Ian Keith Tyson Essay

“It was the best, worst thing to happen to me.” claims Ian Keith Tyson of his military career. Mr. Tyson is a veteran Marine who served in both Operation Iraqi Freedom (later renamed Operation New Dawn) and the war in Afghanistan from the years 2009-2011. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 31st,1985, he eventually enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 24. After interviewing with each individual branch, he decided that the Marines simply fit. This was a decision that would permanently alter his life, for the better.

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.

The Crucible however, made the horrors of boot camp worth it for Ian Tyson. During this time, recruits are tested physically mentally, and morally. He reveled in this experience because it allowed recruits to finally prove themselves after the intense training in boot camp. This was symbolized by receiving the official insignia of the Marine Corps, the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, another favorite experience for Ian Tyson. Mr. Tyson had changed already, he had a better attitude; respect and humility, and he had finally found a purpose.
Ian Tyson was part of 1st Battalion 10th Marines, 2nd Marine Division.

1st Battalion 10th Marines is an artillery battalion stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina with a mission to provide artillery support for the 2nd Marine Division in times of combat. The U.S. 2nd Marine Division is the ground combat element of the Marine Expeditionary Force, a Marine Air-Ground Task Force. During Operation Iraqi Freedom (New Dawn), Mr. Tyson mainly stood post on base as a combat reserve, and then during his time in the Afghanistan war, he spent most of his time working on anything electrical. The skills he learned here eventually became applicable to his life after the military, however an item of utmost importance that he carried with him afterwards were the bonds he formed, many of which were developed in the many long hours stuck in shop. Mr. Tyson remarked that “Marines are not about friends. Marines are about family.”, displaying the value of these bonds to him, the bonds that were formed during this time in his

life.
Upon returning after his service, Ian Tyson started a difficult prospect for many veterans, building a life after the military by finding a job. However, he did receive assistance from the GI Bill when he decided to continue his education at ITT Technical Institute. Since then, Mr. Tyson has worked primarily with electronics as a maintenance tech at various locations, and has settled down with a wife and four children in Arizona.
At the time of his enlistment, being so young, Mr. Ian Tyson had yet to find a purpose or even fully develop as a person. But, consequent to the completion of his service, Ian Tyson was an entirely different man. Through his experience he developed greatly in terms of work ethic, respect, humility, among many other things. Without the military and the Marines, he would not be the great man that he is today. To him being a Marine was not simply a job, but a lifestyle.