Semper Fi While Aiming High
Muna and I (years ago) celebrating the Marine Corps Birthday at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India.
Before I became an officer in the Air Force, I was an enlisted Marine. I was a combat cameraman, with a few side tours served as a diplomatic security guard with the State Department at U.S. Embassies in Ottawa and New Delhi, India. (They called it “MSG” — Marine Security Guard duty.)
Like many, my path to the Marine Corps started as a wayward teen who felt uncertainty about the future. The Corps made good on its promise to help me find purpose and direction.
The Corps showed me a version of myself I had never experienced before. Although I don’t support the idea of mandatory military service, I wonder if (collectively) we might be better off as a nation if more of us had gone through similar experiences … Experiences where we are forced to work alongside those with different backgrounds; where we are taught to manage stress; where basic values like integrity, teamwork and honor are rewarded while selfishness and grandstanding was frowned upon; where we are tested to be better than we used to be, and there are built in support systems to help us succeed (and hold you accountable when you don’t.)
Although it’s been years since I wore the eagle, globe and anchor, the Corp’s effects on me are everlasting. I can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday, but I can still remember, without hesitation, that the M-16 is a lightweight, magazine-fed, gas-operated, air-cooled, shoulder-fired weapon capable of firing three-round bursts. And if you handed me one today (even though I haven’t touched one recently,) I wager I could take it apart, blindfolded, in less time than it takes for a room full of Airmen to clear out of an office on a Friday afternoon.
It was a tough decision for me to switch branches and join the “chAir Force” (as we jarheads liked to call it.) But I had plans to become an officer, and the Marine Corps was “The Few, The Proud” — literally. Meaning — there were simply fewer slots for enlisted Marines to become “mustangs” and make the jump from enlisted to the officer ranks. The Air Force simply had more people, which meant more commissioning opportunities. I miss the Corps, but don’t regret the decision. I love the Air Force.
As an officer, I quickly learned that the Air Force (and all the branches, really) provides the same positive experiences I had in the Corps. (The added benefit is that the Air Force does it with more air conditioned buildings and less yelling!) Both the Marine Corps and Air Force have been a blessing to the Lee Family.
Muna and I before attending a military ball in 2019.
On November 10th of every year, Marines celebrate the birth of the Corps. For me, going to a Marine Ball is just a nice way to hang out with some leathernecks and absorb some of the awesomeness that radiates from Marines anytime they’re in a group together.
Of course, I celebrate the Air Force birthday too. (But, when it comes to putting on a gala, the Air Force and Marines have two entirely different views on what constitutes a birthday celebration.)
For me, part of celebrating the Marine Corps birthday is simply for the chance to look back and be grateful for the life (and future) that the military has allowed us to experience. The Air Force helped shape me into being something far greater than teenaged me could have realized — but the Marine Corps gave me the spark to light the fire that got me here.
For this, I’ll forever be grateful. Happy Birthday, Devil Dogs.
Semper Fi while Aiming High.
