By EMILY HALL
ehall@soundpublishing.com
POULSBO — The United States Marine Corps is the third-oldest military branch in the United States, after the Army and the Navy. The Continental Congress on Nov. 10, 1775 approved a resolution to establish two battalions of Marines able to fight at sea and on shore, as the war for independence from Britain neared.
After 240 years of industrial and technological evolution, the Marine Corps has undergone some profound changes. Through the years, technology has made it easier to construct more sophisticated weaponry and to save lives. These continuous developments have made different the tactics through which wars have been fought.
Americans appreciate the Marine Corps for the longstanding traditions and professionalism which Marines have worked hard to preserve. From the second they step on the yellow footprints at boot camp, to the moment they sign their DD-214 (the final document that turns a Marine into a veteran), members of the “tip of the military spear” live and breathe mission success in everything they do.
In every war, the Marines are known to have been first to fight. There are some traits that have differentiated Marines from their counterparts in other military branches for 240 years. There are reasons behind the pride in everything they do.
Kyle Broussard was a sergeant in the Marine Corps as a rifleman and the top-scoring Designated Marksman of his unit, serving from 2009-14. He attributes operation readiness to open and honest communication.
“We follow on tradition a lot in the Marine Corps,” Broussard said. “Open and honest communication is paramount to mission success. It takes a good leader to break the unit away from the nonsense.”
By the end of his active service in 2014, Broussard felt happy to have fulfilled his goal to help people and help influence positive change in the world. He left the military elated, with a newfound appreciation for people.
“Don’t take [anyone] for granted,” he said. “It’s important to understand what they mean to you.”
Broussard now attends Olympic College, where he is the general manager of the campus monthly publication, The Olympian. He is ambitious and plans on one day studying law at the University of Washington.
Tammy Fedder served from 1981-84, working in ground radio repair and attaining the rank of corporal. Her training, which was no more different than the ways her male counterparts trained, instilled in her pride and confidence.
“The most important quality I took from it was pride — pride that I made it through boot camp, pride of place, the feeling that I could do anything and survive because I was with the toughest bunch of bastards to ever wear the uniform,” Fedder said. “I still feel that and it makes me stand tall still after 30 years.”
At Fedder’s duty station in Twentynine Palms, California, she learned how to “adapt and overcome,” a phrase commonly said in the Marine Corps, which means to approach each obstacle with the will to make it through by any means possible.
“Being stationed in the high desert was like entering another world,” Fedder said. “I [first] arrived at night. Dark sky, beautiful mountains, and more stars that I had ever seen. The next morning, I walked outside to the ugliest barren rock piles I had ever seen. I thought my drill instructors must have hated me to send me there but I learned to enjoy it. I started rock climbing, long hikes to remote oases, and going shooting with my buddies for fun on weekends. What I hated most was the heat inside of the tanks while I pulled gear. The temperature was 120 degrees outside but 160 inside. It was awful.”
Another woman of “The Fewer and Prouder” is Revalyn Hutchinson, who served from 2010-12 in Camp Pendleton, California. During her service, in which she specialized in communications, Hutchinson gained self-confidence and empowerment from earning the title of United States Marine.
“I liked all of my uniforms, because I always felt strong and like a Marine in them,” she said. “I liked learning the strength I had in me and making memories. I wanted to do 20 years.”
Hutchinson’s time in service helped her realize that, even in the male-dominated Marine Corps, she was just as “squared away” of a Marine as her male counterparts. She was confident as a Marine and felt accepted. Her experience in the military was a positive one.
“I would do it all over again. It brought me and my grandfather close and it was the best decision I made in my life,” Hutchinson said.
Like Hutchinson, Luis Martinez, a recently discharged Marine corporal who served in 1st Supply Battalion at Camp Pendleton, admired the tradition of the Marine dress blue uniform; its basic form of blue jacket with red trim dates back to the 19th century.
“I really liked the dress blues. I liked it because it’s one of the sharpest-looking uniforms out of the lot, even though all the Marine uniforms are sharp,” Martinez said.
On the other hand, Broussard’s favorite uniform is the green “service alpha” uniform, which must be worn when checking into a new unit. He said the uniform represents “rampant, distinguished professionalism.”
Martinez notes that although there were ups and downs, his unit was tightly-knit because high morale and cohesion helped it become “one great, working machine that is Supply Company, 1st Supply Battalion.”
“When I signed my DD-214, I felt a weight being lifted off my shoulders but also felt some sadness, as I am no longer part of something bigger than myself and will never experience the type of camaraderie that is in the Corps,” Martinez said.
These four Marine Corps veterans — Broussard, Fedder, Hutchinson and Martinez — have served the United States with honor and integrity. Although each served in a different unit and occupational specialty, they learned traditional values which have been passed down through almost two-and-a-half centuries. The values that were instilled in these Marines have helped distinguish this branch from all others, and are widely celebrated as the Corps celebrates its 240th anniversary.
Happy birthday, Marines. Semper Fidelis!
— Emily Hall served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2010-13. She is now a student at Olympic College and an intern at the North Kitsap Herald.
From top: Tammy Fedder served in the Marines from 1981-84. Revalyn Hutchinson served in the Marines from 2010-12. Emily Hall served in the Marines from 2010-13.
