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CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – As the president announced the drawdown in Afghanistan, the Marine Corps responded with a plan to retain only the most qualified first term Marines, making re-enlistment in the Marine Corps the most competitive it’s been in years.
Cpl. Christiana M. Wolford, originally from Ocala, Fla., the Afghan National Security Forces operations chief with 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), is one of the top performers and swore to serve her nation for four more years during a re-enlistment ceremony Aug. 12 aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.
“I joined the Marine Corps because I didn’t want to go the easy way,” Wolford explained. “My family is mostly in the military, that’s the way I was raised, and this is something I always wanted to do."
“Most of them are in the Air Force. They are all officers,” she explained. “I am the first enlisted in the family … I guess I am the black sheep.”
During her first enlistment, Wolford was part of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which took her to places such as Indonesia, Taiwan and Australia during humanitarian operations. She is currently undergoing a combat deployment to Afghanistan.
“I think it has been a good career for me,” she explained. “I’ve done a lot of things, and I have seen many places … I would say traveling is the part that I like the most.
“In the future I would like to go on another deployment with a MEU,” she added. “The MEU took me throughout Asia, but now I would like to go to Europe, or maybe another combat tour.”
Meanwhile, Wolford is looking forward to future duties, which might challenge her skills as well as allow her to do what she loves most – mentor and teach.
“Right now I am just waiting to become a sergeant, so I can go to drill instructor school,” she explained. “I can’t wait to go down to Parris Island and do a tour on the drill field.
“I think DI is the most rewarding of all duties,” she said. “I mean, you never forget who your DIs are … you can really influence somebody throughout their career.”
For Wolford, the Marine Corps is a great experience full of opportunities where she’s had the chance to learn about herself and others – regardless of their race, gender and religion – on and off the battlefield.
“The Marine Corps has been a great learning experience for me,” she said. “You learn something new every day, you meet tons of people from different backgrounds and ethnicities.
“The best thing I can tell to those who are in their first enlistment is to be patient and self motivated,” Wolford concluded. “I think it takes a lot of patience and dedication to get somewhere … you just have to be flexible and keep your head up.”
| Date Taken: | 08.12.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.15.2011 06:00 |
| Story ID: | 75354 |
| Location: | CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF |
| Web Views: | 251 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Ocala native stays in the Corps for one more round, by SSgt Bruno Bego, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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