CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan— Some Marines join the military with plans to get promoted through the ranks and retire from the Marine Corps. Some Marines join with plans to serve their country honorably before they start a civilian career.
Corporal Ignacio Zamarron, an administrative clerk with Regimental Combat Team 7, is in the second category.
Zamarron always wanted to join the military and serve, but he never had plans to make it a career. Instead, he wanted to gain the experience and benefits before going to college to become an accountant.
He loves numbers and has always been good with them, but he said nothing could replace the experience he has gained in the Marine Corps.
“I have had to learn to work with those who are (higher ranking) than me,” said Zamarron, a 22-year-old native of San Jose, Calif. “I feel like I have matured because of this, and I know how to handle myself in a professional environment.”
Zamarron wants to attend school in Los Angeles or San Jose, but hasn’t made a final decision. He is sure he wants to be an accountant and he has even been reading a book titled Rich Dad, Poor Dad, which advocates financial independence.
Zamarron’s fellow Marines believe he will be successful after the Marine Corps no matter what he chooses to do.
“He has the best work ethic I have ever seen,” said Sgt. Sunshine Yubeta, the Classified Material Control Center chief with RCT-7. “He can do whatever he sets his mind to.”
Yubeta, a 31-year-old native of Madras, Ore., called Zamarron a “workaholic,” but said he also loves to make others laugh.
“If you only see him at work, you think he is always professional,” Yubeta said. “But outside of work he has a great sense of humor, is hilarious, and is an all-around great guy to be around.”
Professionalism during working hours is important in Zamarron’s current position. He is the first Marine to begin work on Personnel Casualty Reports when a Marine is wounded in combat.
“He won’t leave the office until everything is done,” Yubeta said. “He will stay here until all the Personnel Casualty Reports are finished no matter how late into the night.”
Zamarron plans to end his Marine Corps career when his contract ends in the summer having served honorably and completed a combat deployment.
“I think the Corps has given me valuable experience and skills to help me get a good job once I graduate,” Zamarron said.
Zamarron said he hopes to be working as a financial planner someday in the future, but until then he will be hard at work at the gym, trying to make others laugh and in the administrative office each night until the work is finished.
Editor’s note: This article is part of a series wherein every week we recognize an individual Marine or sailor with Regimental Combat Team 7. The Marines and sailors of RCT-7 are dedicated, disciplined and driven to accomplish the mission, and the Marine in this article has earned special recognition for standing out among these professionals. Be sure to check every week to see who will be honored as the latest Marine of the Week.