Jeffrey Welch
The Marine Corps: Paving My Road to Success
1988. I was 19, married, and working 3 jobs to stay afloat. I had no skill of measurable worth and was setting my goals on becoming a mechanic. I had absolutely no interest in continuing education as I had just skimmed by in high school. To me, there was no reason to go to college just to be mechanic. It didn't take me long to see that I was getting nowhere and that to be a mechanic required more experience than what I had tinkering on my own vehicles. I started toying around with the idea of joining the Navy but the recruiter kept trying to steer me toward the reserves. I finally decided to get the courage to talk to the Marine recruiters. Why not? My father was a Marine.
I was quite surprised to find that I had scored well enough on the ASVAB to qualify for positions more technical than I was seeking. The recruiter was trying to talk me in to signing up as an Electronic Repairman which included a $2000 enlistment bonus. I was faced with not only making a significant life change but also starting a career path that I had zero experience or knowledge to begin. I decided to enlist to further my place in the workforce and get that technical trade and experience. At the time I saw it as a path to gain job experience without needing to go to college. I was in for a wakeup when I graduated boot camp and checked in at the Marine Corps Communication Electronics School.
I'm sure I turned white as a ghost when our class was informed that anyone failing the first week of class, math week, was instantly dropped and sent to Radio Operators School to lug around a radio on their back for the next 4 years. I was horrible at math in school and quit taking math classes after my sophomore year. It was here that I came to a revelation; I am smart. I did well in the class. I began to thirst for knowledge. I continued to put college off for a few more years, thinking that I could survive in the workforce off of my experience alone. I began to realize as I started moving up the rank structure that I was gaining valuable experience that wasn't necessarily related to any one specific job field.
Around my 10 year mark in the Marine Corps I was realizing the value of the Marines and the military in general when it comes to preparing for a career. The opportunities for developing leadership are in abundance. I realized the value of the small unit leader and how they are in parallel with the line supervisor in a civilian job. The stresses of military life and the methods used to cope are essential to building moral character. Mission accomplishment is always stressed in the Marine Corps which helped me realize the importance of starting what I finish, and that things may not always go my way and I should adapt and overcome. Due to the high rate of transfer of personnel at all levels of leadership, you constantly find yourself adapting to new styles of leadership and personalities. You begin to mold your leadership method based on experiences, both good and bad, in working with others. I was able to see that even the worst leader can have a positive influence in that you see what not to do. The Marine Corps is good at pushing you to your limits to test your mettle. There are always opportunities to shine and stand apart from those that want to get by. In the military you work with a diverse crowd of people who all have their own particular personalities and values which in itself builds character. My character building experiences in the Marines brought me to enroll in college.
Being a Marine has helped me in my college path but it hasn't been without hardship. The military life is one filled with deployments both expected and unexpected. There are times where I know it is pointless to even sign up for a semester based off of our forecast workload. I am a college honor student but still have no degree. I haven't given up. I refuse.
I would never tell anyone that joining the Marines or the military will make them good leaders and prepare them for civilian careers. I would tell people that the military can provide you the tools to prepare for the civilian work force, but cannot provide the will and motivation. A person has to look inside themselves to put their motivation, desire, character and morals together to achieve their goals. I often look back and wonder where I'd be if I hadn't joined the Marines. The thought chills me.
From Kayla
Kayla added this about her decision to pursue a degree in Nursing at Kansas Wesleyan
It was a tough decision as to what field I would like to pursue. It was the experience I got volunteering at the Salina Regional Health Center for the past 2 summers that helped me to realize I wanted the hands on with the patience and the care that I can help them receive that helped me realize I wanted to go into Nursing. I am still deciding between being a surgical nurse, nurse anesthesiologist or a nurse in the OBGYN department. This scholarship helps me get closer to reaching my goals for my future. Thank you for you assistance in helping me continue my education to make something of myself and hopefully to make a difference in other peoples lives as well! Sincerely, Kayla Welch
