Photo By Sgt. Whitney N. Frasier | Lance Cpl. Max T. Jensen participates during the crucible with Company M, 3rd Recruit...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, San Diego – For most Marines, boot camp is a three-month training cycle that seems as though it may never end. For one Marine, this journey was four times as long, and most likely four times as difficult.
Lance Cpl. Max T. Jensen from Appleton, Wisc. spent the last 13 months aboard the depot waiting to finish recruit training and earn the title Marine.
“I simply just wanted to become a Marine,” said Jensen. “I refused to give up over a minor set back.”
Jensen, who is 21-years old, arrived at the depot Jan. 3, 2011 and was picked up by Company M, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. He was well on his way of earning his Eagle, Globe and Anchor when he was dropped around nine weeks for stress fractures.
Only a minor set back is what he was thinking, but what happened next would change his views on injuries all together.
“I was picked up by India Company, “ said Jensen who was planning on finishing training and graduating only weeks later.
While participating on the crucible Jensen was conducting a fireman’s carry, which is a form of relocating another person from one point to the other, when he felt something pop.
“It didn’t feel right and continued to hurt,” said Jensen. “I made it through a few more events, but I just couldn’t make it to the next staging area. I was sent to see the corpsman.”
The corpsman had him take x-rays that would soon verify he had a broken femoral neck. Days later he was recycled back to the Marine Rehabilitation Platoon where he would spend many days healing and working with Navy medical personnel in physical therapy.
Navy medical personnel gave him at least 10 chances to return home, continuously reminding him that injuries of that nature don’t do well upon returning to training, but according to Jensen his doctor never gave up hope in him. Eight months down the road he was cleared to return to Company M and complete boot camp.
“The medical care I received was top notch,” said Jensen. “I feel that I was very well taken care of and my doctor was a huge inspiration. I am thankful for his time and patience with me from beginning to end.”
Those eight months spent rehabilitating wasn’t a waste of time. Jensen was able to continue to learn about the Marine Corps and take advantage of what others around him had to offer.
“I was around a lot of different [staff non-commissioned officers],” said Jenson. “I was able to learn about different leadership styles and take something away from them all. I also learned the importance of caring for body and the different types of injuries.”
Most families will notice the difference in their Marines right off the bat. Jensen is no exception to this rule as he displayed a great amount of maturity when returning to Company M.
“His maturity level compared to other recruits was definitely noticeable,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jeff Liske, senior drill instructor, Company M. “He had been around drill instructors so long their work ethic and professionalism must have rubbed off on him.”
Jensen said that he recommends that other recruits in position should try to learn everything they can until the return to training, to stay positive and make friends because no matter how bad the injury, goals are always attainable.
Feb. 23, Jensen and the rest of Company M received their Eagle, Globe and Anchor upon completing the crucible and earned the right to consider themselves part of the world’s finest fighting force, the United States Marine Corps.
| Date Taken: | 02.23.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.01.2012 13:32 |
| Story ID: | 84573 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,382 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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