Photo By Lance Cpl. Alan Gomez | U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Juan Ipialesparedes, an administrative specialist with...... read more read more
Subscribe
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Long before earning the title of United States Marine, Lance Cpl. Juan G. Ipialesparedes served as a special operations Marine in his native country of Ecuador. Today, as a personnel administration specialist with 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, he brings a lifetime of military experience and a deep respect for service that transcends nationality to the United States.
Born in Quito, Ecuador, in 1992, Ipialesparedes joined the Ecuadorian Marines at 17. At this stage in his life, he felt the military was his best option for a better future. “I decided that I wanted my family to be proud of me,” said Ipialesparedes.
In 2010, Ipialesparedes graduated from Ecuadorian Marine boot camp as the honor graduate of his class of 232 Marines. Due to his superior performance in leadership, academics, and physical fitness, he was selected for the special operations forces. While serving in this elite unit, Ipialesparedes received extensive training in small-unit tactics, amphibious operations, and operations in austere environments. The training emphasized physical endurance, discipline, and teamwork.
The first time Ipialesparedes worked alongside U.S. Marines was in 2015, in Manta, Ecuador, during a combined exercise. The training focused on marksmanship, tactical formations, patrolling, and survival skills. Like many others, Ipialesparedes had preconceived notions of U.S. Marines, influenced by cinema. However, firsthand experience provided a clearer picture. The Marines proved to be physically fit professionals whose proficiency was evident throughout the training.
In 2022, after 11 years of service with the Ecuadorian Marines, Ipialesparedes immigrated to the U.S. with a single goal: to become a U.S. Marine. The move required leaving behind both his military career, but also a way of life defined by family and constant connection. “I grew up with my family; we support each other and stay with each other,” he explained. In contrast, life in the U.S. felt more solitary, with people following their routines, and returning to their homes at the end of the day.
For a couple of years, Ipialesparedes worked security jobs in the U.S., but the civilian life lacked the purpose he had known in Ecuador. During this time, he also met his wife, who provided personal stability as he continued to search for professional direction. He began reaching out to friends back home, asking if they knew anyone who had served first in the Ecuadorian Marines and later in the U.S. Marine Corps. The question reflected a dream he had carried since leaving Ecuador: to earn the title of U.S. Marine.
His decision to enlist came as a shock to Ipialesparedes’ wife. Enlisting meant leaving behind stability for an uncertain future, with no guarantee of success. For Ipialesparedes, however, it was a leap of faith driven by the need to reclaim a sense of purpose. “This is not the life that I want. I'm not happy. I wake up every morning, exercise by myself, and I don't have my uniform. I don't feel like the same person,” explained Ipialesparedes.
The enlistment process was not easy. He was turned away multiple times, primarily due to the Marine Corps’ age restrictions. Despite the setbacks, he was determined not to serve in any other branch. The Ecuadorian Marines share traditions similar to those of the U.S. Marine Corps, but it was the discipline and uncompromising standards of the U.S. Marine Corps that continued to draw him back. On his fourth attempt, Ipialesparedes was finally approved to enlist.
In April 2025, at the age of 33, Ipialesparedes shipped to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Despite his prior military experience and familiarity wearing a uniform, recruit training quickly tested him in new ways. His age and background did not go unnoticed. Early in training, his drill instructors pulled him aside and made their expectations clear. “You need to help everybody.” From that moment on, Ipialesparedes felt the responsibility to help his fellow recruits.
What stood out the most to Ipialesparedes about recruit training were the drill instructors. During his two-years of boot camp in Ecuador, he had not experienced drill instructors yelling in his face or being present 24 hours a day. He was also impressed with the high standards of marksmanship. Ipialesparedes had never been to a range where shooters were expected to engage targets 500 yards away. Finally, the volume and pace of hiking challenged Ipialesparedes even with his previous experience in special operations.
Receiving his Eagle, Globe, and Anchor marked a transformational moment in Ipialesparedes’ life. Earning his title of U.S. Marine was the culmination of everything he had worked for –the reason he left Ecuador. “I felt like a different person, the best version of me,” he said. “This is part of my dream because I know that I represent all my friends from Ecuador and people from different countries in South America. When I talk with them, they tell me I have the most important training in the world. My title of United States, Marine.”
Currently, Ipialesparedes serves as a personnel administration specialist with 1st MLG. He has been welcomed into the unit with open arms. Despite his years of experience in special operations Ipialesparedes remains humble, acknowledging that his noncommissioned officers are much younger than he is—but he respects them deeply. He is eager to learn his role within the unit, continue to grow, and set an example while providing help and experience wherever possible. Although Ipialesparedes is just beginning his journey in the Marine Corps, he demonstrates a clear sense of direction. His next goal: to become a Marine Officer, allowing him to continue serving Marines in a leadership role.
For those in similar circumstances or desiring to join the Marine Corps, Ipialesparedes has some advice: “Don’t wait, the time is short…If you have the opportunity to come to the United States and restart your life, it’s never too late. I’m 33 years old, and I did this for myself. I wanted to be the first to open the door so others from Ecuador and across South America, can see what’s possible.”
| Date Taken: | 01.13.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 01.15.2026 11:43 |
| Story ID: | 556172 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 241 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, No Borders on Service: An Ecuadorian Marine’s Path to the U.S. Marine Corps, by 2LT Steven Maturino, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
