MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- After serving 10 years in the United States Marine Corps and taking part in two combat deployments, Staff Sgt. Joshua Baeza, battalion radio chief, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, said he is not ready to give up the Marine Corps.
“I plan on making this a full career,” said the Pico Rivera, Calif. native. “I love leading Marines, and I’m going to continue doing that until I retire.”
Baeza was first inspired to join the Marine Corps when his father took him each year to watch the El Toro Air Show aboard Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Calif.
“I was in love with the jet airplanes and had always thought about joining the Marine Corps after seeing the shows,” said the 30-year-old. “I guess it was one of those things that was always meant to be.”
After graduating from El Rancho High School, Baeza was employed at a beverage company, but said he wasn’t satisfied with where his life was heading and wanted to do something more.
“I was only 18 and had a child, already,” said Baeza. “I knew I had to do something to take care of my family. The military had always been there in the back of my mind, so this was the time to do it.”
Baeza’s parents backed him up 100 percent when he told them of his decision to join the Marine Corps. He went to the recruiter to get information, and he was instantly hooked.
“I joined on an open contract,” said Baeza. “My first MOS was a bulk-fuel specialist. I did that for my first four years, but I wanted to move to a job that I knew could help me in the long run, so I moved to satellite communication as a sergeant.”
As a hobby, Baeza likes to work with personal computers and plans to head in that direction once he retires from the Corps. He said that the communications field would be an interesting line of work.
Baeza and his Marines currently provide communication and support to three firing batteries, Alpha, Bravo and Charlie, 1/12. They also support the ground infantry that sends rounds downrange and work together on other tasks in order to complete their assigned missions.
The Marines of Charlie Battery, along with Baeza, recently returned from Iraq where they deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). While there, he and 18 of his Marines aided 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, during the overtaking of Fallujah.
“During our time in Iraq, our main responsibility there was to support and maintain the artillery and infantry tactics in the city,” explained Baeza. “This was my second tour in Iraq. To see the way the Marines reacted over there was really motivating to me. To see the way all of them could grow and adapt from a garrison environment to full-fledged combat was great.”
To keep his Marines motivated in Iraq, Baeza would remind them of what they were fighting for and what they would be returning back home to.
“It was really tough for some of them over there,” said Baeza. “But they pulled through well and did their jobs.”
Baeza said that his experience in the war zone has given him a different outlook on life.
“I know the first mission of the Marine Corps is to accomplish the mission,” said Baeza. “But I will always consider taking care of my Marines the first mission. I know with having a family, I want to see my little girls grow up and get married one day, and I want the same opportunity for the other Marines and their families.”
Baeza’s wife Maria, and his daughters Amanda, 12, and Savannah, 6, have always been supportive in everything Baeza has done in the Corps. His wife is an active volunteer in the MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Key Volunteers program and has made the sacrifices that come along with being a military spouse.
“My wife has been through two deployments with me already,” said Baeza. “She’s a veteran herself.”
At the end of his career, Baeza said he plans on attending college to study communications, with funding provided by the GI bill.
As for advice to junior Marines, Baeza said, “Just stay motivated. That’s what’s going to carry you through. Keep a positive outlook and keep pushing forward; that will get you to success.”