Katy Perry - Part Of Me

Okay, okay... so I just saw the new Katy Perry music video, "Part of Me". I was a bit disappointed at first to see her portray a female Marine, and was like, "that b*tch doesn't rate to wear that uniform!" I quickly got over it as I saw the video a couple times more. Then, it dawned on me. That was me in 2004. The a-hole is not really worth noting, but heck, I actually relate to this damn song/vid.

In 2003, I met this guy aka douchebag-- and fell for him, ugh. I had plans on going into the Marine Corps, but he didn't want me to. So, I ended up living with him, and almost didn't go into the Marine Corps, because he told me that he wouldn't wait for me. He wanted me to be a suzy homemaker at the ripe age of 19. I wasn't ready to be that for any man. So, a few months dragged on, and I had a ship date for June. He decided to kick me to the curb the day after Mother's Day. I remember packing my belongings, sitting on his front porch dialing my recruiter's office. I was ready to ship immediately. However, my ship date had been taken since they hadn't heard from me a couple of months. I felt so stupid. I went back to my mom's house for a month, got a job as a waitress, and received a new ship date for August. I found out a week or so prior before my final ship date, that I was leaving to Parris Island sooner. A girl had gotten pregnant, and I was slated to leave in July. Hallulajah. I was so upset with this guy, and the Marine Corps was my official way out.  I went to bootcamp, finished, came home to find out that he had missed me. I was a fool, and decided to go on dates during boot leave, thinking that we were going to be okay. I went on to Marine Combat Training (MCT), got injured, and had to remain behind in medical rehap platoon. I had called him before Christmas to arrange a flight home for Christmas, and then he notified me two weeks before my leave, that he had found someone new. Huge slap in the face. I had given him my Marine Corps ring during boot leave, and I retrieved it back during Christmas.

Honestly, it was the best thing that did happen to me. He was completely wrong for me, and I got fortunate enough to find my husband when I was on active duty. I just can't help but crack up to how I relate to this video. 

 In fact, I remember thinking, I'll never let a man do that to me again... I had finally grown a pair, and did something empowering for myself. So, as much as everyone wants to bash the video, for Katy wearing a uniform that she didn't earn, or the glorifed scenes of being on the beaches with landing assault vehicles, in my eyes, as a real female Marine, I was like, "Holy shit.. that was me back then..."

Things could be changing

For the past year, I have been actively engaging into my college coursework. I have been plowing through classes non-stop since January, in hopes of someday putting my Marine Corps OCS package together. It has been a bumpy road with detours every since I took up the challenge. While I have been utilizing my GI Bill, I have also been working on my resume. I can write a college research paper better than I can type up my resume. Honestly, I get stumped about my job skills. 

Me and some fellow Marines in Hawaii 2005 {I am wearing the PI shirt}

The Story:

I was an 0151 (Administrative Clerk) when I was on active duty, and well, I didn't go to the typical IPAC or S1 shop. My orders sent me to the Central Identification Laboratory on an Air Force base. Yes, you saw that correctly, I was a Marine stationed on an Air Force base. I literally had to go back to my Gunnery Sergeant, and asked him if my orders were correct, and what kind of command was this? Not that I was complaining, I got my first pick to Hawaii; however, I deeply confused on where I was going. I didn't go alone, and I had another Marine stationed with me from our MOS {military occupational school} school. When I arrived off the plane in Hawaii from baggage claim, I didn't expect to be greeted by an Army Corporal. This Army Corporal gave me a run down about how I had gotten chosen for his shop, and where my living quarters were going to be-- on an Navy installation. Confused yet? Because I certainly was! Low and behold, I would be stationed at the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command HQ.

How did I get so luckly to snag a position there, immediately out of training? It was a culture shock to have to work with every branch of the service, Coast Guard  and not utilize what I had learned from my MOS school. It was like I went to school for nothing, and was learning on the job, how to do my job. I was exposed to some really awesome things though. I was transferred several months later to a bigger command in Hawaii, and was sent to their Public Affairs office. Here I was, thrown into another shop, where my MOS school didn't help me out at all. I picked up Lance Corporal, and was still surrounded by nine officers of different branches. I was the only Marine enlisted, and I felt alone. But, I knew that I was fortunate to be able to have my position that this higher headquarters, and it came with stress. I was there for about a year until I was medically discharged. I had a stubborn injury since M.C.T. and it wouldn't rehabilitate while on active duty.

I never went to the VA to claim my disability, and up my percentage. I guess you can call me stubborn. I miss the Marine Corps like nobody's business. I have been patiently waiting for the past four years, gradually working out, and strengthening my body to go back in. My husband would like me to get a federal position, and complete college. The federal position is hard, just as any job, because I can't just explain to them on my resume, why there is such a lag in time from active duty until now. I can't explain why I didn't complete four years in the Marine Corps. I feel like I am stuck in the middle, and the only thing I can do is plug away at my degree. Technically, my job skills in the Marine Corps, were supposed to lead me to an human resources position. {I've read that announcement, and I didn't fit.}

My previous unit received an award, and it wasn't announced until a year after I was discharged. I didn't know that it was going to be such a pain to put it into my military records. I have spoken to a prior-service recruiter, and I am starting my paperwork on coming back in as a reservist. My goal is to finish college while on reserve duty, and then submit my package to become an officer. A lot of stuff, in a short amount of time.

Anywhoo, thanks for reading! :)