And so it begins

Today marks my four year anniversary of Active Duty in the United States Marine Corps.  I've been keeping a close eye on this special day in the back of my mind for quite some time now.  And here it is.  The final countdown.

A lot of time spent in the Marine Corps is time spent counting down.  It starts from T-1 (Training Day 1) in  boot camp.  Recruits secretly keep track of the "T-days," counting down from 1 to 90, when they graduate and move on .  From there schools, deployments, days of leave, days of restriction (for some of us rebels!), temporary additional duties, all sort of turn into mini countdowns.  These mini countdowns, over time, finally lead up to a Marines' End of Active Service (EAS).

Sitting here today, having exactly 365 days left on contract, I find myself trying to figure out exactly what I am counting down towards.  Lately I have been spending a lot of time trying to gain as much information as possible for a realistic future.  I've narrowed it down to three potential decisions:

The Big Three

1.  EAS from the Marine Corps and move back to Chicagoland.  Pursue a BA in either Business Administration, Business Management, or Accounting (subject to change).

2.  EAS from the Marine Corps and continue my education in California or elsewhere.

3.  Reenlist for another four years, laterally moving into a new Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) and continuing on, potentially making a career out of the Marine Corps (another four years would put me at nine, almost halfway to retirement).


I wanted to make sure to stress that when I was describing the MC as a countdown, I do not mean that in a negative way.   As I look back, some of these countdowns have provided me with lifelong memories.  I've had the opportunity to visit states and countries I would probably never gotten to see.  I have made a lot of mistakes-turned lifelong lessons.  I have met individuals that have touched my heart, had my back, and pushed me through each and every day.  

It's as Simple as...


I really really miss home.  I miss my family.  I miss my friends.  I miss my girl friend A LOT.  I love California.  I am going to continue on with school whether I'm in, out, here, or anywhere else.  I love the Marine Corps.  I take pride in what I do and truly enjoy it.  I work with an amazing group of Marines.

Pretty simple, right?

I definitely have several important decisions to make over the next year.  I think blogging is really going to make that process easier.  I like sitting here actually mapping things out, getting my thoughts out in writing.  Hopefully doing this and receiving some sound feedback ;) I'll be able to get to the point that I want to be one year from now, and beyond that!  If you're still reading, thank you!