Photo By Pfc. Brendan Roethel | Second Lieutenant Carrie Yonge poses with her father, Larry Yonge, and her mother,...... read more read more
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From being cured of poor eyesight to facing financial and living arrangement uncertainty, 2nd Lt. Carrie Yonge, a plans officer with Plans and Research for Marine Corps Recruiting Command, conquered several obstacles in her life to earn the title Marine.
Ever since the Ocala, Fla. native was a child she had one dream—to soar the skies as a pilot. But growing up there was one thing in her way.
“My eyesight was so bad that if I didn’t have my trifocal glasses on, I wouldn’t be able to find them. I was practically blind without my glasses,” Yonge jokingly said. “My sight was so bad, I never actually considered becoming a pilot, so I looked into becoming a lawyer instead.”
In 2007, Yonge began studying at the University of Florida with a plan to become a lawyer or analyst for the CIA.
For several years, Yonge prayed for her eyes to be healed after a lifetime of suffering from poor vision and needing to wear corrective lenses in order to do everyday tasks. In February 2009, the unthinkable happened—she was able to see with 20/20 vision.
“Her doctors couldn’t explain how they were healed,” said Cindy Yonge, Carrie Yonge’s mother. “She wore glasses her whole life. No one thought she would ever be able to see without surgery. It was a miracle.”
Carrie Yonge graduated from the U of F in 2011. In the years following, she was faced with obstacle after obstacle, struggling to get by.
“The years following graduation were some of the hardest in my life,” said Carrie Yonge. “Right after graduating college, I was working for my parents, doing a lot of manual labor. I was also busy writing a book series I began my senior year in college. I just wanted to keep moving though, and eventually I pulled through.”
With her improved eyesight meeting the requirements to become a pilot, Carrie Yonge decided to pursue her love of flying.
“Living my entire life with bad vision was limiting, but as soon as I could see without glasses, a new world opened up to me,” said Carrie Yonge. “I felt blessed.”
Prior to joining the Marine Corps, Carrie Yonge planned on becoming a pilot in the Air National Guard. For two years, she worked as a middle school teacher while she prepared to join.
“I met with an Air Force recruiter during my second year of teaching,” said Carrie Yonge. “They told me there were no Air National Guard slots available, and refused to administer the test needed to apply. I left their office disappointed. As I sat in my car getting ready to leave, a Marine Corps recruiter tapped the glass on my car window and asked if I needed any help. That is when it all began.”
Carrie Yonge and the Marine recruiter began talking, and she mentioned that she wanted to become a pilot. After talking with her more, the recruiter directed her to the local Officer Selection Officer.
“I was ecstatic,” said Carrie Yonge. “I didn’t even know the Marine Corps had pilots. I thought only the Air Force flew. After I found that out, and learned more about the Corps, I knew I was up for the challenge.”
In April 2014, she began working with her OSO to join the Marine Corps and earn an aviation contract. Yonge then moved from Ocala to Jacksonville, Fla., so she could train at the recruiting station with poolees.
“When I lived in Jacksonville, I was jumping from job to job, making minimum wage and didn’t have a steady place to live,” said Carrie Yonge. “Although it was one of the hardest points in my life, I felt as if God was testing me. I knew I couldn’t stop working, preparing to join, or writing my book series.”
Carrie Yonge said what made it most difficult was that her parent’s didn’t support her decision to join the Corps.
“We had our doubts,” said Cindy Yonge. “She didn’t seem like the type of person that would hold a knife between her teeth and crawl around in the mud. We couldn’t see the Marine Corps in her future, and thought she was wasting great opportunities.”
Carrie Yonge left for Officer Candidates School in the summer of 2015. After two weeks of training, she fractured her hip, and was sent home.
“I felt horrible after being dropped from OCS,” said Carrie Yonge. “I went into OCS thinking I would complete training and earn my commission my first time going through. Being sent home, I began questioning whether or not I should go back to OCS and become a Marine. I also felt as if I proved my parents had been right all along.”
After several months of healing, Carrie Yonge began training to go back to OCS, even though she was still questioning whether or not she had what it takes to become a Marine.
“Every time I questioned whether or not I should join, there was always something telling me to push forward,” said Carrie Yonge. “There was one day I was having a crisis and ranting, asking God why I was injured and what I should do, then I received a notification on my phone of a large eagle, globe and anchor from some random person I was in a Marine Corps group chat with on Facebook. I felt it was a sign. From that moment on I was determined to finish and didn’t question what I should do.”
Carrie Yonge returned to OCS, and graduated, Aug. 6, 2016.
“It was amazing to finally finish OCS,” said Carrie Yonge. “I was ecstatic and filled with a great sense of relief and satisfaction. At that moment, I knew it was all worth it.”
Carrie Yonge’s grandfather, a former Naval aviator, pinned on her gold second lieutenant bars during the commissioning ceremony after graduating.
“Watching our daughter graduate was one of the most proud moments of my life,” said Larry Yonge, Carrie Yonge’s father. “When she graduated, I looked at her and thought to myself ‘she did it’. She has the mental, physical and emotional strength, as well as the initiative and unselfishness that I think will make her a great leader and a perfect fit for the Marine Corps. We wish her the best, and hope she accomplishes everything she hopes to.”
Although she injured her ankle during OCS, Yonge continues to train and prepare herself to attend The Basic School next spring. She hopes to later become an F-35 pilot.
“Through all of my struggles, perseverance was key,” said Yonge. “Although I felt as if I was at the bottom of the pit of despair, I learned that there is always a way out through determination and encouragement. I am using what I have learned to get me through the challenges I face currently, and I know that I can conquer whatever stands in the way of me accomplishing my goals.”
| Date Taken: | 11.23.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 11.23.2016 12:21 |
| Story ID: | 215712 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VA, US |
| Hometown: | JACKSONVILLE, FL, US |
| Hometown: | OCALA, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 253 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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