Field Nights and the LAV
The parts of the Marine Corps I remember best are long nights in the field, the LAV, the range, and the men I served with.
I enlisted in the Marine Corps at seventeen and was honorably discharged in May 2022. I served as an LAV-25A2 gunner and left as a Corporal.
I loved being in the field. The days could be long, but the nights were comfortable in their own way. I would sleep in the driver's hole, wake up, get the radios set, help load the vehicle, and get ready for whatever was next. It was simple work with people you trusted.
The LAV was a big part of it. There is always something to load, check, clean, or fix before you move. Then there was the cannon. Firing it was one of the best parts of the job. The rifle range was another. You spent the time doing the repetitions, getting better, and talking plenty of shit with the guys around you.
The real memory is the people. I was lucky to serve with men I considered brothers. You get close when you live out of the vehicle, share the same bad sleep, work through the same problems, and look after each other. Those are the parts I still think about.
The Marine Corps gave me stories, skills, and friendships that I will carry for the rest of my life. More than anything, it gave me time in the field with my brothers, doing work I was proud to do.
