What the Marines Taught Me 1

I joined the Marines right after high school. I had no idea what I was planning to do after the Marines but at least I had 4 years to decide. I didn't even consider what I would do when I 'got out' until I had been in for almost a year. It takes a while to complete Boot Camp, then advanced training (MCT), then MOS School. I made it to 'the fleet' in March 94. Of course I had volunteered to join the company that left in April for a 6month deployment to Okinawa,Japan. The older Marines in my platoon had just come home from Somalia. They were battle tested and a tight knit group. It was hard to adjust but eventually we all got along.

They were all within a year of 'getting out'. They spoke constantly about what they planned to do, who they hoped to see, etc. That sparked my thinking. I started to realize that I really wasn't planning to make the Marines a career. There were no opportunities to take college courses nor gain any useful skills while we were in Okinawa. Furthermore, we left the island twice for short 1 month long trips into the field. This was all exciting and new. I really got into my job and dedicated myself to learning about the vehicle. Little would I know that this honed my attention to detail, project planning, preventative maintenance intervals, spare parts, service and overall requirements of maintaining/operating a complex system.

Once back in the California I became even more involved in my vehicle. I investigated failed parts, salvaged broken electrical equipment, learned engine tuning tricks and created specialized tools. I never realized how applicable these skills would become in my engineering life. So many engineers are only 'book smart', lacking the skills to work with their hands. Even less common are engineers who appreciate professional quality repairs (many will simply 'hack' together a simple solution).

I didn't start to consider my options until later.