CAMP MADBULL, JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — For Reserve Marines, service means balancing family, civilian careers and education while still answering the call when the nation needs them. U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Fernando Carrillo, a radio operator with 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, represents that commitment as he trains alongside his unit during Arctic Edge 2025.
The Arctic trains Marines with biting winds and demanding terrain, requiring a dense determination, dedication and focus. Carrillo’s ensured that when missiles launched and missions unfolded, the correct messages reached the right people at the right time. It’s a responsibility that can decide a mission’s success.
For Carrillo, that responsibility goes back to lessons learned long before the Marine Corps. Raised in El Paso, Texas, in a close-knit Hispanic family. The values instilled in him at home prepared him for the challenges of the Corps.
“I’m from El Paso, Texas. It’s right on the border with Mexico, and the culture there runs deep,” Carrillo said. “Growing up in a Hispanic family, you learn to be tough, you learn resilience. That’s something I carry with me into the Marine Corps every day.”
Carrillo would find even the small things would prepare him in his distant journey.
“My family gave me nicknames all the time, sometimes they weren’t the nicest, but it was always out of love. It made me ready for boot camp," said Carrillo.
That toughness was tested the moment he stepped on the path to becoming a Marine. Before he left for boot camp, many people doubted him. He heard comments that he wasn’t ready, that he wouldn’t make it. Instead of being discouraged, Carrillo turned it into motivation. He pushed himself harder, losing 40 pounds during training and proving to himself as a United States Marine.
“People didn’t expect much out of me at first,” Carrillo admitted. “But I came back different. I came back a Marine.”
His transformation wasn’t just physical. It changed the way his family and community saw him, at first his parents were scared when Carrillo told them he was joining now seeing what he accomplished, they’re proud.
That pride carried over into his role as a Reserve Marine. Reserve Marines constantly balance their military and civilian life. For Carrillo, that means putting on the uniform and serving the nation, then returning home to work, where he installs household appliances.
It’s steady work that supports his family and gives him the flexibility to pursue his education. But balancing it all can be difficult.
“As drill weekends get closer, it can be stressful,” Carrillo said. “You’ve got your civilian job, your family, and then you’ve got the Corps. But at the end of the day, putting the uniform on is always worth it.”
The balance hasn’t come without sacrifice. Carrillo shared one of the hardest moments of his Marine Corps journey, missing the birth of his child because of boot camp.
He admitted it was hard, the weight of the memory still evident. But he also found comfort in knowing that his service provided stability for his family, including healthcare benefits.
“Knowing they were cared for made it easier to focus on my duty, Carrillo said.”
It’s the reality of building a career and supporting a family while still committing to military service. And for Carrillo, it’s not just temporary; it’s a life-long commitment.
He hopes to serve 20 years in the Marine Corps Reserve while pursuing a career in public service. Whether as a firefighter, police officer, or EMT, he wants to continue serving others beyond the Corps. He also plans to return to school, building the education that will support those goals.
“I like public speaking, and I want to use my voice to help people, Carrillo said.”
Through it all, his pride in being a Marine never wavers. The Marine Corps Reserve gives him the opportunity to serve while staying connected to his family and his community, a balance he values deeply.
“It’s not easy, but it’s worth it," Carrillo said. “You learn to juggle it all, and every time you put the uniform on, you feel that pride.”
When asked what advice he’d give to anyone considering the Marine Corps Reserve, Carrillo didn’t hesitate.
“It’ll be the best decision you ever make,” Carrillo said firmly. “You’ll grow, you’ll find opportunities you never thought you’d have, and you’ll be proud every time you put that uniform on.”
From his roots in El Paso to the training grounds of Alaska, Carrillo’s story is proof of what it means to be a Marine in the Reserve: enduring sacrifice, unshakable determination, and the ability to balance service to country and family.
| Date Taken: | 08.24.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.16.2025 13:21 |
| Story ID: | 546348 |
| Location: | ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 9 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, From El Paso to the Cold Artic Edge, by LCpl Edward Spears, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
