Something Different

It was 12 years ago that I had the “itch” to enlist in the Marine Corps. Honestly, it made the most sense at the time considering circumstances and thought process. You can read all about that here. I re-read that post recently and it’s interesting to see the similarities and differences in thinking, career progression plan, and writing style. I have been enlisted in the Marine Corps for nearly 12 years and experienced many things on this wild ride. The journey continues as my military profession transforms into something different.

Back in 2018/19 I was selected to the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt) and threw around the idea of becoming a Warrant Officer (and even a First Sergeant. . . ) at some point. Click here to read about that. It took a while to pull the trigger and apply, but it finally happened and I was selected to become a Warrant Officer back in August. Talk about something different! The lead time from selection until Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC) has been a wild ride in and of itself. The journey has included juggling the civilian side with my team and HR and then preparing to be in training for a while. We got it all figured out.

So, what is a Warrant Officer (WO)? An oversimplified explanation of a Warrant Officer would be a technical expert in a given field and the middle-man between Marine Officers and Enlisted. We’ll have to get into that another time.

As of February 1, 2023 I have been appointed (promoted) to the rank of Warrant Officer within the Marine Corps. It is a bit surreal as I’ve talked about this for a while and it is actually happening. Thank you to those who were able to come out to our appointment ceremony and swearing in. Special shout out to mom, the Marvas, John, and Sandra!

I am now in the WOBC class which goes until May. The training thus far has been mentally and physically challenging, and there are more challenges to come. I would greatly appreciate your prayers as we head into more training and inch closer to graduation. The goal is to graduate and, if we’re being honest, survive. This course is like a modified and more bearable boot camp where we do some things we’ve not done for a while (and we are all much older!). Don’t worry though. We are not living like recruits and involved in savagery. We are officers now. We are being transformed.

With that being said, I do not plan to update this blog very often for a few months. However, there may be updates (kind of like back in boot camp) here and there which are brief.

Thank you to all of those who have supported me over the years. Thank you to those who have challenged me personally and professionally. Thank you to the Marines I’ve worked with, worked for, and had the privilege of leading. This appointment is for you. I don’t take the weight or responsibility lightly. I am truly humbled.

Should you have asked me 12 years ago if I would consider becoming a Warrant Officer, I would have been confused. I didn’t know what a Warrant Officer was. Enlisted made the most sense. Going Marine Officer made sense too. Being a Warrant Officer? No way. Yet here we are. I’m doing something much different than anything I’ve done in the Marine Corps before. Thank you for your support! If you are the praying kind, please pray for strength mentally, physically and spiritually to make it through the WOBC. Pray for health. Finally, pray for the journey beyond graduation; whatever that may look like. Until next time: Be strong. Love God. Love others.

rejoice.always