Photo By Sgt. Cody Rowe | Cpl. Heath Coy poses next to a B0014 environmental control unit at Marine Corps Air...... read more read more
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No matter how well we plan and prepare, at some point, we are all bound to encounter the unexpected in our lives. But, while moment may have been significant, it’s how we react to those sudden changes that matters most. When Cpl. Heath Coy’s life took an unexpected turn, he decided to seize the opportunity and turn it into something positive.
Coy joined the Marine Corps over three years ago and is now a refrigeration and air conditioner technician assigned to Marine Air Support Squadron 1, Marine Air Control Group 28, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing; but that job is a far reach from what he thought he was guaranteed after enlisting.
“I always wanted to serve,” said Coy. “My dad was in the Army, so I wanted to enlist and follow his footsteps.”
Coy was planning on enlisting in the Army like his father, but there was something about the Marine Corps recruiters that left a huge impression on him, he said. He liked the professionalism the Marines possessed so he decided to enlist in the Marine Corps.
Coy left for boot camp on July 21st, 2014 with an engineering and utilities contract, he said. He had his eye on becoming a combat engineer, but later that dream would be put to a halt.
While at Marine Combat Training, Coy learned from his instructors that he would soon become a refrigeration and air conditioner technician. The news disappointed Coy, and his motivation and dedication to the Marine Corps began to suffer.
“I felt pretty much how anyone would feel if you signed up for one thing and had your hopes and dreams set on that, and then they reroute you,” said Coy.
Unhappy about his newfound military occupational specialty, Coy had no motivation to do his job.
“Looking back on it, I realized that I had a really bad attitude about it and that I should change that,” said Coy.
Coy has maintained his positive attitude since becoming a refrigeration and air conditioner technician and has been successful in the occupational field.
Coy maintains the air-conditioning units to keep gear and equipment cool. This job is important because if certain gear overheats, Marines can’t do their jobs properly, explained Coy.
If communication systems aren’t cool, they can go down, said Coy. If Marines can’t communicate with aircraft it could be catastrophic.
Even though this wasn’t the job he wanted, Coy’s positive attitude has helped shaped his Marine Corps career thus far. Coy is currently the utilities floor chief who maintains the utility section and manages and distributes parts needed for MASS-1’s equipment.
“Everything is what you make it,” said Coy. “I have no regrets.”
| Date Taken: | 09.01.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2017 14:03 |
| Story ID: | 248718 |
| Location: | CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 139 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, #FlyByFriday – Marine keeps MASS-1 cool, by Sgt Cody Rowe, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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