Not everyone will experience the same things on deployments, even my first and second had vastly different missions. My first deployment had been in a combat area—Kajaki, Afghanistan. There were a lot more patrols going out, as well as helping and gaining information from the local community. We acted as an outreach and security group.
But, during my second deployment, we were more of a reaction force, a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF). Events like Benghazi shaped our mission into this and we operated as a TRAP force, meaning Tactical Rescue of Air Personnel. In that time of 2014-2015 we were doing many bombing runs, operating from a base where a large number of aircraft carriers were going out of. If an aircraft went down—and one did—we were the ones deployed to rescue them. On base, it was a lot of training and waiting while maintaining readiness.
Compared to my first deployment, we didn’t move around as much’ we weren’t really in a combat zone. But if there was a general or a high priority U.S. representative, we had to escort them either around base or in an aircraft carrier to another region. Two deployments, two different missions: one a security and outreach force, other a reactionary and rescue force.
Different missions exposed me to different leaders. I always tried to be an honest leader, never sugarcoating anything. And like my own seniors did for me, I would lead by example. I did all the things I made my juniors marines do, setting the bar and trying to be the best to consistently test their knowledge and abilities—infantry mindset, gun drills, and squad tactics. But I didn’t want to be too hard; at the end of the day, we’re not just Marines but people as well. It was hard enough that they were prepared for whatever but still was open enough for dialogue about concerns and questions. Having a listening ear and being empathetic—my own seniors weren’t like that, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I tried to be towards my guys because I was in their position not too long ago.
I remember the transition from a boot, which is what we called junior marines, to a senior marine with a leadership billet. The evolution all infantry marines go through, at least on their first contract. In the Marine Corps infantry, you’re a “boot” up until your first deployment. Once you make it through that first deployment and come back, you have guys above you get out due to their contracts ending and new marines coming in for their first work up. You switch roles right away. The longer you stay the more guys that are under you, so you need to be more on top of things.
I finished my first deployment in the fall of 2013 and got my new Marines not long after. My unit at the time 3rd BN 4th Marines was actually being disbanded a few months after coming back from Afghanistan. At this time the Marine Corps was downsizing and marines from my unit were displaced to other infantry units. It was hard seeing a lot of guys I spent the last 2 years training and fighting beside get orders to different places.
I ended up in 2nd BN 7th Marines which was still in 29 Palms and their barracks were located right across the street from where I was. I was sent to them halfway through their work up at the time. Between getting back, attending an infantry leadership course, and getting orders to a unit with new marines that were already deep in their training; left me little down time. However, it prepared me for being a better marine and leader going into 2/7.
