Picking up aluminum cans and glass bottles at a local park as a kid was one of the best economic lessons I ever learned. Simple as it was, working for dimes helped pay my way through public school, trying to keep up with the social trends that my parents could not afford. I took on personal responsibility at a young age so my parents would not have to struggle while saving money for my future education.
Upon graduation from high school, I had already planned to move to Florida to start an electrical business rather than attend college. I was skillfully trained, at the top of my class, before I dropped out of community college to pursue entrepreneurship. With my baby blue Ford truck and Jack Daniel’s trucker hat replacing my graduation cap, I was packed and ready to go. I attended my graduation, said bye to my friends, and relocated to Florida, stopping at a few destinations along the way.
Florida was not a good place for me to be. I had a lot of trouble being a smart kid in a not-so-smart town. I got jumped by a few guys and had my head pounded onto the concrete. Got away with a lump on my head like a cartoon character. I reported the crime and soon got busted for driving without insurance. I think that was a setup, anyway, the judge took it easy on me because I had already enlisted in the war.
After arriving at the airport and while being properly yelled at by my Marine Corps instructors, I sat quietly watching the behaviors of the other future Marines as they got off the bus and how they reacted to the drill instructor’s commands. This was the first phase of my training, based on the standardized testing I received after I enlisted, and I committed to doing a job well done. Opportunities awaited.
Today is no different than when I was 17 years old. It’s the same situation I was in before. Perhaps this time won’t be so difficult for me. My lifelong commitments and efforts have not been perfect; however, they were made with good intentions. My training was standardized, as was that of all the other recruits in my battalion, some of whom I am still friends with after graduating from military school together.
My book “Dear Marines” will go more in-depth about the camaraderie between Marine brothers, our medics, and those brothers of ours across the globe. Eagle, Globe, and Anchor is a symbol of peace through strength.
A journey to pursue peace is a journey worth fighting for.
No fighting needed.
Alan J. Mackinder
