My journey began when I graduated from Prairie View High School in Colorado and immediately shipped to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego where I trained in the basics of being a Marine Rifleman. I spent the next month learning the basics of small team leadership as well as basic survival and first aid skills. I spent nine months following in Pensacola, Florida where I trained to maintain and repair the various life support equipment in all Navy and Marine Corps rotary and fixed wing aircraft. I then spent thirteen months assigned to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 16 where I perfected my knowledge base as an Intermediate Level maintenance worker on every rotary aircraft the Marine Corps and Navy operates. I entered testing to receive my Quality Assurance Inspector qualification as the youngest …show more content…
Makin Island, where I worked with a minimal team of four Marines to maintain an excess of eight hundred pieces of equipment, and maintained 100% performance readiness. I spent eleven months continuing my training while shipboard, successfully completing nine college credit hours, seventy two Marine College Institute courses, and four Marine Corps Martial Arts Program belts. I ended at black belt first degree as the lowest ranking Marine qualified as such aboard the ship. I also participated in peacekeeping missions to several foreign countries including Djibouti, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Jordan assisting in the construction of a new school yard, and teaching of English to young