Personal Narrative: I Am A Sargent Or Corporal In The United States Marine Corps

Growing up the daughter of an Army Basic Training failure was an embarrassment for quite some time. My father went to Army Basic Training straight out of high school, and came back shortly after leaving. He was discharged for injuries of his knees; he was weak. One would not assume a child of someone who failed Basic Training would be eager to go, however I knew it was my time as soon as I received a call from a recruiter asking me to come in. It was my chance to show my dad the person I am without him, as well as fight for my country. I conquered Basic Training the summer in between the summer of my junior and senior year at the age of seventeen. There are four easy steps to Basic Training: two flights, reception, training,

Growing up as the son of a career Naval Officer, I have experienced a background that varies greatly from that of an applicant who has grown up in a strictly civilian family. The constant relocation, the exciting places I have lived, and the countless great, unique people I have met, have all contributed that that he unique childhood I have enjoyed. While at times my identity as a military child has made life challenging and difficult, I strongly believe that it has made me a stronger, more adaptable person because I have been molded by past experiences and I don't think that my application would be complete without this information.

November 10, 1775, is revered as being the Marine Corps birthday, and its birthplace being at Tun Tavern, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern, to establish two battalions of Continental Marines, under the command of Cpt. Samuel Nicholas, as an amphibious fighting force who would later in March of 1776, participate in their first foreign raid, in the Bahamas (www.globalsecurity.org ). After the Treaty of Paris

I went pre-med before getting deployed and as an intern I've seen a lot of horrible things. But when it's your friend... Someone you serve with... It stays with you forever.

If there was anything more terrifying to a shy, introverted, teenage girl than the idea of being a in crowded room full of strangers, it would to be actually in one. Yet, there I was, surrounded by a numerous amount of impatient, jet-black cars that illuminated the dark streets, rows of musicians rehearsing their piece by playing a dissonance of sounds, and the expectant, motley crowd of people lining up on the sidewalk for the veteran’s parade.

My Mother and Father relocated from Costa Rica to New York City where they met got married and where I was born. When I was just two years old, always wanting the best for us, my father moved our family from New York City to Jacksonville, FL in search of a better paying job and the American dream so he could provide us with a better quality of life. To ensure we were always clothed and feed, my father sacrificed everything for us and worked long hours to do so. Though I did have a pronounced, safe and active upbringing the North Florida school system didn’t expect much from the Hispanics that were starting to move to the then small town; unfortunately since my parents worked so much they expected the school system

Future Marines also have to meet certain academic requires to reach their goal of becoming an officer. There are many different ways to become an officer in the Marine Corps, but the most common way is through college. Students must graduate college with at least a bachelor’s degree and be a current U.S. citizen. After completing college students must then apply to OCS (Officer Candidate School) where they will learn to lead and tactical decisions in leading their squadron. (Kwan)

I was in the Marine Corps serving under Third battalion Eleventh marines Mike Battery in Twenty-Nine Palms California from 2009-2013. What our unit did was put rounds down range, oorah. We were an artillery battery, think modern day cannons. As far as twenty-nine palms all you have to imagine is sand in a five hundred square foot mile area. My job as Ammo chief was to insure the safe handling and transportation of hundred pound high explosive bombs. On one partially long training exercise I was instructed to take my marines and four ‘7-ton’ trucks and go to the rear to load up with more ammo. No problem, I’ve done this before but on this occasion when I was going to return the battery would have moved positions. So they gave me the grid number

My father swayed me to rethink my MOS choice and instead pick an MOS that is transferable to the civilian world, in case I decided to get out. I reported into Parris Island for boot camp on September 9th, 2014. I was in Delta Company starting out and graduated as a Marine on the 11th of December. That was the most important day in my life up to that point. I later went to Marine Combat Training on Camp Geiger. Which is also where I found out what my MOS was going to be. The administrative marines told me I was going to be a Maintenance Management Specialist. My buddies and I at the time thought that meant I was going to be a janitor. That was not a happy moment. Until later on when I made my way over to Camp Johnson for my school house as a 0411. I graduate from the School house as a PFC on May 8th, 2015 and arrived in my current duty station and command. Being Camp Lejeune, 2nd Maintenance Battalion, Electronics Maintenance Company

My happiness begins with misery. A group of Marines bunkered down in a field with a simple task “Make your way up the mountain and entrench yourselves – you are our defensive effort.” We let out disgruntled groans as we knew just how bad our lives were going to be for the next few days. The platoon commander (our “boss”) comes up to me and tells me to plot a route to our intended destination using the most amount of cover I could. In my mind, I know things just got even worse.

As early as high school, I knew what I wanted to do with my life, but I did not know how I would achieve it. If somebody said, “In 20 years, you’ll be a Master Sergeant in the United States Army.” I would have laughed because initially, I did not think it could be achievable by me. I am firm believer that everything happens for reason. I am a 1st generation college graduate. I have earned a Bachelors & Master’s degree and still managed to serve my country and provide for my family. I have served my family, community, and country and I still have more to give. My entire life has been about serving people.

I joined the Marine Corps looking for a challenge. I wanted to open doors for a new career and longed to have a positive impact on the world around me. Looking back five years later, I realize I found all that I originally sought, but I’ve also found something profoundly satisfying and meaningful that I never knew I was missing.

Being a military kid always made me different to the other kids in my school. Even I were to talk to another military child, our experiences would be different. Different states, different time periods without our parents, all of us have a different story to tell. I always felt like I couldn’t talk about my life because no one would understand. And most didn’t. It was hard to move across country. It was hard to move to different schools, sometimes in between the year. It was also hard on my family, with my dad being gone for long periods of time.

I remember a friend sitting on a bench hidden from the views of the world crying uncontrollably. I sat down next to him, I did not ask him anything I just embrace him. It was after a while later that he told me why he was crying. Earlier that day one of his Soldier not far from his reach took his own life. In another instant I watched a 35-year-old man draw his weapon on a child that look no older than 10. There was fear in their eyes, the man afraid of the child and the child afraid of the man. It was not uncommon for a terrorist to use a child to trick Soldiers to lower their guard. My combat experience is limited, but the horrifying things I have seen people do to one another will forever be sketched into my memory.

There are many career fields available to young adults in the United States of America, some of which include the military. The Marines is a great career field because people can apply themselves in a structured environment gaining self respect along with learning skills that will help them later in life. Specifically, the Marines are a proud organization that celebrates their history, uniforms, as well as their principals and values.