Photo By Cpl. Garrett White | U.S. Marine Sgt. Edwin Maldonado, warehouse chief with Special Purpose Marine...... read more read more
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UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - While some families may be able to trace their patriotic roots or military service as far back as the days of the founding fathers, that doesn’t stop those who are among the first in their families to call the U.S. their home from answering the call of duty.
U.S. Marine Sgt. Edwin Maldonado emigrated from Honduras to Miami and continues a recently-founded family tradition of service in the U.S. Military.
“For the first five years of my childhood I didn’t know my mother or father because they had already moved to the United States,” said Maldonado. “In 1993, when I was about six years old, the rest of my family began to get their visas and we all moved to the U.S.”
Maldonado explained that his cousins were the first members of his family to join the U.S. military.
“I always knew growing up I wanted to join the military, I just didn’t know what branch I wanted to join,” Maldonado said. “I had cousins that were already in the Navy and Army but I wanted to do more than that, be better than them.”
Maldonado set foot on the yellow footprints of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, January 21, 2004, to begin his career in the Marine Corps.
“Graduating was the proudest moment of my life,” Maldonado said. “My friends and family all came to my graduation … It was a very emotional time. Part of that was because I did this for them, I wanted to do something that they would be proud of and when I came home everyone was very proud of me.”
His first duty station after completing his MOS training as a warehouseman was in Okinawa, Japan.
“I think I enjoyed my first two years in the Marine Corps on Okinawa the most,” Maldonado said. “It’s where I got to know the Marine Corps, and I had a lot of fun there. It’s also where I decided that this was the career for me.”
He said the Marines with whom he worked in Okinawa talked about wanting to become drill instructors, Maldonado said. Knowing that life as a DI was a difficult path, he wanted to see what Parris Island was like before committing to that.
“Fortunately I did get orders to Parris Island and spent three years there,” Maldonado said. “I enjoyed it but it was a lot of work, and I got to see what life was like for the DI’s first hand. I saw how hectic the life would be and decided it didn’t fit my personality. Although I love to teach and train, that just was a different side than what I wanted to do.”
Maldonado said he decided he wanted to become a recruiter so he submitted his special duty assignment request and was sent to recruiting school.
Maldonado admitted the school was very demanding. Though he did struggle a bit with the academic side of the school, it was ultimately his personality and attitude that got him through.
He graduated the Basic Recruiter Course and moved to Arizona. After four years of recruiting, Maldonado is now deployed with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command as a warehouse chief.
Sergeant Adam Becker, SPMAGTF Command Element supply chief, said for the seven months he has known Maldonado, his leadership skills and motivation have made for a lively but effective work environment.
“It was a bit rough at first,” Becker said. “Two sergeants coming together, both wanting to be Sergeants of Marines, but we have since worked things out and now work well together.
“He has a very uplifting attitude so it breaks up the monotony of working behind a desk all day,” Becker added. “It’s pretty good to know that if we need to do something I can just tell him what needs to get done and he will do everything he can do to help me accomplish it. He is a very hard worker, when he sets his goals he hits them on the mark every time.”
Now in zone for promotion, Maldonado said he plans on submitting another recruiting package once his current deployment is over.
“I always told my poolees that if you want to do something, why not go for it?” Maldonado said. “The Marine Corps might not be for everyone, but even if you do only four years, eight years or make it a career, you can take what the Marine Corps has given you and be successful.”
| Date Taken: | 07.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.13.2015 06:39 |
| Story ID: | 169842 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Web Views: | 447 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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