MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- After not receiving a response back from the Air Force Academy, a young man, right out of high school, decided to join what he thought was the next best thing — from then he found happiness and a 10-year-long, and still counting, career in the Marine Corps.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kevin L. Martin, personnel officer, Combat Service Support Group 3, joined the Corps a decade ago, but remains a Marine simply because he loves what he does.
“I am still in after ten years,” laughed the Phoenix, Ariz. native. “I love the atmosphere, and I don’t intend to get out until I stop enjoying what I do.”
Martin joined the Corps and worked his way up the enlisted ranks, gaining knowledge and experience in many different areas and job billets, which, he says, has given him the ability to better understand his position and job in the Corps.
“Defining moments that stand out in my mind include participating in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program, training with the Japanese Army in Fuji, and being a drill instructor on the drill field,” said Martin.
“Right after I came into the Marines, I had the chance to train with the Japanese Army, and that was just an experience that will forever be with me. It was unique, and I really enjoyed getting the chance to do something I will probably never do again,” he explained.
“Being on the drill field was the highlight of my career, though,” he said convincingly, “Seeing people come in and then training them and getting the chance to witness their transformation as they walk across the parade deck during graduation — that is the best feeling. Seeing the product of a lot of time and hard work, and knowing you bettered someone is as good as it gets.”
One other bonus attached to his years on the drill field was when he was promoted from staff sergeant to chief warrant officer before returning to continue his primary military occupational specialty.
Even after his commission, Martin remained in the administration field.
“Admin is motivating,” joked Martin. “But honestly, I enjoy my work. I like knowing that what I am doing in admin is helping Marines and their families. We take care of them, so they can just worry about their job at hand.”
Although he has nothing but positive things to say about most of his career, Martin expressed that he has had tough times as well. However, he said that the tough times have also given him experience that has helped carry him through his time in the Corps.
“One challenge that I experienced when I converted from enlisted to officer, was realizing and understanding that my relationship changed with the junior Marines,” he explained, “which means that I am no longer really the teacher.
“This was something that was really hard at first, because that is what I came to love the most about being a Marine — was teaching and mentoring young Marines and making sure that they have every option available to them when it comes to their career or even their life. It is basically like going from a green belt drill instructor to a senior drill instructor. As a senior, you are not the one who really trains the recruits. It is the green belt. Same concept applies with Marines with regard to enlisted and officer. As an officer, you basically put your vision, mission or goals out there and how they achieve them is on them. I also make sure that they have the required tools to achieve those goals.”
Martin’s passion for his career and his Marines are not the only things he enjoys on a day-to-day basis.
Throughout his military career, Martin has continued to pursue his passion for sports — a passion that began before his enlistment, and one that he said will continue after he moves on.
Although his football teams, the Arizona Cardinals and Arizona State, are not having record years, he hopes that during this season, as he plays for CSSG-3, that his team will end up in the finals.
Martin, 28, played football, ran track and wrestled during his school years. Since joining the Corps, he has continued to play football and has taken up basketball, participating in both sports with his unit’s teams.
Once he leaves the Corps, his focus will be to become a physical education teacher and to be the coach of a football team.
“It still isn’t too late — nor too early — to leave the Corps and pursue coaching,” said Martin. “But I love what I do, and I love the Corps. I know coaching will still be there once I get out, so I am just taking it all as it comes.”