What I learned as a human Marine

The night I arrived at the infamous and prestigious United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, I was yawning and desperately trying to peer through the dark and rainy elements. I had no idea what to expect, however, I would soon find out. The yelling and disembarking of the Trailways bus was chaotic order. My brother successfully completed boot camp prior to my swearing-in at the Jacksonville, Florida Processing Center, attempted to prepare me mentally for boot camp, yet, the only information to surface was packing light. Expectedly there was absolutely zero camaraderie during those first couples of days within our platoon. Blame it on culture shock, or women sizing each other up. However, after the first week of settling in, the proceeding days, weeks and months became blurred cacophonous trends of terror, testing, and training.

After graduating boot camp with “OooRahs,” and pursuing my goals as an “A-J-Squared Away,” gung-ho Marine, my life took on a green tint of success. After maintaining a 1st class-physical training rating, a sharp-shooters M-16 badge, and though I suffered a horrific turn of events, I somehow hid my goals deep with the recesses of my mind, heart, and soul. It would take me decades to reclaim my code of honor and integrity. I maintain and execute a strict modus operandi concerning discipline, punctuality, and honor. Yet, I struggle with national recalls of bigotry and violations of a rebranded civil rights agenda. I personally believe sexual preference and gender rights should fall under human rights. The plight of the black slave differs from undocumented immigrants. As the issue of women and their rights to vote differed from the rights of immigrants granted citizenship during the era of American industrialization. Though we’ve progressed in some areas of equal distribution and amendments of “common sense,” rights, not every war fought abroad improved our national sanctity or broadened the context of inalienable rights of Americans. We continue to miss the mark of compassion. We continue to abandon our citizens, minorities and documented immigrants under umbrellas of party affiliation and economic hierarchies.

Just as every Marine recruit must recite our general orders without wavering, successfully complete Elliot’s Beach pre-graduation: tactical gas chamber entrance and exit protocols, chemical warfare training, and various other training protocols associated with the Department of Navy rules of engagement and regulations, we as citizens of this entire planet have a duty to live free of human bias. We all breathe according to anatomy and physiology predestined for created humankind. We should peacefully and spiritually arm ourselves with rations of empathy and fruitful hands. We should pledge allegiance to living happy or sad and let live. Upholding the constitution of the United States should embody saluting each other with respect while honoring cultural diversity.