Shawn Blake

I hope my kids take pride in my military experiences and achievements as I did with my grandparents who served. They are no longer with me, but I keep their memory alive by thinking about them; without their service I may have never joined. The Marine Corps truly made me the man I am today. My work ethic and demeanor, the places I got to see, the things I got to do, the people I got to meet—these are the things I’ll always look back on in admiration of, more than just earning an honorable discharge. I would like my kids to know that securing the safety of our country is an honorable task, that America was, is, and always will be worth fighting for. 

One way I would put it is that it’s an experience I would not trade for a million dollars but also never do again for a million dollars. It is life changing; you’re glad you did it but man was it tough. There’s nobody that goes into the military, puts in their best effort, and comes out a worse person. Especially in the Marine Corps because it’s the most disciplined branch, people come out with a better work ethic and attitude. Everybody that I went in and out with—I check up on periodically—is doing great now. No matter how big or small, any American who’s willing to put in their best efforts, will get something out of serving and become a better person for it. 

To get the most out of that, I believe all Americans, especially veterans, need to keep up that drive. It’s easy in the military because of so many outside factors influencing you, but as soon as you get out you’re a civilian again, you’re on your own. What’s important is to maintain the drive to keep getting better for your career, health, or relationships. Keep pushing yourself to do the best you can even outside of military service. 

What drove me in the military was my competitiveness. I’ve always been competitively driven, but compared to when I was younger, that drive is much more focused now. I put a lot more thought and effort into everything I did because I realized I didn’t want to make a career out of being a Marine. I wanted to do my deployments, do my four years and get out. Because of that, I wanted to make the most of those four years. So, I thought: why not push as hard as I can, leaving very little to regret when I look back, so I could believe I truly did everything to accomplish my goals. As well as helping train the future marines that would take my place. I kept them accountable and focused just as my seniors did to me. 

What I do have looking back is how I changed from all those experiences. My deployments to the Middle East were my first time outside the U.S., and they gave me a broader understanding of the world. It’s easy to think the world’s very small before you see all these different cultures and customs. 

Seeing that, I give effort to appreciate all the little things even when the days are monotonous. The testing and training from my senior marines helped me always put forth my best effort no matter the situation, so that even in times of suffering I’m able to laugh it off and move forward. Besides, some unpleasant things, some miserable tasks, you can’t avoid them, so why not get them done with a positive attitude and laugh it off? Even when it seems impossible to be optimistic, I try to be.

Effort and accomplishments. I think the biggest accomplishment I obtained while in the service was earning the rank of Non-Commissioned Officer. I was promoted to corporal in only two and a half years, which is really good especially in the infantry. 

Many do not move up so fast. Once I got in the Marine Corps. I knew I wanted to lead, so getting promoted to a leadership rank and being placed into a leadership billet so early was a personal accomplishment for me. Another accomplishment includes earning a couple meritorious masses, which is essentially an honorable mention. This was during my infantry leaders’ course and a division school for mortarmen while I was still pretty fresh, competing against NCOs as a lance corporal right after my first deployment. It gave me a great deal of confidence outperforming these guys who had been in much longer than I had, at this point. Another personal victory was earning a perfect 300 on the Physical Fitness Test. 

In high school I definitely wasn’t the biggest, strongest, or fastest. Therefore, getting a perfect score on an annual marine fitness test was something I never thought I’d ever accomplish, especially considering how strict marine fitness standards are. 

One more thing I have to say is I got lucky, many go into the infantry and do not get to deploy into the areas I visited. I was able to use my training where some never got the opportunity. While war is never good, these experiences can be lessons and those moments are the ones I will remember the rest of my life. Along with the marines who were with me along the way.

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.

While in the military, nothing helped me overcome challenges more than the camaraderie I had with my fellow Marines. I truly believe suffering together is the single most bonding experience you can have with other people. Even when times seemed harsh, even when it sucked, I could rely on the guys to my left and right to have my six: “Hey, we’re all doing this together. We’re all in this together. We have each other.” 

I still have very close relationships with my buddies in the Marine Corps. When there were periods of down time for personal activity, I would often work out and it became almost therapeutic for me. I work out pretty consistently today, but it’s a habit and a hobby I started doing in the Marine Corps. It is obviously tough, even just to find the motivation some days. But the best things for you are the hardest things to do. That’s what I believe at least, and again this mindset stems from my experiences and interactions from both infantry units I served with. 

I still try to maintain good communication with some of the guys I have served with. The company I was assigned with on my second deployment (2/7) has a Facebook group that people post regularly on. One of my platoon commanders, Lt. Culver (Capt. now), messages me now and then, usually around my birthday and the holidays. I have buddies in Houston and Dallas who I try to see every time I’m in the area. Unfortunately, my unit has lost a few marines shortly after getting out. Which is why I try to check in with as much of these guys as I can. 

One of the greatest feelings we got to share together is coming home from that first deployment. I remember almost not knowing what to do with myself with all this time off after seven months of non-stop work. It was surreal, suddenly being on leave, having freedom. It was the little things—going on a drive, having a beer with friends—that I noticed myself enjoying so much more because of how hard life was for me just a few months ago. You tend to not appreciate things as much until they are taken away. It was all very humbling; there is far less I take for granted now.

