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    Discover How This Recon Marine, Marysville, Kan., Native Stays Salty

    Discover How This Recon Marine, Marysville, Kan., Native Stays Salty

    Photo By Cpl. Evan White | Cpl. Jared Ungerer, a point man with the reconnaissance detachment, 11th Marine...... read more read more

    USS MAKIN ISLAND, USCENTCOM, AT SEA

    09.14.2014

    Story by Cpl. Demetrius Morgan 

    11th Marine Expeditionary Unit   

    USS MAKIN ISLAND - Cpl. Jared Ungerer, from Marysville, Kansas, is one of the few in the Marine Corps to become a reconnaissance Marine. His passion for his job matches his drive and dedication to improve in all things he does. On his first deployment, Ungerer continues to adapt and improve physically and mentally in preparation for anything that could happen while underway.

    In this interview, Ungerer explains some of the challenges that he faces as a recon Marine and what methods he uses to hone and improve his skills to better accomplish the mission.

    Q1: Why did you choose to become a recon Marine?

    A1: Well, one day one of my recruiters told me that I would make a great recon Marine. I didn’t really know what that meant at the time but that became my goal.

    What are some of the challenges that come with being in your job field?

    Being a recon Marine is physically and mentally challenging. You have to learn to work as a team. You do all different types of mission sets from recon and surveillance missions, patrolling, and raids.

    What are some of your long-term goals in your job field?

    There is definitely a lot of room for me to improve and move up, so I’m always looking toward the experienced guys to learn more, challenge myself and better myself.

    While on the ship, how do you spend your off time?

    While on the ship, I’m usually in the gym twice a day. I’ve just always had that drive to be physically fit.

    How does going to the gym help you be a better recon Marine?

    Being physically fit is a very large part of our job. If we are not physical fit, then we can’t accomplish the missions that are given to us. I just want to be as strong as I can, as fast as I can and just be able to perform my job as well as I can.

    What keeps you motivated to keep pushing to be better?

    A motto that they say in recon a lot is embrace the pain and push through it. For example in the gym, when you got to get one more set out, yeah it hurts but you got to keep going, and push yourself to the limit so you can reach your goals. It keeps going into my head that I want to get stronger and I want to be better so whenever it’s hurting I know it’s just me getting better.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.14.2014
    Date Posted: 09.25.2014 08:23
    Story ID: 143224
    Location: USS MAKIN ISLAND, USCENTCOM, AT SEA
    Hometown: MANHATTAN, KS, US
    Hometown: MARYSVILLE, KS, US

    Web Views: 206
    Downloads: 2

    PUBLIC DOMAIN