Boston Marine takes on Eager Lion 2015

Photo By Sgt. Ryan Young | U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Tysean Abdul-Aziz, a Boston native, hits the gym, May 11, 2015, in Al Quweira, Jordan. Abdul-Aziz, an intelligence specialist with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, is participating in Exercise Eager Lion 15, an annual, multinational training exercise taking place in Jordan with more than 10,000 participants from 18 different countries. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ryan Young/released)  

AL QUWEYRAH, JORDAN

05.11.2015

Courtesy Story

Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade

AL QUWEYAH, Jordan - Exercise Eager Lion 15, a multinational exercise in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, has more than 10,000 military participants from around the world. United States Marine Cpl. Tysean Akil Abdul-Aziz, known to his peers as ‘Abdul’, is one of many service members training in the desert.

“I was excited when I got the call that I was going to Jordan,” said Abdul, a Boston native. “It's my first deployment to the Middle East and I’ve always wanted to see what it was like.”

Abdul, 20, joined the Marine Corps directly after he graduated from Belmont High School, in Belmont, Mass.
“I wasn’t ready for college. I told my mother I was going to join the Army and she told me ‘no, join the Marine Corps.’ She definitely influenced my decision to join,” Abdul said.
He left for recruit training in August of 2012 and graduated three months later. After graduation and completion of Marine Combat Training, Abdul spent three months learning his military occupational specialty -- intelligence specialist.

“I thought about what I wanted to do when I got out of the Marine Corps, and I looked up what intelligence specialists do. I thought ‘I can turn this into something when I get out,’” Abdul added.

After completion of his job training, Abdul joined the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, known as the ‘Warlords.’ He served in the Intelligence Section of Headquarters and Service Company until August 2014, when he was selected to deploy in support of the Black Sea Rotational Force as part of a Company Level Intelligence Cell.

“I learned a lot on deployment about myself and about being a Marine,” said Abdul. “It helped me develop my skills in both areas.”

As a non-commissioned officer, Abdul has extra responsibilities and junior Marines to help develop in the states and abroad during Eager Lion.

“Corporal Abdul is a really good leader,” said Lance Cpl. Jonathon Rosinsky, an intelligence specialist and one of Abdul’s junior marines. “Knowing he’s the same age as me and already an NCO shows a lot about him. He’s very approachable and someone you know you can go to about anything.”

After the Marine Corps, Abdul hopes to attend college and attain a degree that relates to his Marine Corps career, continuing in the field of intelligence. He says he will always be proud of his service.

“If the Marine Corps taught me one thing, it’s taught me to grow as a person and a leader.”

• Date Taken: 05.11.2015
• Date Posted: 05.14.2015 02:17
• Story ID: 163168
• Location: AL QUWEYRAH, JO
• Hometown: BELMONT, MA, US