Company honorman turns down law career to lead Marines

[thedrifter]

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO —Lance Cpl. Robert E. Gebhardt, Platoon 3221, Company K, knew he wanted to be in the armed forces since he watched service members march at Presidio District of San Francisco, as a child.

Gebhardt later learned the differences between the branches of service.

He said that he wanted to become a Marine because they have the most physically demanding training and are the most elite service in his eyes.

“I knew that I owed my country for the opportunities that have been given to me and I did not see why other men my age were going and fighting the war while I stayed back as a civilian,” he said.

Before coming to the Marine Corps, Gebhardt, 24, went to the University of California, Davis, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Spanish.

After completing college, Gebhardt had the opportunity to follow in his father’s footsteps and become an attorney, or earn the title of Marine.

Gebhardt said that it was an easy choice; he wanted to become a Marine.

In March 2008, armed with life experience and maturity, Gebhardt set out on a new journey into the Marine Corps with the support of his fam*ily.

“As a mother, I was afraid about his future,” said Dolores Gebhardt, mother. “But I think that it is a calling for him and he has 110 percent support from his parents, extended family and community.”

Being an athlete and captain of both his high school and college lacrosse team, Gebhardt quickly accelerated into the leadership position of platoon guide.

“When I came to boot camp I knew that I already possessed some leadership ability, but then I saw how much I still needed to learn about being a leader,” he said.

He said that the hardest part of boot camp was the challenge of being a leader and setting the example for 40-plus men for three months. He said it was stressful at times to keep control of his platoon and get them to complete the tasks assigned by the drill instructors.

“I’m training to be a leader in a combat environment, so I took it to heart and assumed that mindset,” he said.

Overcoming the different hardships that come along with recruit training was difficult, but Gebhardt said that what kept him motivated was remembering how proud his family would be of him for earning his eagle, globe and anchor.

“I wouldn’t even call him a diamond in the rough because he already shined and stood apart from the rest,” said Sgt. Michael A. Taylor, drill instructor, Platoon 3221. “I saw that he had a lot of potential and drive in him, so I was going to do my best to make him a great Marine.”

After receiving his eagle, globe and anchor at the end of the Crucible, a 54-hour field event in which recruits apply all they have learned during boot camp, Gebhardt said that he is proud of himself for completing his short-term goal, and is now looking for a new challenge. Gebhardt said that he plans on making the Marine Corps a career.

“Four years in college was easy compared to the three months that I just went through,” he said.

After graduation, Gebhardt will have 10 days of leave before reporting to the School of Infantry at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., for infantry training.

Gebhardt said that he chose the military occupational specialty of reconnaissance because he enjoys being in the field and wants a job where he would be making a direct contribution to the Global War on Terrorism.