Marines Of Bravo Company Essay

Many Marines do not like to admit when they are scared. Some don’t ever show emotion. But everyone gets scared at some point in their life. It could be something as simple as getting a passing grade on a test or assignment. It could be as extreme as being part of an elite squad of ground pounding Marines who are getting ready to kick in doors or go in to rescue a sniper squad that has been pinned down by enemy fire. How do you think you would feel? Scared? Maybe a little intimidated?

The non-fiction novel Making the Corps follows sixty-three boys into one of the harshest boot camps in the world, Parris Island, South Carolina; furthermore, it also gives a brief history of the Marines while explaining their role in the United States military. The book was written by “…The Washington Post’s senior Pentagon correspondent,” as well as a member of two Pulitzer Prize winning teams—for national reporting—Thomas E. Ricks (Ricks cover). Not all of the recruits made it to the end of the eleven week long “living hell;” however, the ones that did successfully earned the title, “marine.” Thomas E. Ricks narrates the true stories of the diverse men in platoon 3086 who prevailed the harsh Marine Corps training and moved on to deployment

The military across the board has been making a transition in to peace time life. This is fairly difficult for people like myself, because we are used to the Marine Corps being a certain way. Nearly Ninety percent of the Infantry in 2007 was composed of individuals that knew, or were asking to go to war. With the tightening down on certain aspects of rather relaxed rules and regulations. From the time that I had joined, many of our war hardened hero’s found themselves in a predicament with having to leave the military by force. Rules such as the tattoo policy which at one time was ok to have tattoos, overnight Combat Veteran Marines were told to find work elsewhere. Knowing the reasons why I had originally joined, and seeing what was becoming of future warfighters, I knew I didn’t see the true focus of the mission at hand.

I did not know much about the military, but I knew that the Marine Corps was the most difficult and within it, Reconnaissance was the most demanding. I also knew that the harder the job the more rewarding it would be, my desire to seek the toughest challenges always paid off in the end. With the work ethic my parents instilled in me, I knew I would succeed. In my 24-year Marines Corps career as a Recon Marine, I have had the opportunity to learn, lead, and teach Marines of various caliber and rank. As a senior Staff Non-Commissioned Officer my days of performing at the team level are behind me, but I am always learning. I now rely on the young professionals I work with to teach me the latest technical and tactical procedures; this further allows me to establish confidence with our senior Commanders. My introduction to the highly educated Marine Officers in the Amphibious Reconnaissance profession has been an eye opening experience. By working with them on a daily basis, these extremely smart and academically proficient professional men and women have shown me that I too have what it takes to achieve success at an institution of higher learning. My experiences teaching and mentoring young Marines, my work developing a non-profit organization targeted at providing financial and moral support to veterans during their most critically vulnerable point:

“ You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth- and the amusing thing about it is that they are” (148) Father Kevin Kearney, 1st Marine Division Chaplain Korean War gives his opinion on how well developed and trained the United states Marines truly are. Marines are held to the highest standards of society, each Marine knows in his/her heart they are the the best of the best and no one is superior to them. The U.S. Marines are “ The Few, The Proud”, because not just anybody can become a Marine, it takes guts, courage and motivation. Each Marine is rewired in the brain to be the ideal warrior and to have the brotherhood of the Marine Corps instilled

The United States Marine Corps plays a vital role in most wars and uses their strategies to ensure victory. Mox said, “Oh, wow! That this is real; it’s not a game. And we’re gonna have to watch out back sides and take care of everybody. After you’d been there awhile, there was many times. At least there was a sense that it was the enemy. If one of your own guys got hit – and that was the sad part about it. I liked the way the Marine Corps did the training, because it was more of a close knit team. But when somebody got hurt or killed, you knew them. ” (Mox). Mox joined the Marines because of his cousin, who won the Congressional Medal of Honor. He wanted to have the same experiences, that had been talked highly about to him for years. While

“You learn something in every war,” says Penn. While stationed in Vietnam, Penn and his fellow marines learned they were greatly underprepared.

