Kraig enlisted in the U.S. Navy on June 12, 1996, and reported to Naval Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois, on November 18, 1996. On July 1, 1997, Kraig entered Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, Florida. After a year of the most physically and academically challenging training in the military, Senior Chief Vickers graduated from Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal as a Basic EOD Technician on September 25, 1997.

On February 15, 2005, Senior Chief Vickers began a rigorous selection process and training with Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG), a special duty assignment that would define the rest of his career. Eleven months after beginning this extremely demanding training program, he was selected as an NSWDG EOD Operator and assigned to TACDEVRON THREE, where he completed numerous deployments around the world in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Throughout his distinguished 15-year career, Senior Chief Vickers became one of the Navy's most decorated EOD technicians.

On August 6, 2011, Kraig's life was tragically cut short when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was aboard, callsign Extortion 17, was shot down by insurgents in Wardak Province, Afghanistan. He was part of a Quick Reaction Force responding to assist U.S. Army Rangers who were engaged in a firefight with Taliban forces. When insurgents shot down the helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade, all 38 aboard were killed instantly. This devastating attack marked the greatest single loss of life to Naval Special Warfare since the Afghan War began.

Childhood friend Mike Labuanan remembered Kraig as "real strong, real smart" and said, "he always wanted to do something challenging, so when he said he was going into the Navy, it was only right. It fit his personality." Kraig would have turned 37 just five days after his death.

Kraig was a devoted family man who lived in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Those who knew him described him as fearless, intelligent, and easygoing, a man who truly enjoyed the challenging work he did, but nothing made him happier than being with his wife and children. Senior Chief Vickers is survived by his wife Nani; children Kala'i, Makahea, and Malie; parents Robert and Mary Vickers Sr.; brothers Robert Jr., Mark, and Vance; and sister Michelle Yarborough. True to his Hawaiian roots and love of the ocean, he was buried in Valley Island Cemetery on Maui, Hawaii, overlooking the Pacific waters he loved so much.

Kraig's story is not just one of military accomplishments; it's a tale of a young man from Hawaii who dedicated his life to serving his country in the most dangerous profession imaginable. His dedication to his team and his unwavering courage in the face of adversity embody the true spirit of both the EOD community and Naval Special Warfare. Senior Chief Kraig Michael Kaleolani Vickers exemplified the warrior's heart in every aspect of his life, and his sacrifice will never be forgotten.