Leadership and first times—Reminds me of Sergeant Peters, probably the first marine I was accompanied to the fleet by. I truly admire him now, though I didn’t think so back then. As my squad leader, Sergeant Peters was extremely tough on us. There was borderline hazing going on. But looking back, I came to understand why he did the things he did over the course of our workup and my first deployment with him. 

I came to understand why Sergeant Peters was so competitive, always striving to be first during gun drills, ruck marches, battalion runs, anything. It wasn’t to make us like him; it was so we could survive, be better trained individuals and accomplish what we set out to do. I have respect for him as a leader because I realized he was trying to elevate us to his standard, showing leaders are put into that position for their ability to outperform. It showed me that he wasn’t just given the rank of Sergeant or the billet of squad leader for nothing. He had earned it because of how good he was at his job, as a leader should. 

Sergeant Peters and I became close during my first deployment in Kajaki, Afghanistan. We had a lot of brotherly moments I still remember today. He was truly one of the best marines among us, and I aspire to stay as competitive as him no matter my position in life.  

I also remember a different type of leader—1st Sgt Dickinson. During my time in Third Battalion, Fourth Marines he had this disdain for us. Unlike Sergeant Peters who was showing us tough love, our new 1st Sgt did not show us any. 

I remember on our deployment he had a minor injury from simply working out and he immediately requested to go back to the U.S. mainland and end it there. It seemed more like an excuse to get out of the deployment, but I was just happy he wasn’t going to be around anymore. I realized for the first time that not all leaders deserve their title and authority. Most do, but a few slip through the cracks and 1st Sgt Dickinson was one of them. But the majority of my leadership in the Marine Corps was good.

No matter who is in charge you need to be able to work with them and adjust. The Marine Corps threw me in many different environments of learning, training, and operating that being flexible is one skill you quickly pick up. The biggest adjustments for me came with my first deployment. 

What I remember most about that experience is the exhaustive work schedule. We were on this rotation. Six hours of standing post, usually at our Forward Operating Base’s (FOB) entry control point. Which is mentally exhausting because during that time you have to be fully alert. Then, six hours of reaction force. During this period whatever command needed done, we were the squad to carry it out. This included security patrols, resupplies, intelligence briefings, or any work needed done around the FOB. If you were lucky your reaction time landed sometime at night, when it was mostly quiet. If you were unlucky you got spun up for a medevac. 

Most medevacs were for Afghan locals that got caught up in IEDs or small arms fire by invading Taliban forces. Any locals brought to our ECP, we did our best to treat them and if it was serious enough send them to a larger allied base with better medical supplies. After you rotated off of the reaction force you were on your rest cycle. This was essentially time those marines had to themselves without getting messed with by command. 

Sleep is a valuable resource on deployment so anytime it was available we all tried to take advantage of it. The mental stress of being in a combat zone was always there: constantly being observant and aware of possible IEDs during patrols, suicide bombers while standing post, and ambushes while conducting resupplies or medevacs. 

Working through all that was tough, but it definitely helped me handle such situations better. Especially now, I tend to look back at what my mind and body has had to overcome during those times, and that helps give me confidence for anything I choose to achieve later in life.

I’ve always wanted to join the military. It was a big part of my family. Both of my grandfathers served; one was in the Air Force during World War II and the Korean War, and the other was in the Army for the Korean War. The interest was there but I was still on the fence about it going into high school. Senior year, though, I was initially rejected from the college I had applied to. I was devastated but still wanted a way to get out of my hometown.

If it wasn’t college, I figured it was the military. I teetered between the Army and the Navy, but my brother told me, “Hey, man, if you’re gonna do it, why not go into the marines?” The Marine Corps—the toughest branch. If I were to serve, that’s where I would do it. Barely a week after I met my recruiter, I was signing papers and looking at pamphlets. I was in for a challenge.

As soon as I got off the bus onto the yellow footprints of boot camp I was expected to just do, not think. Obey. Trust the people in charge. The entire goal is to break you down and then build you back up until you earn the title of “Marine.” It was very different from how I grew up, where I was always questioning a lot of things. It was very hard, but I quickly adapted and overcame.

The first week in boot camp I didn’t sleep much. I was settling in, doing this and that, constantly on my feet. Everything was physically demanding. After completing boot camp, I was sent to the School of Infantry (SOI). Which specializes in infantry training and where they designate your job within the infantry, I was placed with the mortarmen. Years later I came back to SOI for Advanced Mortars Course where I learned to lead mortarmen. Except now I was older, wiser and had to master everything about the weapon system: forward observing (FO), fire direction control, gun drills.

Every morning I was doing PT with flack and Kevlar, running for miles carrying water jugs, ammo, and weapons. I felt truly challenged, both physically and mentally. Because not everyone passes and I was going to do whatever it took for that to not be me, in fact half of the class we started with did not even make it to graduation. But in the end, I persevered and finished the course.