WEBVTT 00:01.733 --> 00:04.650 (light soft music) 00:09.608 --> 00:13.775 - Jonathan Whitby, 0811 Artillery Crewman 111 India Battery. 00:16.655 --> 00:19.572 (light soft music) 00:22.194 --> 00:23.144 I wanted to join the Marine Corps 00:23.144 --> 00:25.295 because I wanted to do something more with my life. 00:25.295 --> 00:27.504 In high school I wasn't going along a route 00:27.504 --> 00:29.561 I wanted to follow through. 00:29.561 --> 00:31.034 Seeing my friends that joined the Marine Corps, 00:31.034 --> 00:32.648 saw that they definitely were choosing a path 00:32.648 --> 00:34.426 that seemed to be the right choice for them. 00:34.426 --> 00:37.343 (light soft music) 00:38.745 --> 00:42.792 I got lucky this first contract in terms of experiences. 00:42.792 --> 00:44.482 I got to the fleet, four months later 00:44.482 --> 00:46.614 I was on my first deployment. 00:46.614 --> 00:48.729 Got promoted to Lance Corporal right before that, 00:48.729 --> 00:49.839 it was a big deal. 00:49.839 --> 00:52.765 Came back, six months later got promoted to Corporal. 00:52.765 --> 00:56.165 And the next year I was on my second deployment. 00:56.165 --> 00:59.082 (light soft music) 00:59.602 --> 01:01.516 Opportunities I've got in this enlistment, 01:01.516 --> 01:03.548 it was nice to get two deployments, 01:03.548 --> 01:05.102 two different types of deployments. 01:05.102 --> 01:08.102 First one being security, based UDP. 01:08.920 --> 01:11.866 The second one being a MEW with my actual unit. 01:11.866 --> 01:16.033 I got a chance to go to martial arts instructor course. 01:17.931 --> 01:20.062 I wanted to reenlist, because not that I wasn't happy 01:20.062 --> 01:22.426 with the choice of being in artillery, 01:22.426 --> 01:23.801 but I felt like I didn't do enough 01:23.801 --> 01:26.235 for the reason I joined the Marine Corps. 01:26.235 --> 01:29.068 Just coming in, hearing about EOD, 01:29.451 --> 01:31.571 they're a job that currently matters. 01:31.571 --> 01:34.937 And currently doing actively that helps people. 01:34.937 --> 01:37.273 That's all I wanted to do when I joined. 01:37.273 --> 01:40.190 (light soft music) 01:40.613 --> 01:42.036 I wanted to stay a Marine because 01:42.036 --> 01:43.779 it's something my family's proud of. 01:43.779 --> 01:45.171 I'm doing a job that I like. 01:45.171 --> 01:47.815 I'm glad to move to another job that I know I will love. 01:47.815 --> 01:50.429 Something that's going to be helpful towards people. 01:50.429 --> 01:53.113 Something that's bettering me for my future. 01:53.113 --> 01:55.169 The Marine Corps is a very good stepping stone 01:55.169 --> 01:56.705 if you use it right. 01:56.705 --> 01:58.321 You don't have to stay in if you feel 01:58.321 --> 01:59.733 you've already done your job, 01:59.733 --> 02:01.570 but realize that this gives you the best opportunities 02:01.570 --> 02:05.203 if you truly look into what we have to offer. 02:05.203 --> 02:07.145 Before getting out of the Marine Corps 02:07.145 --> 02:10.557 it's definitely be a good idea to check all your options. 02:10.557 --> 02:12.487 Realize, hey you might want to get out, 02:12.487 --> 02:16.213 but is there really anything waiting for you on the outside? 02:16.213 --> 02:17.829 You realize that what's in the Marine Corps, 02:17.829 --> 02:21.996 how many opportunities you have and how good it is being in. 02:23.152 --> 02:24.388 The reason I've stayed in the Marine Corps 02:24.388 --> 02:27.221 is it's given me the opportunity to be able to teach Marines 02:27.221 --> 02:30.443 and still learn new knowledge as I go along. 02:30.443 --> 02:32.988 Definitely happy about having this be a stepping stone 02:32.988 --> 02:36.738 for future decisions with the new job in EOD. 02:36.806 --> 02:39.253 And for other Marines, they definitely should look into 02:39.253 --> 02:42.074 other opportunities they have available in the Marine Corps. 02:42.074 --> 02:44.689 Stuff that keeps them interested, makes them happy. 02:44.689 --> 02:46.189 A good profession. 02:46.575 --> 02:49.575 (light soft music)