When people hear that someone served in the military, they often picture the uniform, the discipline, the training, and maybe the places that person traveled. Those things are certainly part of it. But military life—especially life as a United States Marine—was much more than what people saw from the outside.
It was a way of life.
From the beginning, you learned that life was no longer completely about you. You were part of something bigger. Your decisions affected the Marines beside you, and theirs affected you. You learned quickly that the people to your left and right weren't simply coworkers. They became your brothers.
Military life could be exhausting. There were long days, longer nights, uncomfortable conditions, and plenty of times when you wondered why you had volunteered for any of it. You learned to function when you were tired, hungry, soaked, freezing, sweating, or carrying more gear than you thought your body could handle.
And somehow, you kept moving.
As Marines, we trained for situations most people spend their entire lives hoping they never experience. I served as an Assault Climber and was part of a Zodiac boat company. Training wasn't about being comfortable. It was about preparing yourself and the Marines around you to operate when things became uncomfortable, unpredictable, and dangerous.
There were also experiences that few people outside the military will ever fully understand. I participated in Cobra Gold and had the privilege of being involved with the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima. Standing in places connected to Marine Corps history gives you a different appreciation for the Marines who came before you. You realize that the Eagle, Globe and Anchor you wear represents generations of sacrifice.
But military life wasn't serious every second.
Some of my best memories came from the ridiculous moments—the jokes that wouldn't make sense to anyone who wasn't there, giving each other a hard time, and somehow finding something to laugh about when everyone was miserable.
That's part of what makes the bond so difficult to explain.
You could be completely exhausted, filthy, and counting the minutes until something was over, yet years later those are often the stories you laugh about the hardest.
The military also taught lessons that followed me long after I took off the uniform.
You learn that quitting because something is difficult isn't much of an option. You learn that leadership isn't about having authority over somebody. It's about taking responsibility for the people depending on you.
You learn to adapt.
You learn to solve problems.
You learn that fear doesn't necessarily mean stop.
And perhaps most importantly, you learn what it means to have someone's six.
That's a phrase I still carry with me today.
Having someone's six means protecting the person beside you. It means looking out for them when they aren't looking. It means being somebody they can depend on.
The uniform eventually comes off, but certain things never really leave you.
Years later, I can still see how the Marine Corps shaped the way I approach life, business, family, adversity, and the people who trust me to help them.
Military life wasn't always easy.
It wasn't supposed to be.
But it gave me experiences, friendships, lessons, and a sense of brotherhood that I wouldn't trade.
Once you've experienced that kind of camaraderie, it becomes part of who you are.
The title "Marine" wasn't something I wore only while I was serving.
It's something I'll carry for the rest of my life.
Semper Fi.
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