I joined the Marine corps straight out of high school in July of 2008. After graduating from boot camp in October 2008 I want to School of Infantry, where I became an 0331 Machine Gunner. After graduating SOI I joined Weapons Platoon, Lima company, 3rd battalion 6th Marines. After a 14-month workup, we deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan for the Battle of Marjah. Operation Moshtarak was the largest helicopter assault since Vietnam and some of the worst combat in the entire war. In March, I was shot while defending a schoolhouse and Medevac'd home. In 2012 I was medically retired.