Photo By Lance Cpl. Kerstin Roberts | U.S. Marine 2nd Lt. Riley Compton, the logistics officer for Marine Aviation Logistics...... read more read more
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Being a Marine is one of the greatest accomplishments anyone can receive, but why stop there? U.S. Marine 2nd Lt. Riley Compton is the logistics officer for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 39, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. She oversees the squadron’s logistical movements, ground safety and physical security. And in her free time she trains for Team USA’s Bobsled Development Team.
Compton went to college at George Washington University, where she met a recruiter during her freshman year and fell in love with the idea of being a Marine and serving her country. She attended and graduated from Officer Candidates School in 2016.
“Once I went to Officer Candidates School and was challenged more than I’ve been challenged in my life,” stated Compton. “I knew that this was the place for me, and the place where I knew I could have a lot of impact.”
After she graduated from college, she commissioned into to Marine Corps in 2019, attended all her training and was stationed on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton with MALS-39.
“She is an infectiously enthusiastic officer,” said Maj. Christopher Seemayer, the executive officer for MALS-39. “Anyone who works around her is automatically motivated.”
Even while Compton is gone training with Team USA, she still works from afar using her computer of phone, according to Seemayer, and is always there for her Marines and her command. Compton’s ability to juggle the demands of her job as a Marine and her training as an athlete make it that much easier to let her go train for Olympic events, according to Seemayer.
“I try to be present where I’m at,” said Compton. “I need to make sure my Marines are taken care of and I’ll work all through the evening just to make sure I’ve done everything necessary for everyone to be successful.”
Compton has been interested in bobsledding since college when she was given the opportunity to hand an award to Olympic athlete Elana Meyers Taylor while Taylor was visiting GW.
“I originally wanted to play for the Marine Corps softball team, because that’s what I played while in college, but unfortunately because of COVID that got shut down,” said Compton. “So, when I saw the opportunity to participate in a combine to see if I was good enough to make the entry for bobsled, I took it.”
To be a part of the Team USA bobsled team, athletes must first submit a resume and participate in a virtual combine. The combine is where the coaches test the participants’ strength and speed based off their performance in sprint events, a broad jump and a shot toss. Compton was asked to come back after her performance in the combine.
“With the amazing support from my commanding officer and executive officer,
who gave me the thumbs up to go out and try it, I was able to go to Park City, Utah, for a couple of weeks,” said Compton. “While I was there, I was then invited to compete in the North American Cup which was my first competition, so there weren’t high expectations, but I medaled in both of my events.”
Compton’s continued success as a bobsledder is a source of pride and inspiration for her Marines and the rest of MALS-39.
“Something that I personally believe as a commander is that the Marine Corps is all about opportunity,” said Lt. Col. Forest Rees, the commanding officer of MALS-39. “So, her chasing that dream of being an Olympian, I think inspires the Marines to seek out their dreams.”
Compton says her Marines come first, and any success she has in her career is only because of them. She wants to pursue the Olympics, and a big reason is for the Marine Corps. Compton wants to show that females in the Marine Corps can do both – that anyone can be an active duty Marine and still pursue a dream like going to the Olympics.
“Being a Marine,” said Compton. “I’ve learned just how proud I am of my country and the great people that are here trying to do amazing things and uplift the United States.”
| Date Taken: | 02.24.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 03.17.2021 02:24 |
| Story ID: | 390137 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Hometown: | CARMEL, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 633 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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