Photo By Sgt. Jack Rigsby | Private First Class Ryan J. Brousseau completed Marine Corps recruit training as the...... read more read more
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Most people strive for a successful career with a degree from a prestigious university. A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, completed those goals but desired something more.
Pfc. Ryan J. Brousseau, a former robotics programmer for Mercedes Benz International Inc., found what he was looking for in the Marine Corps.
“I was in it for the biggest challenge, and I wanted to do something better with my life, so I thought there was no better place to find it than the Marine Corps,” said Brousseau, an alumnus of the University of Alabama.
Brousseau graduated from Marine Corps recruit training as the platoon honor graduate of Platoon 3006, Company L, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, Jan. 25.
“Coming from the civilian world -- especially having gone through college and working as a robot programmer -- getting here and getting held to the military’s standard was a big challenge for me,” said Brousseau.
Brousseau trained with the recruiters of Recruiting Substation Tuscaloosa and learned what the meaning of Marine Corps motivation is.
“My recruiter helped me,” said Brousseau. “He always drove me to up my physical fitness, and also when things weren’t going my way, he would tell me to keep my head up and keep pushing forward and motivated me to keep going and stay in.”
Through trial and tribulation, Brousseau pushed through Marine Corps recruit training and lead his platoon as the guide, a distinction he earned over 13 weeks of training by outperforming 87 other recruits during a series of training events designed to test recruits’ basic Marine Corps skills.
These training events covered customs and courtesies, drill and ceremonies, marksmanship, physical fitness, military history, and a variety of other subjects that orient them to Marine Corps and military service.
“What stood out the most in Brousseau was his leadership; it was like second nature to him,” said Staff Sgt. Michel A. Garcia, the senior drill instructor of platoon 3006. “All I had to do was tell him what he needed to do and the other recruits just followed him naturally, so he just stood out.”
Recruit training events are made to test them mentally and physically. One of these events is known as The Crucible, a 54-hour culminating event, which tests recruits’ abilities to work together and complete tasks under immense fatigue and stress.
“Physically, the hike after the Crucible was hard because you’re already beat up, sore, and hurting all the time,” said Brousseau. “You just have to dig deep and push.”
Brousseau was not alone in completing his goal of becoming a U.S. Marine. His family was there every step of the way to help him.
“At first, I wasn’t sure it was the right choice, but it was his dream and we supported him, and I wish he would have done it sooner because it’s been good for him,” said Rodney Brousseau, his father.
Brousseau also had the motivation of his family heritage to help him along his journey into the military.
“My father was in the Air Force,” said Brousseau. “I’m the first Marine in my family, but I have relatives in the Army, Navy, and Coast Guard. I’m basically continuing the tradition and carrying on the legacy of military service.”
Having completed recruit training, Brousseau will enjoy the 10 days of leave allotted to graduates of recruit training, and will continue to build foundational Marine Corps skills at the School of Infantry, Camp Geiger, North Carolina.
“Without a doubt he will excel in the Marine Corps,” said Staff Sgt. Michel A. Garcia. “His future is limitless in the Marine Corps. He’s pretty much everything the Marine Corps is looking for in small unit leadership.”
| Date Taken: | 02.21.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 03.11.2019 14:22 |
| Story ID: | 311416 |
| Location: | PARRIS ISLAND, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 52 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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