When I joined the United States Marine Corps, I knew it would change my life, but I never realized how great those changes would be. I was trained in public affairs as a print and broadcast journalist, and immediately stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Drastic life changes can take a toll both physically and emotionally over time, and it is always important to have a great personal support system to thrive through those times. My senior advisor at the time, Master Gunnery Sgt. (Master Guns) Charles Albrecht, turned out to be one of the best supporters I could ever ask for. After doing so much intense physical training and martial arts courses for the Marine Corps, I developed a hip injury that my doctors couldn’t quite diagnose. I wasn’t allowed to run, jump or participate in regular training or deployments. Again and again, my doctors tried a variety of treatments - physical therapy, steroid injections and just waiting to see if it would heal. Nothing was seeming to work, and it raised questions for me and my supervisor. In the military, it is a vital part of your boss’s job to make sure that you are in top physical shape, which was one of the main reasons that Master Guns made sure I was getting the care I needed, but there were many times we would sit in his office and just discuss the frustrations I was …show more content…
Soon after that, I had a much needed surgery to fix my hip injury. It was a long road to recovery with more physical therapy, but finally I knew I was on the right path thanks to the endless support from Master Guns. I received his encouragement to find new things that would help my hip and allow me to maintain my weight. I could swim. I could ride a bike. I could begin to enjoy lessened pain and lessened anxiety, while still working hard at my unit’s web management. I was starting to feel like a whole Marine again, despite the year-long rollercoaster I finally found a way off
As far back as I can remember, you have been my personal hero and I owe so much to you, not the least of which is a Marine Corps heritage for our family to include a fantastic career in the Corps for myself. Had it not been for the photos of you and Uncle Bernard in your dress blues, setting on the dresser at Grandma and Grandpa’s house, I may never have joined the Marine Corps. Looking at those photos every time I went there always made me proud of you and Uncle Bernard and were a continuous source of intrigue for me. Those photos along
Positive twists during troubling times is illuminated best through my experience with joining the United States Coast Guard. As hyperbolic as it sounds, it seemed that the universe itself does everything in its power to keep me from serving. From the start, I had difficulty getting into the service through means beyond my control. When I stepped into that recruiting office after graduating from high school trying to find a purpose and shook my recruiter’s hand, I knew something was bound to go wrong; my
military members who share harsh, traumatic, or even funny events obviously become closer through the bond of a mutual experience. This is particularly true for Marine infantry; many Marine are brought up in different areas of the US, with different values, ages, religious and political beliefs. However different we all might look on the outside, the fact that we’ve all been through good times and bad with each other makes us closer than any civilian could understand. After being a Marine, I find that I’m close to, and always will be, than my civilian friends who I’ve known for years. Along with this, Pressfield talks about how, under all the glory and allure of fighting for one’s country exists the real reason that warriors fight; for our brothers in arms. Political beliefs, government stances, and flags go out the window, only to be replaced by concern for the safety and well-being of the men to our left and right. All of these things are reasons why it is difficult for civilians to understand what it’s like to be a warrior. This is perhaps embodied best in our motto, Semper Fidelis; Always Faithful, to our brothers and those who depend on
I had the honor to interact with a patient that served in the military with great passion and dedication. He expressed that this was one of the major goals he completed in his life and he will never regret about his decision of being in the military. B.M is an African American male of
As a strong-willed woman, in 2014 I ended an abusive relationship with my girlfriend of three years and enlisted in the United States Navy. I decided to help others and myself by volunteering to become a service woman. Leaving everything behind to build and protect something more than myself was and is one of the greatest feelings of all time. Joining the Navy was one of the hardest and most rewarding times of my life due to me leaving family, friends and positively the abuse and the university I attended. Without escaping the relationship, negative impact in college would have forgone. The military saved me and aided in producing a successful future.
It’s been a long time since I said that to you. I’m doing fine even when it’s getting tough and risky I still take chances to help my country and to make you proud. How are you and the rest of the family? When I started in the military, It all started so cheerfully. There was gorgeous weather and all the troops were ready to start their routine. We would wake up early, all stand in line with are rifles ready and loaded for half an hour at the” Front line sentry duty it was anything but boring, it was lonely and frightening. The soldiers were positioned at intervals down the row watching for and paying attention for any extraordinary activity which in most cases is enemy movement. The
But in the mid 1930s, he was hoping to qualify for the 1940 Helsinki Olympic Games and the 1944 London Olympic Games. He believed he could have won gold. But both of those Olympics were cancelled because of the war.
