Making a decision for the future after high school is always difficult, especially if you are making the bold move to serve our country. Many young men and women make the decision to join the United States Marines after high school, but is it everything they expected?
The grueling, arduous training and the lifestyle change make the transition from high school into the Marines one of the hardest parts.
¨They strip you, shave your head, and keep you up for 48 hours straight,¨ explained Clear Creek alumni Austin Smith, (class of ‘15 ). ¨You are only allowed to address yourself as ´this recruit´ and are stripped of all names.¨ Smith is currently serving overseas as a Marine. Smiths recalls the transition included brutal physical training and being pushed beyond your limits.
¨The hardest part was realizing that I grew up in a primarily white community and being exposed to all different kinds of culture[s] when I joined was a shock,¨ Smith explained.
Although becoming a Marine is not an easy process, the skills and traits learned in in the Marines are beneficial in many parts of everyday life. Smith adds, ¨The Marine Corps forced me into being a good leader [who] other men and women my age look up to.¨
Marine Recruiter Sergeant Jordan A. Brown from Cedar Rapids explained that individuals will learn much while serving in the Marines.
¨The biggest takeaway from the Marine Corps is the intangible things; those concepts you will receive that are not physically given to you,¨ Brown said. ¨Leadership and management skills, courage and self-confidence, self-discipline and direction, pride of belonging, and challenge; these are what make the Marines different.¨
When thinking about joining the Marines, recruiters are looking for young men and women who are driven and motivated to succeed no matter what they set their minds to.
¨The spirit that is within each and every Marine is not reserved solely for those [who] have made the transformation and undergone the rigors of Recruit Training; it can be found in anyone¨ Brown said.
In addition, recruiters look to make sure applicants are morally, mentally, and medically qualified. This happens through the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) and a series of basic screening questions to make sure there is nothing to disqualify them from service.
¨This test (ASVAB) helps to determine what jobs you qualify for, and I always recommend to make sure you select a job in the military that has a civilian equivalent job, so when the time comes for you to exit the military you can step right into a job in the civilian sector,¨ adds Matthew Rice, spouse of CCA´s English teacher, Courtney Rice. He advises to take this test very seriously, study for it like a student would for the SAT/ACT. It is important to learn as much as possible about the branch you want to serve in.
Not only does the Marines build character, it can help people improve themselves professionally, offering over 300 job fields with different skills. Some including radio communication, music, graphic design, translators, and firefighters.
When making the decision to join the Marines, a lot should be taken in consideration, but with a driven mindset, joining the Marines might be something to take interest in.
