thedrifter
12-17-07, 03:28 AM
Marine inspires family to join Corps
By Cpl. Ryan Jackson, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (FWD)
AL ASAD, Iraq (Dec. 17, 2007) -- A little bit of pride and leadership can go a long way. For the Croft family, the oldest brother of six siblings joined the Marine Corps in 1979 and told his younger brother how great it was to be a Marine.
Now, 22 years later, the younger brother has become the cornerstone of a family tradition by inspiring five other family members to join the Marine Corps.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Todd Croft decided he wanted to be a Marine at the age of 12 thanks to his older brother’s adventures as a Marine.
“My older brother came into the Marine Corps in 1979,” said Croft, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) personnel officer. “He told me ‘I got off a boat at a port and there was a whole bunch of Sailors at the bottom of the gang plank and they split like the red sea because a Marine was walking through’ and I was like ‘I want to be that Marine!’”
So, the day after Croft graduated high school at the ripe age of 18, he shipped off to boot camp. Initially enlisting as a bulk fuel specialist, he later made a lateral move to become an administration clerk in 1988. He has also completed a tour as a drill instructor in 1995 and has been stationed everywhere from Okinawa, Japan, to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
While Croft was serving as a corporal, his brother became interested in the military.
But, when he found out his younger brother, Nick was interested in joining the Navy but couldn’t because of weight problems, Croft called the Marine recruiter. The recruiter made a commitment to work off the weight and in no time he was in the Corps. Now he is Gunnery Sgt. Bonzani, an ammunition technician currently assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Croft also helped two of his nephews and his son by giving them guidance after they became interested in the Marine Corps.
“My nephew Adam, asked for MOS advice,” said Croft. “He was originally going to be infantry but had an interest in Law Enforcement. So I called his recruiter for guidance. My nephew Jacob moved to North Carolina in February of 2006 for help in the enlistment process. My son Todd Jr. was interested in Media, so I took him to the Combat Camera office on Camp Johnson and he was impressed with it. So, they all recognized that I was doing well in the Marine Corps and they saw it as a starting point for them as well.”
His nephew Adam is now Sgt. Springfield and is in Florida attending explosive ordnance disposal school. Jacob, a communications technician, is now Cpl. Maloney currently stationed at Al Qaim, Iraq. And his son, Lance Cpl. Croft, is attending the Defense Information School in Maryland.
As his relatives joined the Corps, Croft saw to it to get them all stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
“I saw it as ‘What commanding officer wouldn’t want a family stationed together,’” said Croft. “When they check in, they already have great mentors to educate them. My brother and I have been in for a long time and have a pretty good grasp on what the Marine Corps is about, so we try to advise them as they make their decisions in the Marine Corps.”
Croft enjoys having his family around to make memories together like when he got promoted to warrant officer and made his brother, just coming off a float, salute him.
Back in the states they constantly do everything together; lunch, gym or even getting together to play some basketball.
Croft’s nephew Jacob recently stopped in for a visit while making a stop at Al Asad.
They spent time just hanging out together.
“When we get together its green belt training all over again,” said Croft. “My brother and I grew up wrestling all the time. My son continuously tries to tap out my nephew. We constantly compete with PFT scores and see who can outshoot each other. It’s constant and its fun.”
Not only does the family take pride in serving as Marines together, but as Marines they enjoy a bond as brothers.
“Now that we’re all Marines, we’ve got a bond that is stronger than just family,” said Croft. “You can’t explain to family the significance of what you do and have them fully understand it. Now, as Marines, we don’t have to try and explain everything to each other because we all know the terminology. I’ve talked to my nephew more in the last year than I had his first 18 years. It has brought us closer together.”
Ellie
By Cpl. Ryan Jackson, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (FWD)
AL ASAD, Iraq (Dec. 17, 2007) -- A little bit of pride and leadership can go a long way. For the Croft family, the oldest brother of six siblings joined the Marine Corps in 1979 and told his younger brother how great it was to be a Marine.
Now, 22 years later, the younger brother has become the cornerstone of a family tradition by inspiring five other family members to join the Marine Corps.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Todd Croft decided he wanted to be a Marine at the age of 12 thanks to his older brother’s adventures as a Marine.
“My older brother came into the Marine Corps in 1979,” said Croft, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) personnel officer. “He told me ‘I got off a boat at a port and there was a whole bunch of Sailors at the bottom of the gang plank and they split like the red sea because a Marine was walking through’ and I was like ‘I want to be that Marine!’”
So, the day after Croft graduated high school at the ripe age of 18, he shipped off to boot camp. Initially enlisting as a bulk fuel specialist, he later made a lateral move to become an administration clerk in 1988. He has also completed a tour as a drill instructor in 1995 and has been stationed everywhere from Okinawa, Japan, to Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
While Croft was serving as a corporal, his brother became interested in the military.
But, when he found out his younger brother, Nick was interested in joining the Navy but couldn’t because of weight problems, Croft called the Marine recruiter. The recruiter made a commitment to work off the weight and in no time he was in the Corps. Now he is Gunnery Sgt. Bonzani, an ammunition technician currently assigned to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Croft also helped two of his nephews and his son by giving them guidance after they became interested in the Marine Corps.
“My nephew Adam, asked for MOS advice,” said Croft. “He was originally going to be infantry but had an interest in Law Enforcement. So I called his recruiter for guidance. My nephew Jacob moved to North Carolina in February of 2006 for help in the enlistment process. My son Todd Jr. was interested in Media, so I took him to the Combat Camera office on Camp Johnson and he was impressed with it. So, they all recognized that I was doing well in the Marine Corps and they saw it as a starting point for them as well.”
His nephew Adam is now Sgt. Springfield and is in Florida attending explosive ordnance disposal school. Jacob, a communications technician, is now Cpl. Maloney currently stationed at Al Qaim, Iraq. And his son, Lance Cpl. Croft, is attending the Defense Information School in Maryland.
As his relatives joined the Corps, Croft saw to it to get them all stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
“I saw it as ‘What commanding officer wouldn’t want a family stationed together,’” said Croft. “When they check in, they already have great mentors to educate them. My brother and I have been in for a long time and have a pretty good grasp on what the Marine Corps is about, so we try to advise them as they make their decisions in the Marine Corps.”
Croft enjoys having his family around to make memories together like when he got promoted to warrant officer and made his brother, just coming off a float, salute him.
Back in the states they constantly do everything together; lunch, gym or even getting together to play some basketball.
Croft’s nephew Jacob recently stopped in for a visit while making a stop at Al Asad.
They spent time just hanging out together.
“When we get together its green belt training all over again,” said Croft. “My brother and I grew up wrestling all the time. My son continuously tries to tap out my nephew. We constantly compete with PFT scores and see who can outshoot each other. It’s constant and its fun.”
Not only does the family take pride in serving as Marines together, but as Marines they enjoy a bond as brothers.
“Now that we’re all Marines, we’ve got a bond that is stronger than just family,” said Croft. “You can’t explain to family the significance of what you do and have them fully understand it. Now, as Marines, we don’t have to try and explain everything to each other because we all know the terminology. I’ve talked to my nephew more in the last year than I had his first 18 years. It has brought us closer together.”
Ellie