I have experienced many proud events during my service in the United States Marine Corps. From receiving my Eagle Globe and Anchor after completing the grueling Crucible, to being meritoriously promoted to Corporal in the fleet. However, the one single event that provides me with the greatest source of pride and achievement is completing the Martial Arts Instructor course (MAI).
When I was seventeen I nervously traveled about 350 miles from my sleepy little home town of Freedom, Wyoming to the relatively enormous city of Boise, Idaho to go to the Military Entrance Processing Station. This wasn 't the first time I had been this far from home by myself, but it was the first time I was making adult decisions without my parents involvement. When it came time for me to choose my job in the army the counselors presented me with a long list that I qualified for. I got tired of scrolling and reading so I chose the first job that I actually understood. I returned home and excitedly told my parents that I would be an infantry soldier. My dad 's response to this might be considered a little less than heart warming “You dumb ass. Why didn 't you choose
I completed my first combat deployment in 2007 with the Minnesota National Guard. Until that time I was what many describe as a “weekend warrior.” Meaning I had a profession outside the armed forces and spent just one weekend a month in my Army boots. While I had constantly been proud of my service to my nation, through my experiences over the course of that 22-month deployment I recognized that my real passion lies with the military. After I returned from that deployment I adjusted my commitment to the military from “weekend warrior” to full-time Active Guard Reserve Soldier. Since pursuing my career with the Minnesota National Guard I have thrived, being promoted ahead of my peers, taking on numerous leadership positions, and further making
The military community is filled with some of the country’s most dedicated and brave citizens, and military bases are always full of people from all different places with a variety of unique experiences. Being a member of a military family has exposed me to a myriad of different types of people, which the average person my age does not get to meet. Having this opportunity has shown me the value of honor, determination, and hardwork, all of which have motivated me to attend college, and hopefully medical school.
The ultimate test of my ability to dedicate myself to something, persevere through challenges, and show my intestinal fortitude and resiliency was finally taking place (King & Rothstein, 2010). College coaches were no more excited to meet one of their recruits on crutches than DoDMERB was to see my packet come across their desk when I initially applied to West Point. I knew that I had to “show what I was made of” for my college experience to go the way I had hoped. After several months of intense rehab and pushing my knee beyond the limits my doctor’s recommended, I was fully cleared – in April. The estimated up to nine month recovery that I had planned on was now complete in only three and a half. Following those three and a half months, I put that same level of dedication into the team. I was at every morning lift and had the second highest attendance percentage on the team for off season workouts and lifts. I was second only because I also had a full time job during the summer, causing me to drop from first place. This hard work did not go unnoticed by my teammates. The freshman, especially, noticed how rapidly I became more than just their kicker; I was becoming one of the team leaders. I was later selected as one of our rotating captains. For a kicker to be selected by his teammates as a captain is rare, and this showed me how much those around
Upon my return from deployment the chest pains and heart episodes were found out to be a severe problem. I was sent to the Fort Bliss Wounded Warrior Battalion for medical treatment. I spent 18 months undergoing a variety of surgeries, procedures, physical therapy, and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. After fighting to stay in the Army to finish my remaining years, it was later denied resulting in a medical retirement. I was able to serve honorably for 12 years, for which I am
I could not imagine where my life would be today if I had not joined the Marine Corps. After returning to the United States from a two-year overseas duty station in Okinawa, Japan, a hot summer in the desert of California and my four-year contract ended in 2014 I found myself unemployed and living in my mother-in-law’s basement. I was unemployed for three months, then on November 3, 2014 I started working at great company, where I am still employed today, named Association of Equipment Manufacturers. I started out as an Administrative Assistant, but after a year was promoted into my current role of Human Resources & Facilities Coordinator. I feel that my previous work experience has taught me so much and I attribute my current success to the hard work and learning experiences from my
Four months ago in May, I began my fitness journey. Now let me be completely honest, I wasn’t a first timer at all, and I was not where near a professional. I was that person that seriously began one every new year and never ever kept to it. My thoughts were that by summer I would be fit and toned, but we all know that when summer rolled around that was not the feeling. My weight was a constant yo-yo, it ranged something like this 125, 120, 118, 122, 119, or 124. It was never the same for long. Then the worst happened in January of 2015, my ACL decided to give along with my meniscus. I then had surgery by February and no walking until April. THREE months in bed!! During February, March, and April I was at the worst time in my life, just ready