64 March 25, 2011

Our nation’s finest: The Few. The Proud. The Marines.

Sparks

By Jacob Skym
With seniors graduating year after year,
one after one they go their separate ways,
but everyone chooses to take a different
path. Some go to college, some get a job,
and unfortunately, some don’t do
anything. But, there are those that
choose to go further; those that choose to
push themselves, and those that choose
to serve their country - through becoming
a United States Marine.
There are five total branches of the
military. These include the Navy, Army,
Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast
Guard; but the Marines cannot be
bunched together with a list of titles.
They’re a breed of their own. They are
the toughest of the tough, the bravest of
the brave, and the strongest, most
adaptable fighting force in the world,
placing themselves at the very tip of our
nation’s spear.
Not everyone is cut out to be a Marine
because Marines are not born, they are
made. Marines go through rigorous
training and are built on the values of
honor, courage, and commitment. People
may wonder why the Marines, in my
opinion, are so much greater, why the
Marines should get all the recognition. It
is for one reason and one reason alone.
The Marines have earned their
reputation by being better at tactical
combat than any other fighting force in
the world. They can deploy by land, air,
or sea, and within six hours are ready to
take on any mission with an entire
expeditionary unit of hardened Marines.
Each and every one has received elite
training to become a skilled warrior with
many sorts of weapons and is confident
when their body is the only weapon they
have. But it is not confidence that gives
Marines the edge in hand to hand
combat; it’s training.
While every Marine is a rifleman,
every Marine is also trained in martial
arts, not just for self-defense, but to
eliminate the enemy by any and all means
necessary: again, when their body is the
only tool they have. Every branch of the
military is trained in at least some hand
to hand combat, but the Marine Corps
takes it further and sets the minimum
beyond what the Army, Navy, Air Force,
and Coast Guard do. This goes for
everything: whether it be combat,
training, or overall knowledge.
The Marines are known as “the first to
fight.” This means just how it sounds.
They are the first to step on the battle
field and the last to step off. Along with
the values of honor, courage and commit-
ment, Marines base themselves on the
saying “semper fidelis.” This is a Latin
translation meaning “always faithful,”
and it is an oath that every Marine holds
true. The symbol known world-wide: the
eagle, the anchor, and the globe, repre-
sents the Marine Corps. It is a symbol to
be worn with honor, courage, and
commitment - the values that every
Marine holds.
Though the Marines make up only a
small section of the United States
Military, they are the most dynamic
fighting force on the battlefield. But
instead of just seeing them as simply a
tool of war, every citizen should consider
what the Marines fight for and what
every branch of the United States military
fights for: our country, our flag and our
freedom.

What makes you want to join the military, and why are you choosing the branch that you are?
By Jacob Skym
Jacob Skym (12) Alex Iciek (11) Micheal LaSart (13)
“The reason that I am deciding to “I’m joining the United States “The reason I am going to the
join the Marines is because I don’t Marine Corps after I graduate. A military is to learn to have respon-
see myself getting a boring job lot of people have asked me why, sibility for my actions and to
with no excitement in my life. I and I honestly can’t give an expla- practice leadership and teamwork.
just don’t want to be like everyone else. Sure nation that makes everyone happy. My father Another reason is because my great grandpa
there are a lot of people in the military, but to was in the Army, and he flew helicopters back was a soldier, and he was a great man and
me it’s a way to make myself better in Vietnam (he’s old, ain’t he?), so grandfather that I will
than the average Jo, and better maybe I got a bit of respect for the never forget. I’m
than who I am now. My dad military from him. Anyways, not sure what
was in the Marines for six one of the reasons that I branch he was in,
years, and that pretty much want to be a Marine is but I do know
told me the branch that I’d because it’s more than just a that I want to be
be looking forward to. Be the branch of the military, the just like him.”
best, that’s what I’m chal- Marine Corps is a different
lenging myself to do. I just culture, and I look forward to
hope it comes soon, because being a part of it.”
I’m ready for a change.”

Jeremy Delamater (12)

Justin Greer (12)
Wayne Grove (12) “The branch of the military
“I choose the Marines because it’s
“The reason that I want to go in that I am joining is the Army to
the best branch for training. I also
the Marines is to defend my be a light-eeled mechanic. The
want to become an FBI agent and
country like my dad did in the reason that I chose to do this is
their main training base is in
Navy for three and a half years. because I want to to
Quantico, Virginia on a Marine Corps Base.
I want to do something that I can always be persue my career in
My grandpa was in the Marines as a scout
proud of. The reason I’m choosing the automotive technology
sniper and I have a cousin going into the
Marines is because of their military tradi- to learn more about
Marines also. I hope to get out of the Marines
tion which has lasted for 236 years of automotives while also
an illustrous career, with awesome benefits,
history and has never failed.” serving my country.”
and to learn special operations as a Force
Recon Agent and master in the Marine Corps
Martial Arts Program (MCMAP).”