Photo By Dana Rene White | Pfc. Tyler Ellerbrock, 18, who recently graduated from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot,...... read more read more
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As NSWC PHD marked the 244th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps Nov. 15, retired Marine Otto “Willie” Ellerbrock, the command’s acting supervisory administrative/technical specialist for PAO Command Communication and Congressional Affairs, had double reason to celebrate.
His son, Pfc. Tyler Ellerbrock, who graduated from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) in San Diego Nov. 8, had the honor of taking part in the traditional birthday cake-cutting ceremony as the youngest enlisted Marine at the command that day.
The Marine Corps birthday day cake-cutting ceremony is an annual renewal of each Marine’s commitment to the corps, and the corps’ commitment to the nation’s quest for peace and freedom worldwide. The cake is traditionally cut with the Mameluke sword, as a reminder that Marines are a band of warriors committed to carrying the sword so that the nation may live in peace. The Marine cutting the cake was Master Gunnery Sgt. Billy Stewart, Marine Corps (retired), the senior enlisted Marine at NSWC PHD.
By tradition, the first piece is presented to the oldest Marine in the command, Maj. Andrew Delarivas, U.S. Army (retired). Delarivas joined the Marine Corps in 1977 before completing an in-service transfer to the Army after first achieving the rank of Marine 1st lieutenant. He is the deputy director for intelligence operations at the command.
The second piece of cake was passed by Delarivas to Pfc. Tyler Ellerbrock, signifying how experienced Marines have nurtured and led the young Marines who will fill the ranks and renew the Marine Corps.
A congratulatory message from Gen. David Berger, the 38th commandant of the Marine Corps, was read at the ceremony, stating in part, “United States Marines define the world’s image of elite warrior-citizens. We take great pride in the legacy built by those who came before us and in carrying that legacy into the future.”
As he read out his son’s name during the ceremony, Ellerbrock was full of pride seeing his son at the beginning of a journey he had already taken.
The Glendale, Calif. native graduated from Glendale High School in June 1982 and entered boot camp the following month at MCRD in San Diego. He graduated Oct. 22, 1982 and went on to the School of Infantry (SOI), Infantry Training Battalion (ITB) at Camp Pendleton in San Diego. His first duty station was the 2nd Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, which was later deployed as part of the Multi-National Peacekeeping Force to Sinai, Egypt and later Beirut, Lebanon.
He also was deployed to Grenada in support of Operation Urgent Fury.
Ellerbrock was active duty until 1988 when he entered the Reserves, and until his retirement Dec. 31, 2011, completing 30 years of total service.
As a reservist, Ellerbrock spent time in Iraq as a member of the Multi-National Forces West Public Affairs Team, stationed in Anbar Province, before ultimately returning stateside in late 2008.
Tyler was 9 years old at the time of Ellerbrock’s retirement, and remembers being proud of his father’s service. But it wasn’t until his senior year of high school that he gave serious thought to enlisting.
While a standout student-athlete football player, first at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, Calif., and later during his senior year at Santa Clarita Christian School, Tyler knew the chances of having a professional football career were slim. Still, he appreciated the camaraderie and “brotherhood” found on a football team, and knew he could find something similar in a military career.
He initially considered signing on under Marine reconnaissance, but chose fire controlman, partly because it would keep him closer to home and family. After graduating high school in June, Tyler entered boot camp at the MCRD Aug. 12 and graduated from 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Echo Company, Platoon 2013 in November, with his father proudly looking on.
Like his father, Tyler also went on to SOI for Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton. From there, he will transition to 3rd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, a Marine Forces Reserve unit in Bell, Calif. Afterwards, Tyler plans to study engineering in college with an emphasis on cybersecurity before entering the military full time.
His military career goals include commissioning as a 2nd lieutenant and making captain, and perhaps being assigned as a series commander at MCRD leading Marine drill instructors, “just because I would want to inspire and help mold recruits into the next warrior breed of Marines, like my senior drill instructor did for me,” he explained.
While Tyler isn’t sure what the future holds for him, he is proud of the legacy his father created.
Ellerbrock knows his son will face some tough challenges ahead, but he will have his Marine Corps brothers and sisters—and his father—at his back.
“No matter how young or old your children are, as a parent, the worrying never stops,” Ellerbrock said. “However, from my own experience in the Marine Corps, I know he is safe because he is among our brothers and sisters who are United States Marines.”
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2019 12:43 |
| Story ID: | 355456 |
| Location: | PORT HUENEME, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 419 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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