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TREK NAWA, Afghanistan — Every Marine has a different story to tell when they speak of their time in the Corps. They share similar experiences like deployments and field exercises, but not many serve as liaisons from the Marine Corps and become another country’s military asset.
This is the story of Cpl. Rojelio B. Gonzalez, a 25-year-old native of San Bernardino, Calif., who currently serves as a radio operator with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. While Gonzalez is presently with fellow Marines, in September 2010 he deployed to Helmand province, Afghanistan with 2nd Marine Headquarters Group and was attached to the British Army.
While serving with his British allies in Helmand, Gonzalez learned discovered several differences between the coalition forces in terms of how they operate and interact with fellow servicemembers.
“They were a great group of guys, the hardest part was adapting to the differences between us,” said Gonzalez. “Unlike the Marine Corps, many of these guys had been together since boot camp and referred to each other on a first name basis.”
During his tour of service with his British counterparts, Gonzalez and other attached Marine elements were tasked with training the Afghan National Army, conducting vehicle searches and detaining suspected insurgents.
“It was a great experience,” said Gonzalez. “Not many Marines can say they served with another country’s military during a time of war.”
Prior to serving with any unit, Marine or British, Gonzalez attended boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego after making the decision to enlist in 2009.
Following boot camp, he attended the School Of Infantry West and the field wiremen school before checking in with 2/6.
“I decided to join the Marine Corps because it was something I always wanted to do and I had never felt accomplished in my life,” said Gonzalez. “When I graduated boot camp it was the proudest moment of my life, it was also the first time I ever felt I made my father proud.”
Three years later, after training and a combat deployment with the British Army, Gonzalez again finds himself in Afghanistan. This time he is serving in Helmand’s Nawa District with Weapons Company, 2/6 as a radio operator.
“Being with Marines again is awesome, but both experiences have been really good,” said Gonzalez. “The brotherhood within the Marine Corps infantry is the best part of being here; we’ve all been in firefights and execute the missions given to us.”
Gonzalez believes the most memorable moments of his Marine Corps experience will be the firefights he’s returned from, with all the Marines in his squad alive and well.
“Gonzalez is a great Marine who always gets the job done,” said Lance Cpl. James M. Armstrong, a radio operator with 2/6 Weapons Co. “I’m proud to serve beside him as a radio operator and Marine.”
Gonzalez is nearing the end of his first contract with the Marine Corps and because of his varied experiences, he is unsure of whether he wants to re-enlist or pursue a career in the private sector. His two main options in the civilian work force are teaching high school or becoming a police officer, but Gonzalez’s love for the Corps and the bonds he’s built with his fellow Marines during his current deployment may just persuade him to reenlist for another four years.
“The camaraderie you get in the Marine Corps is hard to find anywhere else,” said Gonzalez. “I’ve loved being a Marine and that’s why I’m not sure where to go from here, it’s been a great experience and I’ve learned so much in just three years.”
Editor’s note: Second Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, is currently assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5, 1st Marine Division (Forward), which works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Forces and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling the ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: | 04.21.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.21.2012 14:23 |
| Story ID: | 87130 |
| Location: | TREK NAWA, AF |
| Web Views: | 261 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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