Photo By Sgt. Tessa Watts | U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Gabra A. Bailey, a supply officer with 12th Marine Corps...... read more read more
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U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Gabra A. Bailey, a supply officer with 12th Marine Corps District, Marine Corps Recruiting Command, immigrated to the United States from Jamaica at 22 years old and was on the renowned yellow footprints of Marine Corps recruit training at 23 years old.
When Bailey came to America, he knew exactly what he wanted in his life and career, which is what drove his decision to join the armed forces.
“Discipline wasn’t my strongest suit, so I knew I needed structure,” Bailey said.
He originally spoke with a U.S. Army recruiter, but when he noticed a service member that wore a different uniform from the Army soldiers, he was intrigued and wanted to learn more.
“I was leaving the Army recruiting office when I saw a Marine recruiter,” Bailey expressed. “I recognized he had on a different uniform. I went back to the Army recruiter and asked, ‘Who’s that? Why is he different than you?’ and he said ‘Those are the Marines.’”
The more information the Army recruiter gave Bailey about the Marine Corps, the more he knew that he wanted to become one of the Few and the Proud. He joined the Marine Corps’ Delayed Entry Program, waiting to ship to recruit training.
He flew back to Jamaica during this time and that’s when he received the phone call that he was going to recruit training in just a few days.
“I flew back on December 12th and by the 14th I was on the yellow footprints,” Bailey said.
He overcame more obstacles than most during recruit training because his original language is Jamaican Patois and he had a difficult time understanding the drill instructor’s commands. Regardless of the challenges Bailey faced, he graduated recruit training and became a U.S. Marine.
Bailey spent 12 years as an enlisted Marine before he was accepted into the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program to become a commissioned officer. He earned a Bachelor of Global Supply Chain Management degree and commissioned at 35 years old.
His purpose for striving and achieving what he has in his Marine Corps career is his family that he provides for.
“The Marine Corps puts food on the table. If my driving force is my family, and this is what feeds and protects my family, then you can understand its importance.”
Bailey’s motivation and dedication to the Marine Corps has always been and continues to be for his family. He strives to provide for, protect and teach them the values and morals that are instilled in him from his Jamaican heritage.
“I strive to be better for my kids,” Bailey expressed. “I try to be somebody for them to look up to and be proud of. That’s my drive.”
He not only sets the example for his children and others as a father and Marine, but also as a Jamaican. Although he’s been in the U.S. for over 20 years, he never lost sight of where he came from.
“I’ve been in the United States for 21 years, but I’ve never left my history,” Bailey said. “I’ve never unbound myself from being a Jamaican. I’m not just representing myself as Gabra or as a Bailey, I’m representing a people.”
Staying true to himself and his values, Bailey believes everyone should look at each other as people first, and to not put people into boxes that define them by their characteristics.
“We’re all people,” Bailey explains. “No matter the color of our eyes or the color of our skin, we are all people and should see each other as people and not objects.”
Watching Marines succeed inspires and fulfills Bailey. He doesn’t lead Marines in hopes of becoming renowned, he leads Marines in hopes of truly impacting their lives.
“I see Marines from similar backgrounds, sometimes worse backgrounds, and I see them prosper,” Bailey said. “There’s nothing more beautiful than that. So even if I don’t leave a legacy that’s recognizable to everyone, if there’s somebody I impacted positively through the Marine Corps, then that’s a beautiful thing and I’m winning in my eyes.”
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 03.05.2021 11:06 |
| Story ID: | 390613 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 110 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Capt. Gabra A. Bailey: Inspiration through humanity, by Sgt Tessa Watts, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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