Sgt Grit,
I served from 96 to 00 I was with MCSFCO Naples and then 3/6 Marines weapons then H/S after a injury.
I joined the Marines after spending 9 years as a police Officer, I worked with officers that were in the Marines and always respected them. From the start, the recruiter, my DI, my instructors and NCO’s.
All thought I was nuts to be 28 years old and a police officer to join the Marines. I sold my house, left my retirement plan behind and left both my girlfriends but I knew what I needed to do. I never once looked back. I was treated with respect by most (except my DI that got a speeding ticket and came in the next day and made me pay in sweat for the ticket). I was always proud of my service. When re-enlistment time came up I explained to my Co that I wanted to return to law enforcement and I did my 4 years with honor (actually I extended for 6 months to go on deployment). My last 6 months I was the Company Co’s driver (I never had a humvee license) a Gunny gave me my card as he knew my background.
I married my wife while in the Marines and she is still active duty navy. I was offered 3 law enforcement positions right away, everyone said the same thing “we love hiring Marines with their training”, and how Marines never drop out of the academy. I explained to each one, after the Marines the truth is you cant give us anymore crap than we already had so nothing you do or say can bother me. I made a decision not to rejoin the police department due to swing shifts, working every holiday and weekend and court days. I became a private investigator. My instructor was a retired Marine, a class mate was in the Marines, and we became best friends, we also took highest shooting scores, he and I have been together 5 years as partners now, I was hired first and got him his job, we each make over $40,000 a year and have good lives, we both own nice cars, nice houses and I would take a bullet for him, we locate people on the run, and we don’t fail….Failure is not a option. When we set our sights on someone we always get our man. When we sit for hours doing surveillances we talk about marine stories. When we need any assistance we seem always to run into police officers, deputies or someone who served in the Marines. I will always be grateful for what the Marine Corps did for me. They don’t owe anyone anything you need to earn it. Also let me say when I first went for my interview for private investigator, I was told “if you served in the Marines.
23 comments
I am proud to be your brother Semper Fi.
Thank you all. I felt compelled to tell my story from a different perspective, yet with a similar outcome. I went to Paris Island in the summer 79 after a gray haired juvenile court judge named Judge Vincent Muller gave me tho opportunity to change my life from being a “Juvenile Delinquent” to join the Marines instead of further incarceration. Judge Muller is with God now, and I will never forget the opportunity he gave me and other young men. Fast forward to present I have 5 great kids, a satisfying life and after spending 16 years in education as Dean of Students my work mentoring and re-directing incarcerated youth in San Diego, California became the subject of a documentary by Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist, Jonathan Freedman PhD. I paid it forward just as Judge Muller would have wanted it to be. The Marine Corps gave me the foundation that I have built my life upon and I will always remain grateful and faithful to the principles and values that makes Marines… to all of you out there, proud to be your brother and Semper Fi.
I also was a private investigator (19 years) and being a Marine certainly gives you confidence, especially dealing with some very tough, criminal types when you are alone. Semper Fi.
Great story, I also joined the Corps at the young age of 27. Having started a family and had been working a solid job for almost 8 years. I thought I was well rounded in life lessons and mature enough to handle Military life. The Marines re-shaped my world and I would gladly go back and do it again. Thank you all for giving some of your life to our Corps. No large enough amount of thanks can be given to those who have given it all in our Corps. Semper Fi
Thank you for your story!! As all Marines know, “Once a Marine, Always a Marine”! I served in Vietnam with 2/1 Foxtrot Co ‘65-‘66 and then went to Hotel 2/1 when Foxtrot lost so many friends and a new Foxtrot Co was brought in!! Thank you for your service! Semper Fi…..
So you didn’t return to law enforcement because of swing shifts and working holidays? Flimsy excuse in my opinion. THAT is why you join a P.D. As a Marine with 41 years of law enforcement service I can’t imagine being given the opportunity to continue serving and taking the Oath and turning it down. Semper Fi brother to each his own I guess.
SOME NEVER LEARN…..YOUR NOT ALLOWED TO CALL ANYONE AN A-HOLE
I served in USMC from 67 to 69. One year with 3rd Marines in Vietnam. I got out and served 20 years as a civilian cop. Hurt my back and had to retire early. Then became a P.I. for 5 years. Retired completely and moved to a retirement community. I’m the local handyman and help everybody I can. I’m even an officer in my local veterans club. I serve on my clubs flag detail at all of our functions (Guess which flag I carry). Hey a Marine till I die, Semper Fi!!!!!
I too did a four year tour, 68-72, in the Corps then was a civilian police officer for six years. In 1978 I again joined and became a Criminal Investigator (CID). Great decision. Semper Fi
SEMPER FI MY BROTHERS…GOD BLESS.
The Pride don’t ride without Motor T
I served in the Marines from 1968 to 1978 then went through college and earned a BS in Criminal Justice and a BS in Psychology (made honor role 6 times) and a MA in Mental Health Counseling. Went to work as a Probation/Parole Officer doing Intensive Supervision (with problematic cases) for over 30 years until Agent Orange caught with me . My choice of careers, confidence, determination, drive, attitude, and what success I had came from my experiences in the Marines. I grew up and became the man I am today because of the Corps. You are expected to give your best 100% of the time until it becomes a way of life. How can a person not appreciate that lesson for living? Semper Fi my brothers and sisters of the Corps
Joined the Crotch in 1952; got out in ’55 as a Buck Sergeant with a supply MOS. Went back in in 1956 as a PFC (same MOS) with the promise of MPs (not a primary MOS in those days) and assigned to Camp LeJeune’s print shop. Being a salty old sergeant, I knew how to raise enough hell without harassing the gunny, top or brass and six months so I got transfered to the supply center in Albany GA whrere there just happened to be an opening for an MP. Six months later I had my three stripes back and was on town patrol in Albany where we worked with the local gendarmes constantly, I was the Brig Warden in 1958 whenn I was told that I was being considered for OCS. The choice was the Corps or law enforcement. I know I made the right decision as I had a long, wonderful career, retiring from the US Congress as an investigator and starting my own police training company, then buying another training company from a close friend, a retired NY State Police captain. I held ranks from patrolman to major; security director for a junior college; college professor in the CJ program; traiing director for a major city PD; training officer for a Federal law enforcement agency and author of numerous articles in police and security journals. My wife and I are pleasantly residing in a senior citizen community and loving our life of liesure and fond memories of the past. Semper Fi and up against the wall A**hole.
THERE ARE MORE FORMER MARINE – POLICE OFFICERS AROUND OUR COUNTRY ,THAN ANY OTHER OCCUPATION. THEY NEVER QUIT SERVING OUR CITIZENS. WE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR SERVICES AND ARE ALWAYS HELPING OTHERS. SEMPER FI TO ALL PROTECTORS AND SERVERS.
Latrine toilet paper orderly at a field mess two holer. That’s thankless.
Semper Fi!