Crewman's Life Lessons

The Marine Corps Experience, pp. 12 – 31 The Corps today, pp 318 – 335

As the plane lands in Atlanta, Georgia two hundred others and I are escorted by Drill Sergeants to the buses. Several hours go by and finally I arrive at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. I glance at my watch, it’s three o’clock in the morning. The Drill Sergeants are screaming “MOVE PRIVATES! WE DON’T HAVE ALL DAY!” I run as fast as I can to formation just to stand at the position of attention for three hours. The morning sun is beating me in the face and the Drill Sergeants are still yelling.

Captain O’Hara – US Navy and Captain Luxon – USMC, plan to train Sailors and former Soldiers, Marines was in full swing. The first class, all Sailors, was set to graduate from the Navy’s Advance Combat Course. After a brief stint in the field with the Marines they would be returned to the school to take over the training of the Sailors. The first class of prior service Soldiers and Marines had three more weeks of training to go through, although they started at the same time, their knowledge of infantry skills and tactics was far greater than what was needed by the Navy.

The aftermath of the team’s artillery strike reveals the isolation one feels in dealing with the problems that occur overseas. The narrator is simply looking for someone who he can relate to as well as express his feelings to. Yet, when he arrives at the desk of the gunnery sergeant he is sadly let down. We notice that once the old gunnery sergeant asks the narrator why he has visited him, our narrator looks at him helplessly and replies, “I thought, maybe, you’d been out there. And seen what we’d done” (284). The word helplessly implies that the narrator is desperate and seemingly has no one left to turn to. The piece of information that is critical to the overall theme of this story is the fact that our narrator wants to know whether

The men in my platoon were dropping like flies. For a second time, I raced across the open field. There was a newbie laying in the dirt. The young man was open and exposed as rounds pounded into the surrounding dirt. Getting to him was the only thought filling my

As we finished our traditional wing run, we stood in formation and listen to our base commander talk about reflection and the meaning of military service. As I stood in formation, I immediately began to reflect over the past eight years of my military career. My reflections ranged from the first few steps into basic military training to the current position where I was leading a great group of young Airmen. The many good and bad experiences are responsible molding the person I have become. In addition, I began to reflect on my military commitment. Over the years, as I gain experience and knowledge my military commitment continues to evolve.

The three of us had to always stay together, even in the airports. I usually love flying, but this particular trip was 15 hours of flying, then waiting, then more flying and more waiting. I was getting nervous. After four planes and a bus, we finally got to our guard station, Blue Mount Point. It looked like the training facility, bland as ever. All around us was red boulders and loose dirt. On top of the hill was a shack, greyish green in color, stood a mere 5’6’’ high. I guess being short wasn’t such a bad thing. I was expecting to get a good night sleep before starting, but we got straight to work. The three of us got in our jeep and patrolled enemy territory,none of us really understood the severity of the task. We were all joking around and laughing. I usually told the jokes and we laughed and made up different ways to tell the same joke, which made us laugh even harder. However, today felt eerie. Maybe it was just because I've never really left home before but I was sure my buddies could see the nervousness in my eyes, darting around quickly. Maybe this was not what i was trying to do with my

Today, I continue to apply lessons learned in the military to life’s challenges. Similar to my experience in

My squad consisted of 4 men me I am the grenadier I got a thing for things to go boom. Then there’s corporal Jones the medic the guy used to be a surgeon but joined when North Korea had set a failed attempted to nuke the U.S. There’s

The night that I first joined army cadets. It was early September of 2013, and the sun was just beginning to set when our car pulled up in front of Cartier Square Drill Hall, the home of the 2784 Governor General's Foot Guards Cadets Corps. My heart raced from a mix of nervousness and excitement when I threw open the car door and took my first steps towards the looming building in front of me. The drill hall itself was extraordinary; two tower-like structures flanked a red brick building with windows extending across the walls. Passing through the main set of doors, there were over three dozen smiling cadets I didn’t recognize. Each cadet was dressed similarly in linden green collared shirts and dark green dress pants. But the more senior cadets had sashes and fancy black forage caps. I remember one senior cadet told all of us about his experiences at summer camp. Everyone laughed as he spoke animatedly about what he claimed to be ‘The best summer of his life’. He ended his speech with a phrase: What you get out of cadets is what you put into it.

The more protein you have the more water you should drink with it to stay healthier.

The challenges I faced as a Marine inspired self reflection and growth. The lack of individuality

Working with MOPA in the past as a Crew Ambassador left me wanting more. I truly enjoyed being part of the team and would love to join it once again. Aside from enjoying the work atmosphere at MOPA I also acknowledge the unparalleled learning opportunity this will be. As a person seeking to break into the museum field, I know that this internship could give me the tools to gain much-needed experience and contacts for my future career. An internship at such a unique museum would also give me an edge when applying to a future employer. Working with MOPA in the past has proven to be a great leaning experience and I would love to come back and learn more.

Inspecting their knowledge as if my life depended on it. Every one of my elements, cadets, were perfect. There is nothing that could possibly go wrong. I had worked for months for this very moment. The Commanding Officer halted in front of me. “Platoon! Attention!” I growled out from the inner depths of my being. The nerves shot through my body and were expelled on the last syllable of attention and the sound of the platoon’s heels cracking together in unison removed all doubt in me. I was ready. The inspection began and as we continued nothing held us back from pure, undefiled success. I was a good leader. I was successful. As the inspection came to a conclusion I stood before my platoon and sounded off, “Inspection complete!” The Commanding Officer marched away. I turned my head and for the final order I resounded in the silent arena, “At, ease!” The crisp sound of relief filled my presence. Success was in the air and it was all because of me.

Throughout my time being in the Navy Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps, Sergeant Major has shared a variety of aphorisms with his cadets. The