I sat down with a former Grunt Sergeant, Jake Stone, on a calm, sunny, Saturday November morning, to ask about his experience in the Marine Corps. Mr. Stone is a rather frail looking man in a wheelchair that you can tell used to be a powerful man despite his age which is approaching late seventies. I learned a lot from him. For example, Mr. Stone was a training officer during the Vietnam War. He was stationed in California teaching hand to hand combat, bayonets, pistols, rifles, hand grenades, flamethrowers, just a wide assortment of deadly weapons. He led ninety men in a strike team that was prepared to be deployed at any time. They were to be ready to pack up and leave in an hour.

What do Drew Carey, Gene Hackman, and Lee Harvey Oswald all have in common? They are all, The Few. The Proud. The Marines. Like these young men, many people after high school join one of the many branches of the military. From the U.S. Bureau of Labor, nine out of ten high school graduates go into the military. However with the Marine Corps being the smallest of the branches, only one-fifth of them become Marines. In 2006, according to the Recruit Depot Parris Island for Marines, 99.9% of the students there were high school graduates. Of the 4,420 recruits in 2006, the average age for a Marine was 19.6. Since the branches were formed, the Marine Corps has developed into a military branch that is greatly

We live in a selfish era, an era where most people consider themselves before anyone else. But to any Marine, SgtMaj Kasal’s mindset is what is engrained into their head. To give everything you can to the men and women you serve with, to make choices that are best for everyone and not just one person are simply givens. This book and stories similar to SgtMaj Kasal’s are what make me proud to be a Marine. They are what open your eyes and help you see why you have learned everything you have throughout Recruit Training.

Wright describes the Marines as tough human beings and he draw lines back to the cave-man when he tells about the Marine soldiers motto “Get some!”. He displays them as testosterone filled meatheads who are searching for an adrenalin kick. They are ready to kill and are having an urge to experience combat.

I have a story that I wanted to share with the Flathead Marines. First off, It was a huge thrill for me to be present at your Ball on Saturday night. I am huge supporter of our military and have had a very special place in my heart for the United States Marine Corps for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was a young girl I dreamt of going to a Marine Ball. I am a part of a group on facebook that sends care packages and letters to our military who are serving overseas. (We get names and addresses from various sources.) Last year we were sending packages to a group of Marines in Iraq. These incredible young men were kind enough to keep us posted on how their deployment was going and would send pictures and things of that nature. We never

| |forget that I am responsible to my Commanding Officer for the morale, discipline, and efficiency of my Marines. | |

The day started just like any day at FOB (Forward Operating Base) Sharana, in Afghanistan. I woke up at 0630 grabbed my uniform, shower hygiene, and walked to the shower trailers, so I could go to duty at 0900. Walking back from the showers I began to think about my family. I wish they understood how much I love them. Mommy is not leaving them, but doing this for them. Tears began to form in my eyes. I can do this, I will just call them later to tell them how much I love them, and that mommy misses them. As I was walking back I ran into Chief Warrant Officer 2 Tutt. CW2 Tutt was in the same company that I was in. He was a nice, strong, caring leader. He was a preacher back at our home station. As he approached me, I noticed he was crying. I’ve never seen him cry before. “What’s wrong?” I asked. “It’s Delgado” he said while beginning to cry harder. “He…he…shot himself!” I could barely make out his last words because he was so emotional. He shot himself? There’s no way, I just talked to him last night! “When did you find this out chief?” “It happened right now! I heard a gunshot and ran to see what was happening…and there he was…I couldn’t save him!” I noticed CW2 Tutt looking down at his hands. He still had blood on them.

Becoming a marine has always been a goal for me, something that I had always dreamed about. Earning that title meant everything to me and I would do anything to do so. November 10, 2016, was the day that I took the biggest step towards my dream. It was an unforgettable day, I woke up around 3 in the morning that day to be picked up by my recruiter. I was sent to MEPS (military entrance processing station), where all the “civilians get turned into recruits”, as my recruiter used to say. It was one of those fall mornings where the sky was dark, and the weather was cold and windy. Which didn’t help at all because the process of enlisting is very stressful, any little thing can automatically make the recruits get sent home.