Gary's Marine Corps Page

Here we will go into some stuff about the United States Marine Corps (this link is to the "official" Marine Corps web page). As I said on the home page, this is what I am. I will be a Marine until the day I die. So without any further delay, here we go.

I was a senior in high school and had no idea what I wanted to do. One thing I knew was that I needed to do something. I had to get out of the small town that I was in or I would go crazy. All I was doing was raising hell and pretty much being a juvenile delinquent. I knew that this had to stop. But I did not have the discipline at the time to control myself. My options where to work in a factory, work on a farm, or go to college. Well I sure as hell didn't want to work in a factory and I couldn't picture myself as a Mr. Greenjeans clone. I was sick of school and had no desire to go to college. My parents couldn't have afforded it even if I had wanted to. Ruling out all my options left me with a bit of a problem. What the hell was I going to do? I had watched too many young guys before me graduate high school, continue to live at home, and work crappy jobs. They lived only for the weekends to party. I knew that this was not for me. One day I was reading a magazine and saw an ad for the Marine Corps. It had a card to fill out and send in for more information. So I did. The recruiter contacted me and the rest is history. I signed up in December of my senior year. I departed for boot camp in September after graduation.

So off to boot camp I go. Talk about a culture shock! When I arrived at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island I thought I had entered hell. But I soon became to busy in recruit training to worry about being homesick, scared, or any of that other nasty civilian stuff. We learned so much in such a short time. There were now men where there had been boys. We had been transformed in the eleven weeks of boot camp from scared, undisciplined civilians into one of America's Finest Fighting Men. We were hard as nails and ready for war! I'll tell you one thing; you never forget boot camp. That is where we get our closeness with each other. We all had to undergo the same type of training to earn the title "Marine".

From there I'll speed it up a bit so as not to bore you too much. After boot camp Private (PVT) Guider reported in to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for school around January of 1980. After finishing my MOS school Private First Class (PFC) Guider was stationed at Camp Lejeune and 2D Maintenance Battalion. PFC Guider transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan around August of 1980. I extended twice and stayed there for almost 3 years. I had a blast. When Corporal (CPL) Guider left there in 1983 I transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina for duty with Marine Air Support Squadron-1 (MASS-1). I stayed there for almost 5 years. The end of October 1987 Sergeant (SGT) Guider was transferred to Recruiting Station New Orleans, Louisiana as the Supply clerk. In the end of 1990 SGT (Staff Sergeant select) Guider was assigned to Recruiters School San Diego, California for duty as a student. After graduation SGT Guider was assigned to Recruiting Station Raleigh, North Carolina: Recruiting Sub-Station Asheville, North Carolina for duty as a Marine Corps Recruiter. In June of 1994 Staff Sergeant (SSGT) Guider transferred to Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia. During that 2-year assignment I had the good fortune to be assigned as the Base Game Warden for about a year and a half. That was great duty. I love animals and really enjoyed that job. In June of 1996 Gunnery Sergeant (GYSGT) Guider was transferred to Combat Assault Battalion (CAB) 3D Marine Division Okinawa, Japan for duty as the Battalion Supply Chief. GYSGT Guider was transferred to Marine Corps Support Activity (MCSA) Kansas City, Missouri for duty as the Supply Chief MCSA in July of 1997 and is currently serving here. Unsure of when or where I will go next. Depends on when and if I get promoted. If I get promoted to First Sergeant I will be out of here in a heartbeat. That about sums up where I have been up until this point.

That's me on the left in both pictures (I am minus the mustache now), Matt Jeffers in the middle, and Bobby on the right. The one on the left is from the Marine Corps Birthday Ball of 1993. The one on the right is from 1992. Needless to say, we were a little trashed by the time these pictures were made. We always have much fun at the Birthday Balls. This is the time we celebrate the birth of our beloved Corps. It is also a time to reflect back on our long, honorable heritage. And to pay respect to those who have served before us and to honor those who have fallen in battle. Our birthday is 10 November 1775. OOORAH DEVIL DOGS!

Last Revised: Wednesday, 09 February 2005 06:13:34