Photo By Cpl. Joseph Karwick | This is a photo of Sgt. Maj. Steven L. Brown, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.... read more read more
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IWAKUNI, Japan - At some point, there will come a time when we retire our camouflaged utilities, never to wear them again.
For Sgt. Maj. Steven L. Brown, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, sergeant major, that day is today.
“It’s the old cliché of bitter sweet, but I am looking forward to it,” said Brown. “I have no regrets. It’s been 26 years and a lot of changes since I joined. I like to think all those changes are leaning toward the word progress, however, it’s just time for me to move on.”
Looking back on his career, Brown thought back to his fondest memories in the Marine Corps.
“My fondest memory in the Marine Corps is probably from when I was attached as battalion sergeant major with 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, and we were in Helmand Province,” said Brown. “I served both on the wing side and the ground side, and there were a lot of times as an aircraft maintainer that you hear about war fighting, but as a guy working on an F-18on the flight line, sometimes it’s hard to see. When I got the opportunity to be with them outside the wire, it took me that long before I truly understood about being a Marine warfighter and applying everything you have been trained and taught instead of just a notional exercise.”
Having worked alongside many people throughout his career, there was no loss of words to describe working with Brown.
“I have worked with him for about two years,” said Dave Garber, protocol officer. “He really brought the common sense approach to the command, always taking care of Marines and sailors and even the civilians that work here or just live out in the surrounding area. He also doesn’t have a shortage of stories, and I always enjoy listening to them.”
Though stationed in various locations throughout his career, Brown said that Iwakuni, Japan, will always hold a special place in his memories.
“Iwakuni is probably my fondest memory overall in the Marine Corps,” said Brown. “I’ve been coming here since the 80’s. I held the rank of lance corporal, corporal, staff sergeant, gunny, 1st sergeant, and sergeant major here at some point, so pretty much every rank except PFC and sergeant. I have seen this place grow from when there wasn’t even a Monzen bridge, before the exchange or Crossroads. When I first came, we lived in squad bays with 80 roommates. One day I may come back when all the construction is done just to see what it looks like at that point.”
After 26 years in the Marine Corps, Brown already has plans for life after in the civilian sector.
“I’ve had interviews with Vanderbilt University, Amazon, Veterans administration, you name it,” said Brown. “It’s kind of across the spectrum right now. I do have three or four months of terminal leave. I just want to get back, get settled and then try to decide on a job I’m willing to do for another 25 years if that’s possible.”
Brown spoke with a stronger sense of seriousness as he gave his closing remarks.
“There are young Marines and sailors out there that are going to look at me and say, ‘wow 26 years, that’s a long ways away,’” said Brown. “I’m here to tell you it goes by so fast. And I can still remember standing with my drill instructor in 1987 in Parris Island, South Carolina, and the conversations I had with my drill instructors. And it seems like it was just a month ago, and I woke up and it’s 26 years later.”
| Date Taken: | 07.09.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.10.2013 01:49 |
| Story ID: | 109929 |
| Location: | IWAKUNI, YAMAGUCHI, JP |
| Web Views: | 365 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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