Photo By Cpl. Kenneth Jasik | Corporal Jordi Inoke, radio operator, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat...... read more read more
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FORWARD OPERATING BASE ZEEBRUGEE, Kajaki District, Afghanistan – Marines seem to come from all walks of life, some more abstract than others. For one Marine, growing up in Micronesia was his childhood.
Corporal Jordi Inoke, a radio operator with 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 6, says he’s proud to be in Afghanistan, on his second deployment and supporting International Security Assistance Forces.
“I like deploying to Afghanistan,” said Inoke. “I feel like we’re doing good work, and we are truly earning our paychecks out here.”
Inoke grew up on Pohnpei Island, a United States territory.
“I grew up with my grandparents, and we had a big family,” said Inoke. “When I was a kid, I did what kids do: play and go to school.”
Inoke’s life on the small island gives him a different experience than most Marines, having to share almost everything he had with his family.
“He brings a colorful environment with his different background,” Cpl. William N. Niven, a radio technician with 1st Bn., 8th Marines. “He gets to tell us about the island. I like hearing about where he’s from, because he has a unique back story. Everyone on the island knows one another, and it’s a different type of community.”
"On the island its just small towns, and wherever you are going, you can walk," said Inoke. "If you're walking to a place, someone will probably stop by and ask you if you need a ride and take you wherever you need to go. The people there are really kind."
Growing up, Inoke only knew about the Army, Air Force and Navy.
“I didn’t know about the Marine Corps until I met my recruiter,” said Inoke. “My brother joined the Marine Corps about six months before me. Only after I spoke to the recruiter, I understood what it was.”
Inoke’s brother’s enlistment is what inspired him to join. Inoke originally only wanted to stay in for one enlistment, but says he now plans on continuing his Marine Corps career.
“My brother and I planned on joining the Marine Corps for four years then going back to school,” said Inoke. “I just put in my reenlistment package. I’m going to try for another four years.”
When he got to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in March 2009, Inoke didn't fully understand what he had got himself into.
“I was excited,” said Inoke, “I thought ‘man, this is going to be fun.’ I got off the plane, and I asked what’s going on to the drill instructor at the airport. Well, after that I was like, ‘what did I get myself into?’”
It was harder for Inoke adjusting to military life because he knew very little English.
“When I got to boot camp, my English was not too good,” said Inoke. “While I’ve been in the fleet, it has gotten a lot better.”
As he worked on his English, Inoke trained to become a radio operator.
“It’s good to work with him,” said Niven, 22, from Montgomery, Texas. “He does his job real well. He doesn’t speak perfect English, but he didn’t know much at all when he went to boot camp three years ago. Now you can hold a perfect conversation with him.”
Inoke has deployed twice to Afghanistan, his first was with Regimental Combat Team 2, in 2010. He is preparing to return to Camp Lejeune soon.
| Date Taken: | 07.07.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.07.2012 11:29 |
| Story ID: | 91234 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 360 |
| Downloads: | 7 |
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