About Me

Since work has yet again died down, I have a minute to write a little about myself. As the title of my blog suggests I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. I am 25 y/o as of July 1, although I do not love that fact. Aging isn't what bothers me, I feel and look far younger than I am, it's that I expected to be at a different place in my life at 25. I was hoping for family & career by now, I am facing being single and a student. It's not that I am unhappy with my life, just feel there should be more. Not to matter, this is what I have and I will make the most of it. I am a college student with 60+ credits who is four years from his degree. I chose civil engineering as a degree, so much of what I have taken so far in college is almost irrelevant. The general ed. Requirements that I have taken will count later on, but they wont reduce the amount of time between now and the finish line. They will reduce the number of credit-hours I will have to take my junior and senior years. Although to keep the GI Bill I have to maintain 12 credit hours, so that will be my minimum. I can hardly imagine only 12 credit hours. My last two semesters were 16 and 17, and Fall will be 18!!
In regards to my military service, I complete four honorable years of Marine Corps service in January of 2003. This was right around the kick-off time of Operation Iraqi Freedom (a fact that I'm sure I will write many blogs about in the future). I served the first two years of my enlistment under Clinton (oops), and the next two under Bush, amazing improvement. Although from Oregon and assured that I would be stationed in California, I spent almost my entire four years at Camp Lejeune North Carolina. My MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) was 1141, electrician. This was not my choice, but I'm sure that is something that will be the subject of another blog.
While at Camp Lejeune I served under 2nd Force Service Support Group, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, Support Company, Utilities Platoon. For many reasons, this was not the best possible situation, but that will be a very long blog. Luckily for 16 months I was able to escape my home unit and serve with the 26th Marine Expiditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). This was a welcomed change of scenery, and was especially significant as our deployment began September 19th of 2001. We were among the first to be deployed after the terrorist attacks of September the 11th, and were the first Marines to enter Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom.
In addition to my exploits with the Marine Corps, I spent my time in North Carolina volunteering with the Jacksonville Volunteer Rescue Squad. I was a rescue technician and an EMT. This was necessary due to the lack of excitement in my MOS. I just couldn't get my fix as an electrician.
Hey, it's dinner time!!! I better run, maybe will continue after dinner.