Collin Duel
Collin Duel attended one of the nation’s foremost leadership schools.
And, occasionally, his classroom was a mountain or even a swamp.
Duel, 33, served four combat deployments in Afghanistan and was a U.S Army Ranger. Now a lawyer, Duel established a law firm in Guthrie and is running to represent Logan County House District 31 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
Like his political opponents, Logan Trainer and Karmin Grider, Duel is a staunch conservative. He has lived almost exclusively in Logan County, aside from being stationed with the military in Georgia or out on deployment.
“I think I’m a fourth-generation Logan County resident, definitely Oklahoman,” Duel said. “But, I think, certainly back to my grandfather, who was born and raised here and I think his parents were, too.”
His Logan County ties are what brought him back to Oklahoma after being deployed, and what prompted him to establish Duel Law, PLLC in Guthrie.
“(Guthrie is) my hometown,” Duel said. “My wife is from here. We grew up going to school here. It was just a community that I enjoyed being a part of. Once I knew that I had my feet under me, so to speak, I could come back and contribute back here. I’m most comfortable here.”
Duel is a self-described constitutional conservative. He believes his Logan County history and background as a U.S. Army Ranger will serve him well as a leader.
At 19, he enlisted in the Army. After two tours in Afghanistan as an infantryman, Duel attended Ranger School.
He puts the grueling, 61-day course against any leadership development program in the nation.
“Most people would tell you in the military that Ranger School is the premier leadership school that the military has to offer,” Duel said.
A glimpse into Ranger School reveals why Duel thinks it will be a tool for success. Soldiers there endure three hellacious phases in the rigorous program. The Benning, or “Darby,” Phase is held at Fort Benning in southern Georgia. Those who pass, advance to the Mountain Phase in northern Georgia and, eventually, the Swamp Phase in the Florida Panhandle.
The camp is designed to push people to the limit, distinguishing the men and women whose leadership abilities shine through extreme pressure.
“Well, the first part of Darby Phase, you’re stuck going through things like obstacle courses, you know, staying up all night. PT (physical training) test, ruck marches, things like that where they’re just breaking you down,” Duel said.
The Darby finishes with an 18-mile ruck, but the trek with a heavy pack is just the beginning. The Mountain and Swamp phases consist of multi-day field exercises where soldiers take turns leading a squad through challenging terrain to complete objectives. For the most part, the soldiers are fueled with one MRE (Meal, Ready to Eat) each day and one or two hours of sleep.
“That’s kind of where you’re forged with those leadership abilities,” Duel said.
Duel graduated from Ranger School and became a team leader in 2011. He put his acquired skills into action during multiple deployments to Afghanistan. Aside from the immense physical pressure, the teamwork and problem-solving skills that Ranger School demands translates to Duel’s life.
What he learned as a Ranger has become valuable in his role as a family man for his wife, Hannah, and two kids, and he hopes to put the same skills into politics.
“Going through that, knowing how to work with others and work for others, especially in that type of situation, you certainly learn certain aspects of what I think is needed. Not only in life, but in this position,” Duel said.