Kyle Hausmann-Stokes wants to tell the soldier’s story.

Following high school, Kyle enlisted in the United States Army as a 19-Delta Cavalry Scout/Reconnaissance Specialist.  From January 2002 to August 2004, Kyle was assigned to the 1st of the 509th (AIRBORNE) Infantry at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Fort Polk, Louisiana.  While there, he completed a variety of infantry specialty schools, such as Airborne, Air Assault, Expert Driver (Wheeled/Track), Advanced Combat Lifesaver, and the Primary Leadership Development Course (Honor Graduate).

Kyle’s unit was responsible for simulating true-to-life jungle and urban warfare scenarios to troops preparing for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.  Kyle completed over 25, month-long training rotations opposite a majority of the Army’s Combat Brigades,  US Army Rangers, Marine Recon, US Navy SEALS, and USAF Combat Controllers.  This unique experience offered Kyle the opportunity to develop an intimate knowledge of asymmetrical/insurgency warfare, as well as the chance to understand and interact with “locals” hired by the training center from the various Southeast Asian nations.  The years spent at JRTC would also be the foundation for his emergence as a soldier-filmmaker; Kyle filmed everything from tank missions and urban warfare to the unit’s monthly paratroop jumps from US/Russian planes and helicopters.   

Kyle was honorably discharged in August 2004.  Before settling at the University of Southern California, Kyle attended and earned honors at Arizona State University, Universidad de Madrid in Spain, and the University of California-Los Angles.  Between (and during) semesters, he interned at a variety of reputable film and television production companies.  Entertainment industry positions/projects of note include Mosaic Media Group (Batman Begins, Talladega Nights), Rockfight/HKM (Crest, KFC, GoDaddy.com), and LUA Multimedia/Canal Vivir (nationwide Spanish news syndicate). 

In September of 2006, Kyle was accepted into the prestigious USC School of Cinematic Arts-Production Program.  That same week, however, he also received a letter from the US Army recalling him to active duty and a yearlong deployment to Iraq.  Although his film school acceptance was enough to exempt him from this nationwide recall, Kyle decided instead to take an 18-month academic leave of absence and fulfill his military obligation.

From May 2007 to May 2008, Kyle served as a squad leader and convoy commander in Iraq as a member of the 1st of the 160th Infantry Battalion.  Promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant while in country, Kyle presided over as many as 7 gun trucks and 20 soldiers at a time.  He completed over 80 combat logistical patrols, traveled over 30,862 miles of the Iraqi countryside, accounted for over $800,000 of equipment, and was subject to  roadside bombs and enemy small arms fire.  For his actions under fire and meritorious service throughout the yearlong deployment, Kyle was awarded 2 Army Achievement Medals and the Bronze Star.  

Just before this deployment, while presenting his ASU award-winning film Unwelcome Home at the GI Film Festival, Washington, DC, Kyle befriended the Wounded Marine Careers Foundation, which subsequently provided him equipment he used to shoot over 40 hours of combat footage, soldier testimonials, and interviews with a variety of Iraqi local nationals.  This frontline style of documentation eventually attracted the sponsorship and beta-testing privileges from V.I.O.s Wearable Video Technology Division.  V.I.O.’s lipstick-sized camera technology allowed Kyle’s combat photography to thrive, enabling him to position cameras in places never before seen in a military environment.       
      
Kyle returned to the USC School of Cinematic Arts in August 2008.  In his first semester of film school he wrote, directed, and produced 5 short digital films of various lengths and genres.  Kyle’s third and most personal film, Now, After, eloquently reflects a combat-veteran-turned-student’s daily struggle with PTSD and his journey to get help.  This short film’s ability to speak to veterans and civilians alike garnered its promotion and distribution by organizations such as Soldiers’ Angel, Inc. and the Department of Veteran Affairs.