My Corps Identity

2022-11-07T13:56:27-05:00

I was 12 years old when I decided to join the Army – as I thought of military service at the time. I didn’t know the right words, but I was sold on the concepts of going on adventures, learning new skills, and making friends for life that I saw in Army commercials on television. At 17, when the time came for me to sign up for one branch, a single thought wouldn’t leave my mind: “Could I make it as a Marine?” Would I always wonder the answer if I chose another service? I went ahead and found out.

It has been over 20 years since I graduated from Parris Island and 12 years since I last put on my cammies. Despite the flow of time, I still think of being in the Marine Corps as one of the best times of my life. I did learn skills, I did have adventures, and I did make friends for life. My time in the Marines still influences how I view myself and how I view others.

The standards I use for myself were solidified in the standards I was held to while in service. When I criticize myself, it’s my gunny’s voice that I hear saying “C’mon Burns!” The way that I lead others is a direct result of trying to emulate what I saw in my supervisors. I’ll never run another fitness test but I still beat myself up over my three-mile time. My affinity for Marines expanded to my affinity for veterans and that affinity led to my wanting to help veterans file claims with the VA.

I try not to let “Marine” be my only identity. I’ve done other things and I have other identities. However, it’s difficult for “Marine” not to be dominant. Some of my best and longest friends are Marines or Marine veterans. I love to bring up the Marine Corps whenever I learn that someone else served. I wear my old unit t-shirts to the gym. I mention my service in my work as a VSO representative at Navy Mutual because it adds to my credibility for clients. I’m still so proud of having done what I did.

This post was supposed to be about what being a veteran means to me, but I almost never say I’m a veteran. While I love veterans, and helping them and their families is a job that I love, I always say I was a Marine.

Happy Birthday, Devil Dogs. Don’t forget one for the Commandant, one for the Corps, and one for Chesty, wherever he is. Happy Veterans Day to all Veterans!

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Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2022 2:21 PM

2022-11-07T14:21:59-05:00

Sgt Meredith Burns Semper Fi Meredith and Happy Birthday. Goodnight Chesty Puller.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Nov 7 at 2022 5:25 PM

2022-11-07T17:25:29-05:00

Happy 247th birthday! And Semper Fi!

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Nov 8 at 2022 7:48 AM

2022-11-08T07:48:05-05:00

Happy Birthday Devil Dogs! And to all my veteran buddies...thanks for your service regardless of which uniform you wear/wore.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 8 at 2022 11:29 AM

2022-11-08T11:29:49-05:00

Dominant? Illuminate what you mean.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Nov 8 at 2022 3:42 PM

2022-11-08T15:42:50-05:00

Nicely done, Sgt Meredith Burns!

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Nov 8 at 2022 4:05 PM

2022-11-08T16:05:45-05:00

Thanks for sharing your story!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2022 9:47 PM

2022-11-08T21:47:05-05:00

Response by 1SG Mark Rodgers made Nov 9 at 2022 7:52 AM

2022-11-09T07:52:34-05:00

We all served a different part in the fight. Didn't matter who's supply chain U were in, we all served the piece of pie we needed to.
My father was QM in the early 50's, Air Force. My brother Tom and sister April both served as communication assets in the Navy. Me, well I served the combat arms of the US Army as a helicopter mechanic/Crew Chief. Did Operation Paul Bunyan in Korea 1976.
When I was on the last leg of my career I went to Afghanistan twice. That's where we all served. By then I was in Public Affairs telling the war fighters' story.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Nov 9 at 2022 7:00 PM

2022-11-09T19:00:36-05:00

Sgt Meredith Burns From one Marine to another, Semper Fi and thank you for your service. "Once a Marine, Always a Marine!" I'll never forget my Marine Corps Days and how they took a seventeen year old boy, taught him how to respect authority and be proud of his accomplishments. Thank you United States Marine Corps. What I learned I have carried me though my life to be the person I am today.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 9 at 2022 9:59 PM

2022-11-09T21:59:17-05:00

I want to say after reading your narrative I am remiss for not mentioning anything positive. I am proud of you. You are well grounded, and you know where you came from and how you evolved into greater maturity. My advice is to find your passions and go balls to the wall. You don't know where you will end up, but often its a good surprise.

Response by GySgt Jack Wallace made Nov 10 at 2022 8:36 AM

2022-11-10T08:36:45-05:00

Thank you for your service an remembering all of us old vets. be Safe , be Blessed. Semper Fi and Happy Birthday, Sgt. Burns.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Nov 10 at 2022 8:41 AM

2022-11-10T08:41:12-05:00

Many people refer to the Corps as a cult. Perhaps, but it allowed me to serve with and know some of the best people in my life,

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Nov 10 at 2022 11:52 AM

2022-11-10T11:52:09-05:00

Anyone who’s been thru PI or Pendleton and earns the title gets the ultimate respect, man or women, it’s irrelevant. A Marine is a Marine.

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Nov 10 at 2022 2:50 PM

2022-11-10T14:50:15-05:00

You make me realize I would've been a below average Marine trying to keep up with you. I'm thankful we have professionals like you who have patrolled the globe in defense of our freedom. Happy Birthday Devil Dogs!

Response by 1SG Frank Peck made Nov 10 at 2022 3:30 PM

2022-11-10T15:30:23-05:00

Good Post BOOT!! I went in the Corps in 77 got out in 81. Missed it joined the Guard, retied a First Sergeant, getting all the benefits, great pension. It was fun in the Army, I always got my ass busted, cause they made fun of me being a Marine, it was a blast.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Nov 10 at 2022 4:06 PM

2022-11-10T16:06:30-05:00

Thanks for sharing

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2022 5:06 PM

2022-11-10T17:06:02-05:00

Thanks for your service!

Response by GySgt Charles O'Connell made Nov 13 at 2022 3:00 PM

2022-11-13T15:00:03-05:00

Semper Fi Devil Dog!

Response by MSgt James Parker made Nov 28 at 2022 7:07 AM

2022-11-28T07:07:47-05:00

Thank you for your continued service. Semper Fi.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2023 5:37 PM

2023-07-27T17:37:19-04:00

I was USAF, 1 brother in law was a Jar Head, 1 was Navy, a bunch of friends of mine were Army (just because they were not smart enough for the Chair Force) and I even had 1 friend that was in the Coast Guard - so we got all of the individual branches covered!

Joking aside I remember one of my Army buddies telling me that he went to the chow hall on an Air Force installation and he couldn't believe all of the food they were offering but what really (threw him off) he said was when he got into the line they asked him: "What do you want?" He said that in the Army they don't ask they just give you whatever they feel like giving you. So he said "I will take one of everything!"

So he gets his tray out to the tables and sits down to eat his food, and an officer walks over to him and says: "You better make sure you eat all that food." He didn't reply he said, he was to busy stuffing his pie hole!