Retired, back to school, and still cool
Thanks to my pre genetic disposition to breaking, I was medically retired from the Marines when I was 30.
Let me explain:
I am naturally weak, the Infantry is inherently hard on the body, Afghanistan is harder, and I was too stubborn to ever miss a day of anything. So despite missing two important ligaments in my ankle, half a nerve in my arm, and completely shredding a few more, I limped around the Infantry for 4 years with a smile on my face. Four surgeries and two joint reconstructions later, the US Navy doctors told me I'd be a complete moron if I stayed in the Infantry. They said I could get a desk job for the rest of my career, or get retired.
Here was my dilemma:
Get taken out of the field, get my weapon taken out of my hands, get a desk job, and pretend like I'm a Marine.
or
Get a pension for the rest of my life and do whatever the hell I wanted.
That was easy.
I set new goals for myself, enrolled in school, and started learning everything I could about writing, film, production, direction, accounting, business, and investing. I bought one investment property and failed to buy a second. I had 40 college credits with straight A's and one B within a year and a half of returning from Afghanistan. And here's the best part…..
I was still in the Marines during all this.
It took a year and a half to get me through the medical separation process. During that time I was in the Wounded Warrior Battalion, surrounded by guys with no arms, hands, fingers, legs, eyes, and faces. It was pretty terrible being associated with a bunch of guys who had been blown and shot to bits, when my excuse for being there was "genetic weakness." One of the awesome guys I served with in Afghanistan, who unfortunately lost his legs in front of my eyes was in the unit with me. He actually pinned Captain bars on me when I got promoted.
I tried to avoid telling people I was in the unit, I was ashamed to be there around so many real badasses, but it was still a great experience.
The best part about the Wounded Warrior Battalion were the amazing people I met and became close with during this time. The staff membersat Wounded Warrior Battalion were incredible people, and did incredible things for Wounded Warriors every day. I had the privilege of becoming a staff member for 3 months before I got out.
My time spent there instilled a powerful desire to help those with disabilities. The most inspiring and incredible people I have ever known are missing between one and 3 limbs and have dealt with levels of adversity that 99.99% of people could never dream about.
The strength that adversity creates is fascinating. I will dedicate much of my life towards helping people with disabilities succeed at whatever they choose.
Let me explain:
I am naturally weak, the Infantry is inherently hard on the body, Afghanistan is harder, and I was too stubborn to ever miss a day of anything. So despite missing two important ligaments in my ankle, half a nerve in my arm, and completely shredding a few more, I limped around the Infantry for 4 years with a smile on my face. Four surgeries and two joint reconstructions later, the US Navy doctors told me I'd be a complete moron if I stayed in the Infantry. They said I could get a desk job for the rest of my career, or get retired.
Here was my dilemma:
Get taken out of the field, get my weapon taken out of my hands, get a desk job, and pretend like I'm a Marine.
or
Get a pension for the rest of my life and do whatever the hell I wanted.
That was easy.
I set new goals for myself, enrolled in school, and started learning everything I could about writing, film, production, direction, accounting, business, and investing. I bought one investment property and failed to buy a second. I had 40 college credits with straight A's and one B within a year and a half of returning from Afghanistan. And here's the best part…..
I was still in the Marines during all this.
It took a year and a half to get me through the medical separation process. During that time I was in the Wounded Warrior Battalion, surrounded by guys with no arms, hands, fingers, legs, eyes, and faces. It was pretty terrible being associated with a bunch of guys who had been blown and shot to bits, when my excuse for being there was "genetic weakness." One of the awesome guys I served with in Afghanistan, who unfortunately lost his legs in front of my eyes was in the unit with me. He actually pinned Captain bars on me when I got promoted.
I tried to avoid telling people I was in the unit, I was ashamed to be there around so many real badasses, but it was still a great experience.
The best part about the Wounded Warrior Battalion were the amazing people I met and became close with during this time. The staff membersat Wounded Warrior Battalion were incredible people, and did incredible things for Wounded Warriors every day. I had the privilege of becoming a staff member for 3 months before I got out.
My time spent there instilled a powerful desire to help those with disabilities. The most inspiring and incredible people I have ever known are missing between one and 3 limbs and have dealt with levels of adversity that 99.99% of people could never dream about.
The strength that adversity creates is fascinating. I will dedicate much of my life towards helping people with disabilities succeed at whatever they choose.