MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Kaneohe Bay -- Marines re-enlist every day in the Marine Corps, and for some, that day should be just as memorable - or more so - as the first day they signed up. Sergeant Richard T. Therriault, a communicator with 4th Force Reconnaissance Company, decided there couldn't be a better way than by free falling from 9,000 feet above the earth.
April 8 will mark Therriault's eighth year. He said he originally joined the Corps for similarly memorable and adventurous challenges.
"I came to visit my brother who was with the Hawaii Navy, and I absolutely loved it [in Hawaii]," he said. "I moved out here, and now it will be ten years in September."
Therriault said his father was in the Marine Corps and completed a tour in Vietnam. Therriault realized he didn't want to join any other branch and joined the Marine Corps Reserve in Hawaii.
His job area of choice was reconnaissance.
"All through high school, I thought really highly of reconnaissance," Therriault explained. "I wanted to go to college, and the more I thought about it, the better option [recon] seemed to be."
The re-enlistment jump for Therriault marked the 31st free fall in his career. Piggy-backing on periodic training, he went up with six others who were more than happy to share the moment.
"I was really happy that my section leader made it up there as well," said Therriault. "It's part of our job to jump for basic training, and it was great to have good people there with me."
After jumping from the helo, the free fall lasted approximately 45 seconds when the parachute was pulled at roughly 4,000 feet.
Therriault said he would like his Marine Corps career to continue in like fashion - soaring high.