Growing up, I always imagined myself being a service member someday. For me, it was all about value. Being of value to your country and being a valuable member of a team. Not just any team, either: the Marines. I was in love with the idea of being a part of a real life version of Band of Brothers. This was my opportunity for great personal development and so I went for it. Three months prior to leaving for boot camp I met the woman who would become my wife. I didn’t just fall. I fell hard. The preceding year I spent avoiding potential relationships, but this was different. Like all recruits west of the Mississippi, my boot camp experience started at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego—MCRD for short. If it seemed like a fortress it’s because it is one. Walls 15 feet high surround the small base not far from downtown San Diego. It even featured the proper soundtrack of young recruits screaming in response to their drill instructors. It was almost like something out …show more content…
The stories you hear in training about the grueling 52-mile obstacle course were the kind that made the hair on your neck stand up. You have 48-hours to finish and you’re equipped with nothing more than one day of rations, two quarts of water and two hours of sleep. The only markers of forward progress are the medals of honor citation you receive for completing each section. This was team building, after all and that small amount of encouragement helped myself and the others stay motivated through the sand in our eyes, blisters on our feet and dehydration headaches. The finish line was mountain aptly named The Reaper. I am proud to say that it didn’t beat my teammates or myself. When we finally reached the peak our first sergeant was waiting and told us that he was proud to call us Marines. The eagle, globe and anchor pin meant a lot, but it was nothing compared to those words. I had done it. We had done it. We are Marines. Emotion swept over all of
The United States Marine Corps are a branch of the United States Armed Forces, accountable for providing rapid power projection. Training is an essential aspect of becoming a Marine and being able to do this, so, Ian Tyson arrived at bootcamp, where there was utter chaos and confusion. No one knew what was happening or why, the drill sergeants looked like monsters, and every individual became nothing but a number, a part of the crowd.
I personally chose to work with the VFW because of my grandfather. My grandfather; Joseph Deesing, served in World War II and the Korean War. I thought a good way to show him some respect for fighting for our country would be to take some of my time and help out the VFW. I love my grandfather which is why I would do anything to make him proud. I do not know what I would do without him in my life. I also chose to help out the VFW because my parents said it would be a good thing to do and because they know some of the employees so it was easy for me to get ahold of them.
Since the conflict in Vietnam ended, the military has been an all-volunteer force. This means that generally people are in the military because they want to serve, albeit the motivation for service can vary across a wide spectrum of reasons.
"There are not enough Chinamen in the world to stop a fully armed Marine regiment from going where ever they want to go" (Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller, military-quotes.com/chesty-puller). The men of Fox Company 2nd Battalion 7th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division claimed their place in history 1950 during the Korean War. For their heroic actions that day on a small hill overlooking a narrow road many lives were saved. They have been immortalized in the stories that are passed down from one generation of Marine to the other. This is their story.
Marine Corps boot camp is thirteen weeks of physical and mental anguish. There are three phases to the USMC boot camp each with it’s own challenges. If you can make it through and survive, you will have earned the title Marine.
The United States Marine Corps, established in 1775, is known for their production of the strongest offensive soldiers that defend our country. Their training includes amplified endurance, multiple styles of hand to hand combat, and artillery accuracy. Marines are trained to be the steel of the front lines that cut through and push back enemy lines. The branch rose to this dedication primarily in the 1940-50s thanks to one warrior-leader’s dedication to his country and men in his command. Lieutenant Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller is the prime model of every marine due to his dedication to service, desire to better his men through training and education, and the instilment of esprit de corps.
Although I grew up in a military family, I never saw myself going into a military career. Up until I was about fourteen years old, I planned on being a marine biologist in Hawaii. Sounds nice, right? Well, at the end of my eighth grade year I decided that I might as well join NJROTC, because all of my friends were doing it and it seemed okay. I have to say, looking back, I was quite naive. Joining NJROTC was the smartest and most valuable decision I have made to this day.
The Marines are the toughest branch of the military. They break you down and build you back up. It requires strength, endurance, and determination. Everyone is not made for the Marines because it is both a physical and mental challenge. You have to be able to take instructions and follow them appropriately.
Drill Instructors strip all your old values and Marine Corps values are formed. “There is no ‘I’, ‘I’ is gone” (p.60). To be a marine you must shed all thinking as “I” and “me”, and think as “we” and “recruit”. In American society, striving for independence is a goal for most people, and instead of working as a group we tend to compete with each other to get what we want. As a Marine you must think as a group, learn how to move as a group and you are drilled until not a single action is left to individual improvisation (p.64).
I had to pass jump school to attend Special Forces school where I had a slot waiting for me. I wanted to be a Special Forces ambassador in uniform so I could represent my country abroad. Special Forces trains a host nations military by teaching it essential skills. I wanted as many overseas assignments as I could get. My respect for Special Forces and my desire to be part of this elite group gave me my motivation to continue and never give up. I wanted to be in one of America’s best units.
On December of 1992, U.S. troops landed in Somalia. It was Thomas E. Ricks’ first deployment as a Pentagon Reporter. Opening the beginning chapter, he speaks of his first-hand experience he encountered while traveling with a squad from Alpha Company of the 1st battalion of the 7th Marines. Exceptionally qualified, his work on Making The Corps was cited by Thomas E. Ricks himself. Few events were videotaped, and some related by several participants and observers. Thoughts of Platoon 3086 and military documentations, such as “Recruit Incident Reports” and “Recruit Evaluation Cards”, were used as well to get an inside feel of the way recruits and Drill Instructors see Boot Camp.
Being a soldier was a really tough life. In the end I hated doing the same thing day after day with no change in sight, I despised the leaders that didn 't take care of their subordinates, and most importantly, I couldn 't lead my soldiers from the front anymore. I 'll be the first one to say that joining the army was the best thing to happen to me. I have grown so much as a person and the lessons I learned are invaluable. In the end I realized the negative factors outweighed any possible benefit I might receive from continued service. It was time for me to
I grew up in a small town and after I graduated high school I wanted more in life than a 9 to 5 job; I wanted to see the world. I had a few friends that had joined the military and had come home to visit with exciting stories about their experiences. I noticed a change in a few of them; they seemed to walk a little taller, maybe act a bit more mature. This, along with the intrigue of life outside of my small town, drew me to consider joining the military. I met a recruiter in Lakeland Florida in July of 1989 and a few months later on September 26th I raised my right hand and took the Oath of Enlistment. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into.
Army life can be very challenging and a life changing experience. It was very challenging and life changing for me. I was raised by my Grandparents they did everything for me so this was a wakeup call for me on life. An independent person was not I, so I had problems with the changes about to come. Army life is constantly demanding and constantly changing without notice. Although the travel was exciting, army life for me was very challenging because I had to learn to adapt to a new system, to share my life with other soldiers, and to give up many of the comforts of home.
...n ejected out of my comfort zone and proven to myself that I am capable of accomplishing my goals, big and small. The Coast Guard has also taught me about accountability and how important it is to maintain an honest attitude with yourself and your shipmates. I have learned that integrity and responsibility are character traits that are vital in maintain honor, respect, and devotion to duty. In my field we rely on each other heavily when situations arise, and I feel that my studies in Sociology have allowed me to look introspectively and observe my weaknesses so I can continue to improve and evolve into a better person that can continue to serve. I feel that my demographics do not embody diversity. Rather, it is my ups and my downs, my experience in the military, and life as an older student that can contribute to the intellectual diversity within the student body.