I did not have good grades in school. With most grades being based off of how much homework you complete this was typically the case. I had imagined years ago that maybe I would go to the United States Naval Academy , but there was no way in hell with my resume. I knew that I would most likely enlist into the U.S. Military after school though. Like my father, and his father before him.
During the summer of 2012 I was with some friends about to enter Gamestop. This is when I met Staff Sgt. O’ Conner. The U.S. Marine Corps. Career Center was right next door the Gamestop. He introduced himself to my friends and I before we entered the store. He asked us if we were interested in a career in the military. My friends weren’t, but I was. It was a part of my plan. I believed that I would be able to better succeed with this route than by having a minimum wage job or going to whatever school would for some reason accept me. I began speaking with the Staff Sergeant about the process for enlistment.
The U.S Marine Corps. Career Center and Gamestop located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
I informed my parents that same day and began the process. There were other guys I knew from school who were also enlisting. We would all meet together with the recruiter(s) once a week or two to prepare for Boot Camp. The two guys I remember the most were De'Andre Lloyd and Conan Curry. I hadn’t hung out with either of them that much in the time that we went to school together, but they had each always been kind to me. That I am sure of. I like to think we had some fun times when we started getting together for becoming a part of the United States Marine Corps . We had a bond created by this. When we saw each other at school we acted differently than before. It was like we were in a special club. I loved this part of being enlisted.
My fellow enlistees De'Andre Quinton Lloyd Jr. (LEFT) and Conan Patrick Curry (RIGHT). They were great guys.
I continued the process of enlistment by going to the MEPS Location nearest me. I took the ASVAB Exam and swear into the military. I was official enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. I was happy about this. I felt like I joined a brotherhood of sorts.
I could imagine my future. I imagined learning skills and being a part of something bigger than myself. Something I was raised believing was for the greater good. I would go to college after serving and the G.I. Bill would help me pay for it. I could blossom. I had my plan and, I was making it real.
Now I had to select career path options. My ASVAB score was above average. A lot of credit should go towards my father for my high scores. They weren’t as good as his, but he got me the right books to study and, he helped me do so. I think he was proud of me. With my scores I had a lot more options for career choices. I was supposed to choose three.
- Combat Photographer
- Engineer or Mechanic (I am not 100% sure. Memory is fuzzy.)
- I did not have a third choice.
I could not make a decision for my third choice. However, I had my appointment with Staff Sgt. O’ Conner to hand in my selections and talk about the odds of some of them. I asked my dad to come with me to help walk me through this. I trusted his perspective because of his experience already having gone through this himself.
As we spoke with my recruiter we were told the first two choices were good, and I had potential for getting one or the other. However, there were no guarantees so I had to make sure I selected a third. I didn’t know what else I might want to do. However, basic infantry would be the default. I did not want that so I had to make a third decision.
Staff Sgt. O’ Conner walked away from his desk to get a list of career options to look through. I remember my dad on my right side. He turns to me and says, “It’s okay, buddy. It’s gonna be alright.” I wondered why he said that, but I am unable to talk. He would later tell me that he thought I looked sad and disappointed or that maybe was worried about the situation. Then for the second time in my life I experience a Grand-Mal Seizure .
An ambulance is called and, I go to the hospital. With the seizure occurring right in front of my military recruiter questions came up.
Have you had a Seizure before? Yes, sir. Once before. A year ago.
Could you have a Seizure again? I do not know, sir...
Have you had a Seizure before? Yes, sir. Once before. A year ago.
Could you have a Seizure again? I do not know, sir...
I had to get an EEG done and another test or two. No doctor would sign the medical papers necessary for me to be a member of the military. I tried. My dad helped me try. I began to see the other enlistees less. Only at school. Eventually a decision was made by the United States Marine Corps.
I was Medically Discharged before even making it to Parris Island, South Carolina for Boot Camp . My future was erased. I no longer had a plan. Halfway through my last year in high school, and I had no idea what I would do after it. I avoided thinking about it because it scared me.
This Seizure changed my life.
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