Brandon Hahn
Rarely will a day pass that I don't reflect upon the choices I've made to arrive where I am today, and how those choices define who I am. I've made many decisions in my life – most good, a few not so much - and I have taken to heart the hard life lessons learned through the experiences I've had with my fellow Marines.
My story really began while I was in high school. I have always enjoyed challenges, and I sought them in the most difficult Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses my school offered. I understood most of the material, but I just didn't have the work ethic to study effectively or perform the assigned homework. Based on my coursework, some may say I was a precocious teenager, but I saw myself as more listless and irresponsible than anything else. By my junior year I had come to a crossroad. It was assumed, by my family and friends, that I was destined for college. What they didn't know was that I had a churning desire to change some fundamental characteristics that I did not like about myself. So, naturally, it was a surprise to them when I announced my decision to enlist in the Marine Corps. Though I knew any branch of the military could provide me the discipline I yearned for, the challenges and honor of the Marines beckoned me. I also took into account that both of my grandfathers served in the Navy in World War II, and my father spent eight years in the Marine Corps. So it was decided, and a week after I turned 16 – the youngest age permitted to enlist – I went and signed up.
I thought I would be given the opportunity to improve myself, and I was not disappointed. My goals for personal development were realized: my barriers, broken. I became focused, mentally and physically stronger, and confident. The Marine Corps instills fundamental traits in all Marines: honor, courage, and commitment. These three ideas are the starting point to all the characteristics I hold dear. Loyalty, honesty, bravery, and pride can all be derived from these three simple ideas. All the makings for great leaders, great achievers, and great friends are held in these three values, and I feel that these are the three greatest concepts one can wield in the journey of self-improvement.
There were defining moments during my enlistment; times where I achieved clarity about my role in the world and found a greater understanding of what it means to be alive. These events culminated in a change of expectations for me. I no longer let my talents go to waste. I found the self confidence and determination to succeed when I used to sabotage my own efforts. I hunger for more challenge and more diversity that I might improve myself even further. From the drill fields of boot camp to the deserts of Iraq, the experiences I had in the Marine Corps had a profound effect on my life. I would like to share one such experience.
During my third tour of duty in Iraq, I was made a shift leader due to my experience with the equipment in the field. Air traffic control radar systems are extremely complex, and require a vast amount of technical aptitude and logical thinking to keep them running in that inhospitable environment. It was on one evening that my technical ability, as well as my budding leadership skill, was put to the test. A large, slow moving sandstorm hit after dusk. It was strong enough to pull the camouflage netting free from around the rotating antenna of the Air Surveillance Radar and wrap it around the base of the antenna, immobilizing it. With the ASR down, the entire air base was blind to what was happening in the skies. Aircraft couldn't land and others couldn't lift off to move troops and supplies, as well as conduct air support missions. With the two Marines under my charge, both of which were rookies fresh out of training, I was able to successfully direct my team to clear the obstruction and restart the radar. There wasn't a second of hesitation in my mind, even as I had to scramble onto the muddy antenna platform to saw through the netting with the antenna swinging back and forth in the 50 knot winds. I was acutely aware of my precarious position as lightning was striking with regularity in all directions, as I lay prone on one of the tallest metal objects for miles, but I was single-mindedly attacking my objective to free that antenna.
After that night, I spent a long time reflecting on the impact that experience has had on me. I have found an incredible gift in myself: an inner strength to act quickly and decisively under high stress situations, to think clearly when everything is falling apart around me, and to obtain my objective no matter the cost. That is the untold truth behind the experience for most everyone who served in a combat environment, to fully understand ourselves and what we are capable of. This is the testament to all that we have endured. Thankfully, though, not all my enlistment was spent in hostile environments.
There were many times during my enlistment that I was afforded the opportunity to help my local community. By giving my time for worthwhile volunteer programs, such as Toys for Tots, and working with the Shriners and Elks at various charity events, I found that I should not only strive to improve my own life but also the lives of all those I can possibly touch. There is a great reward to be had in helping your fellow man. I strongly believe that in doing something positive for others, you will inspire the good in them, and that hope can spread beyond the scope of any one person.
At the end of my enlistment, it came time to decide what I wanted out of my future. I had two loves: my brothers in arms and my family. The decision was made even more difficult because my son had just been born. If I were to have a future in the Marine Corps, the only place for me would be EOD. Explosive ordinance disposal is the job nobody wants. It has the highest mortality rate, but allows an individual the most opportunity to keep his brothers and sisters alive. It was difficult to choose between my young family and doing a job that would keep my fellow Marines safe, and I still feel guilty at times for picking what was essentially the selfish choice. I keep looking forward, however, to continuing my work to help others. Now I am afforded that opportunity by working for the American Red Cross. I play a pivotal role in the process to provide life saving blood and blood products as a Biomedical Equipment Technician. Not only do I work with the Red Cross, but I also donate blood and time regularly. I truly find life to be its most rewarding when you spend it making a difference for those around you as often as possible, in your community and beyond.
Ultimately, I have come away from my experience in the military as a better individual. I am focused and know what I want to accomplish. I was uncertain how well I would be able to balance time between my family, my job, and my education, but I have found my military discipline incredibly useful in performing this balancing act. The strong drive I have to succeed is directly influenced by the Marine Corps motto "adapt and overcome." That is a saying that I have taken to heart, and it allows me to overcome any obstacle, no matter how great it is.
I am currently enrolled in the Liberal Arts program at Madison College, and I will transfer into the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison campus, to pursue my goal of attaining a Masters of Science in electrical engineering. I have found my work with both the Marine Corps and Red Cross to be highly rewarding, and this passion stems from my long term affinity for working on electrical systems. It is my hope to some day combine my knowledge of electronics with my experience in combat environments to create truly useful, innovative, and, above all else, reliable electronic systems that will ultimately save lives. Our military can stand to benefit from using state-of-the-art equipment that is both reliable and affordable, and will help keep the cost in human life to a minimum.
For the time being, I can only attend school with a ¾ time workload. My wife only made as much as the daycare costs for our two young children, so I took the responsibility of providing all the income for our household so she could stay at home to raise our kids. Naturally, this is a large burden that requires me to work fulltime. Even with the generous benefits provided by the VA to help me return to school, my situation guarantees that I will have much to overcome to be successful in my goals. My strength and determination, which I earned in my service with the military, are the tools I need to use to achieve my goals.
