thedrifter
12-21-07, 06:42 AM
Four Westhill seniors joining the Marines
By Chris Gosier
Staff Writer
December 21, 2007
STAMFORD - This year, Westhill High School has four for the Corps.
Four seniors, that is, who will go to U.S. Marine Corps boot camp after graduation. They'll travel together to Parris Island, S.C., on June 21, and be part of the same platoon during an arduous 13 weeks of recruit training.
It's a big number of recruits, given that high schools typically yield one or two per year, said their recruiter, Sgt. Christian Mejia, who covers Stamford and Greenwich.
"It doesn't happen too often," he said.
The four students joined the Marine Corps' delayed entry program, in which students sign up during high school and attend preparation sessions for boot camp.
Most of the students have family in the military, and have been thinking about joining since before senior year. Three of them already wear uniforms with stripes as part of Westhill's JROTC program, although that's not necessarily considered a path to joining the military.
"Whether I joined ROTC or not, I definitely would have joined the Marine Corps," said one student, Danny Molina, 17.
Mejia said he's made no special recruiting push at Westhill. "I really haven't done anything different from past years," he said. Mejia said he doesn't focus his recruiting on JROTC students.
All four students followed their own paths to enlistment over the past few years.
Molina knew he wanted to join the military, but wasn't sure which branch. He was familiar with the Marines because of his uncle's service in the Corps, he said.
Still, he said, "it was a big shock to people when I joined," because he had seemed interested in the Coast Guard. He was drawn to the Marine Corps because it seemed like the most challenging branch of the service, he said.
Juan Rojas, 17, participated as an eighth-grader in Young Marines, a youth education and service program, learning about the Corps' history, drill methods and other aspects.
He has a sister and a brother-in-law in the U.S. Air Force, but was drawn to the Marine Corps by its values. "It's different than being a soldier in the Army," he said.
Shane Conklin, 17, is a grandson of two Marines who served during the Vietnam War era. His grandfather was an air traffic controller; his grandmother performed administrative work. He said he started thinking about the Marines last year.
Bobby Truong, 17, will be the first in his family to join the military.
He started considering the Marines a few months ago. He said the Corps appealed to him because of the opportunity to build himself up mentally and physically.
The others also saw a chance for personal transformation.
"It molds a whole new person," Conklin said. "It makes a man out of a child."
The students said their parents balked initially at their son's plans, with some seeking assurances that they would be in non-combat occupations.
"As long as I don't pick infantry, it's good," said Truong, describing his mother's reaction. Molina said his father wanted to meet with Mejia to get that assurance before approving the enlistment.
He and Conklin will train as avionics technicians in the Corps; both plan to stay in for 20 years. Molina will get training in administrative duties; he wants to attend college through the Marines, and is interested in eventually working for the CIA, FBI or Secret Service. Truong will get training in the construction and engineering fields.
Molina expected the mental challenges to be especially tough because of screaming drill instructors. "It's a life-changing experience to go to boot camp," he said.
Rojas and Conklin each signed up for five years of active duty. Molina and Truong are starting off with four.
Rojas saw a chance to expand his horizons. "I'm getting out of here, expanding my wings," he said.
Ellie
By Chris Gosier
Staff Writer
December 21, 2007
STAMFORD - This year, Westhill High School has four for the Corps.
Four seniors, that is, who will go to U.S. Marine Corps boot camp after graduation. They'll travel together to Parris Island, S.C., on June 21, and be part of the same platoon during an arduous 13 weeks of recruit training.
It's a big number of recruits, given that high schools typically yield one or two per year, said their recruiter, Sgt. Christian Mejia, who covers Stamford and Greenwich.
"It doesn't happen too often," he said.
The four students joined the Marine Corps' delayed entry program, in which students sign up during high school and attend preparation sessions for boot camp.
Most of the students have family in the military, and have been thinking about joining since before senior year. Three of them already wear uniforms with stripes as part of Westhill's JROTC program, although that's not necessarily considered a path to joining the military.
"Whether I joined ROTC or not, I definitely would have joined the Marine Corps," said one student, Danny Molina, 17.
Mejia said he's made no special recruiting push at Westhill. "I really haven't done anything different from past years," he said. Mejia said he doesn't focus his recruiting on JROTC students.
All four students followed their own paths to enlistment over the past few years.
Molina knew he wanted to join the military, but wasn't sure which branch. He was familiar with the Marines because of his uncle's service in the Corps, he said.
Still, he said, "it was a big shock to people when I joined," because he had seemed interested in the Coast Guard. He was drawn to the Marine Corps because it seemed like the most challenging branch of the service, he said.
Juan Rojas, 17, participated as an eighth-grader in Young Marines, a youth education and service program, learning about the Corps' history, drill methods and other aspects.
He has a sister and a brother-in-law in the U.S. Air Force, but was drawn to the Marine Corps by its values. "It's different than being a soldier in the Army," he said.
Shane Conklin, 17, is a grandson of two Marines who served during the Vietnam War era. His grandfather was an air traffic controller; his grandmother performed administrative work. He said he started thinking about the Marines last year.
Bobby Truong, 17, will be the first in his family to join the military.
He started considering the Marines a few months ago. He said the Corps appealed to him because of the opportunity to build himself up mentally and physically.
The others also saw a chance for personal transformation.
"It molds a whole new person," Conklin said. "It makes a man out of a child."
The students said their parents balked initially at their son's plans, with some seeking assurances that they would be in non-combat occupations.
"As long as I don't pick infantry, it's good," said Truong, describing his mother's reaction. Molina said his father wanted to meet with Mejia to get that assurance before approving the enlistment.
He and Conklin will train as avionics technicians in the Corps; both plan to stay in for 20 years. Molina will get training in administrative duties; he wants to attend college through the Marines, and is interested in eventually working for the CIA, FBI or Secret Service. Truong will get training in the construction and engineering fields.
Molina expected the mental challenges to be especially tough because of screaming drill instructors. "It's a life-changing experience to go to boot camp," he said.
Rojas and Conklin each signed up for five years of active duty. Molina and Truong are starting off with four.
Rojas saw a chance to expand his horizons. "I'm getting out of here, expanding my wings," he said.
Ellie