MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND, - Of the 200,000 people who join the military every year, 180,000 join the enlisted ranks and 20,000 become officers. There are various opportunities for enlisted Marines to transition to the commissioned ranks and continue their career, but the selection process for these programs is extremely competitive and requires a process of indoctrination completely different from the enlisted mindset. That being said, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island boasts prior-enlisted commanders in nearly every battalion; an unprecedented circumstance. Each of
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND, - Of the 200,000 people who join the military every year, 180,000 join the enlisted ranks and 20,000 become officers. There are various opportunities for enlisted Marines to transition to the commissioned ranks and continue their career, but the selection process for these programs is extremely competitive and requires a process of indoctrination completely different from the enlisted mindset. That being said, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island boasts prior-enlisted commanders in nearly every battalion; an unprecedented circumstance. Each of them took the road less traveled to get to where they are today, but they all share the same experience of enduring recruit training and earning their Eagle, Globe and Anchor aboard the recruit depot. ~ For Lt. Col. Aixa Dones, 4th Recruit Training Battalion Commanding Officer, the Marine Corps became the biggest adventure she never saw coming. Growing up, she had aspirations of becoming a lawyer. After moving to Chicago from Puerto Rico at a young age, it was instilled in her by her family that she should prioritize an education and ultimately find a good career. Her initial interest in the military stemmed from the potential to finish her education while in the service. What she didn’t anticipate after earning her Eagle, Globe and Anchor was how much she enjoyed being a Marine and wanted to pursue the military as a career. “I think the love story here is that once I came in, I realized I wanted this lifestyle,” Dones said. Dones initially came into the Marine Corps as an intelligence specialist, first stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba before transitioning to Marine Corps Intelligence Activity on Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA. The officers whom she interacted with as a young Marine spearheaded her desire to follow the same path that they had. Dones said she felt empowered to make decisions, which sparked a desire in her to look into the Marine Corps
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Keywords: corps, island, marine, marines, mecep, parris
