was a little smaller than everyone else, and because of that, I always had to prove myself in regard to things like athletics," Lt. Col. Hayek said. "I started looking into the different branches of the military when I was a senior in high school, and I viewed the Marine Corps as the hardest thing to do. People kept telling me I was too small to do stuff, so I walked into the recruiter office and signed up. Almost 28 years later, the rest is history."

Indeed, that decision served as the spark for what grew into a long and decorated career of service that included multiple deployments to Iraq.

"I think my first deployment was probably the defining moment of my career," Lt. Col. Hayek said. "The one in 2004 really tested me mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually – which are what I consider to be the four pillars of performance. At 23 years old, I was being asked to do things as a non-commissioned officer that are drastically different from what we ask of our NCOs when we're not in a combat environment."

Those duties included tasks such as leading a team of more than a dozen Marines, coordinating convoy security patrols, inspecting suspected improvised explosives and performing route reconnaissance missions.

It was dangerous work, but through it all, Lt. Col. Hayek's relationships were what maintained his unwavering resolve at such a young age.

"When I look back on it now, those moments were really about my brothers and sisters," Lt. Col. Hayek said. "It was about the individual to my left and to my right and whether or not we were going to make it back to our forward operating base, and it changed me. That period of time changed me forever."

With all of that in mind, it should come as no surprise that Lt. Col. Hayek decided to become a commissioned officer in the years that followed. His reasoning, however, was about fulfilling a promise more than personal ambition.

"My mentor was an officer by the name of Major Megan McClung. She was the first female Marine officer killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom," Lt. Col. Hayek said. "She was always the one who was pushing me as a young NCO to become an officer, and as soon as I learned what had happened, I decided I was going to become an officer in memory of her."

Lt. Col. Hayek went on to keep that promise by receiving his commission in 2011. He then served as the Manpower and Legal Officer for multiple units before serving as Aide-de-Camp for the Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at MCAS Miramar, California in 2017.

The Marine Corps' national recipient of the USO's George Van Cleave Leadership Award in 2019, Lt. Col. Hayek now commands Recruiting Station Kansas City (in the 9th Marine Corps District) tasked with molding the next generation of Marines.

"There is definitely a great deal of pride with being able to represent a recruiting station that covers four states," Lt. Col. Hayek said. "There's a significant amount of stress placed on leaders within the Marine Corps recruiting command, but I can tell you that there's absolutely no place I'd rather be. We're helping to shape and mentor these young Americans on a daily basis, and to try to inspire and guide them through the process is the feather in the cap of my career."

It's for all of those reasons that Lt. Col. Hayek was honored in numerous ways during the Chiefs' matchup with the Broncos last November, which also happened to not only be the annual "Salute to Service" game, but also the 249th birthday of the United States Marine Corps.

"That was one of the most humbling and awe-inspiring things that I've ever been a part of," Lt. Col. Hayek said. "Specifically, being able to see the Oath of Enlistment ceremony during halftime in front of 80,000 people was something that I'll remember forever."