For Lance Corporals Micah and Jose Martinez, this hits closer to home as they are brothers who are currently deployed with the Blue Knights, of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), which is embarked with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) together.
Micah works in Aviation Supply and Jose is an Aviation Mechanic.
Natives of Harlingen, Texas, the Martinez brothers and Harlingen High School South alums; both knew that joining the Marine Corps was meant to be.
Jose knew since he was a young boy that he wanted to be a Marine.
“I joined because I always wanted to do this, ever since I was a young kid growing up,” said Jose. “In freshman year of high school; that is when it kind of hit me what being a Marine is all about and I knew I wanted to be one.”
For Micah, joining the Marines at first was all about preparing for his future.
“I just wanted to get set for my career in law enforcement when I get out (of the Marine Corps)” said Micah. “But as time went by I started to slowly love the structure, how well I fit in the Marine Corps and how well I could support my wife, Briana.”
Jose enlisted into the Marines in 2014, with Micah following just eight months later. The brothers had no plans to be stationed at the same command, much less in the same unit. Jose went to school in Florida, receiving orders once he completed his program to Marine Corps Air Station New River. Micah attended school in Mississippi and upon completion of his program, received orders to New River as well. They could not have been more satisfied with the way it all played out.
When Jose found out the unit was deploying with the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), he did not expect Micah to be chosen to represent Aviation Supply and deploy with him.
“The squadron flies MV-22 Ospreys, AV-8B Harriers and CH-53 Super Stallions,” said Jose. “Micah’s division supplies the squadron with all their aircraft parts and materials as needed.
As for Jose, he is assigned to Bataan’s Combat Cargo department for the 2017 deployment. Combat Cargo is responsible for all of the on and off loads of personnel, equipment and supplies that occur on the Bataan.
Jose shared as deploying for the time for both of them having Micah on board with him takes majority of the stress away; as for Micah he is less stressed about missing his lovely bride.
“Instead of having to look for somebody to talk to, he (Micah) is just always there,” said Jose. “I have someone to go to the gym and chow with; we do everything together.’
“All the memories we have shared in the past; we can always bring them up,” said Micah. “At chow the other day, we were laughing about some video game we used to play when we were growing up.”
Jose and Micah both believe that they have learned important life lessons while deployed together. One of those things is money management.
“One good thing about deployment is that you can save a lot of money,” said Jose. “I have so much saved already and by the time this deployment is over, I will be able to do so many things.”
Micah added that another lesson he learned was getting acclimated being on board and with the Marine lifestyle and culture.
“The military has its own way of doing things,” said Micah. “It has its own language, its own lifestyle, so there is a lot to learn before you can be comfortable doing your job and living this life. Learn and take a little bit from everyone you meet. Make yourself the best that you can be. No one is perfect, but you can strive to get close to it by taking the strengths from those around you.”
Jose shared that there is so much more to his job than he originally thought and it is so much more than just working on aircraft. Paying attention to detail is one of them to ensure that the aircrew remains safe and the aircraft remains mission ready.
“Never lose that motivation you had when you first enlisted,” said Jose. If you can keep that motivation up, you will be the best Marine you can be. Don’t let anything bring you down.”
The brothers know deployment is not easy, but having each other gives them an advantage few get to share.
Micah said he is looking forward to going to different countries with his brother and getting to experience new cultures with family. An added bonus is that he won’t need to look for a liberty buddy.
Looking ahead to the future, Micah wants to be a state trooper when his contract is ended. Jose would like to go on to be a high school teacher.
Bataan and its ready group are currently deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations designed to reassure allies and partners, and preserve the freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce in the region.