15th MEU highlights LCpl. Jared Reifel

Photo By Sgt. Desiree D King | Lance Cpl. Jared Reifel of Houston, Texas, an intelligence analyst with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, poses for a photo on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, June 15, 2018. The 15th MEU provides a forward deployed, flexible sea-based Marine Air-Ground Task Force capable of conducting Amphibious Operations, crisis response and limited contingency operations, to include enabling the introduction of follow-on forces, and, designated special operations, in order to support the theater requirements of Geographic Combatant Commanders. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Desiree King)  

CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

06.15.2018

Story by Cpl. Desiree D King 

15th Marine Expeditionary Unit

“My band director, who was a mentor to me and to so many others had three philosophies for the entire band program…be coachable; understand that the band was bigger than the individual; and to be a self-starter. We took those things to heart.

Fast forward four years later, and I’m in the Marine Corps – where coaching is part of the Marine Corps’ leadership philosophy. The Marine Corps is definitely bigger than the individual; the needs of the unit come before the individual, and being a self-starter… there’s always something to do – but your Corporal isn’t always going to be there; your OIC (officer in charge) isn’t always going to be there to tell you what needs to be done. It’s on the individual to step up to the plate.

The trademark saying in the band is ‘we’re only going to do it one more time…’there’s 50 ‘one more times’. That work ethic – to always drive and keep going – that really got to me in the Marine Corps. I never would have imagined that intrinsically-driven motivation was rooted in music. That’s definitely something I’ll keep for the future.”

-Lance Cpl. Jared Reifel, intelligence analyst, Houston, Texas

• Date Taken: 06.15.2018
• Date Posted: 06.15.2018 18:08
• Story ID: 281163
• Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US