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July 28, 2004
Enduring Bravely: A Corporal's Definition of Support
Last year when my son was deployed, I stopped by the local recruiter's office to pick up some information. As always, the recruiters in the office asked about my son. I mentioned that he was looking forward to returning home at the end of the month and the Gunny replied that the men in the office were all wishing that they were over there. They have one of the hardest jobs in the Corps - recruiting duty is often dawn to late night (when my son joined, I kept his recruiter in the office until well after midnight with questions). And still, they yearn to do what every Marine has been trained to do. This editorial was written by a USMC Corporal currently stationed at MCRD-San Diego. It captures these feelings perfectly.:
The definition of support is to carry, according to the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Tenth Edition. Webster’s also says support is ‘to endure bravely or quietly.’I carry a pencil and a note pad. So how can I say I support the Marines on the front lines fi ghting in the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan?
As I have already stated, I don’t carry weapons. I don’t even carry food or water. How does my sitting here typing these words at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego help my comrades in arms in forward deployed areas?
These questions have danced around in my head from time to time and I’m sure those Marines in non-combat arms specialties have entertained similar thoughts.
To answer these questions, the first thing we must do is define the reason the Marine Corp exists. We all know we are America’s 911 force and we must always be ready to protect and defend our great nation. But what is our job? If you ask a rifleman, he would probably tell you his job is to stack the skulls of our enemies.
Some of you are thinking “yeah that’s his job.” But I say it’s our job too. We might not be pulling the trigger at the present moment. However, our efforts to feed, shelter, communicate, transport and even motivate the Marines who are pulling the trigger are vital in the Corps’ ability to win battles.
For example, I could write a story about a young man who turned his life around in recruit training. That young man takes that newspaper to his hometown and shows his friends. His friends become interested in serving as a Marine and seeks out a recruiter. That story I wrote while I was back in the rear now becomes a force multiplier with a ripple effect felt throughout the Corps.
However, I’m not special. I believe all of us in supporting roles can find our purpose in the Corps’ mission, which is winning battles. It is just a matter of finding your motivation and seizing it. So keep working hard. Let’s not let those at the tip of the spear down. After all, we have all been trained since boot camp that we are all riflemen first. And when the roles are reversed, we too will be ready to do what our Corps and country demands of us all.
Posted by Deb at July 28, 2004 03:10 AM
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» The Marine Corps Moms have a great post from JohnHays.net
The Marine Corps Moms have a great post about how one of them visited a Marine Corps Recruiter to get some info. The following is an excerpt from the post.
Last year when my son was deployed, I stopped by the local recruiter's office to pick up ... [Read More]
Tracked on July 28, 2004 11:05 AM