CBA graduate in Marines - Wayne-Wilson News Leader, Fremont, NC

8 November 2007 — For a high school student who had plans for participating in the Army Reserve Officer’s Training Corps, the Marine Corps was not his original choice. Joining the Corps was a decision he made after Sept. 11, 2001, and one Sgt. Mark D. Wilson, squad leader, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, said was the right decision.

Growing up in Pikeville, Wilson attended Charles B. Ayock, where he played football and ran track. No one in his family was in the military, but Wilson said he always thought he might take the military path.

“When I was a senior in high school, I planned on joining Army ROTC,” said the 22-year-old. “Then 9/11 happened, and I didn’t want to have to wait four years to get into the fight.

"I went to the Marine recruiter and knew this was where I needed to be. I knew I’d be on the frontlines, so in August 2002, I went to boot camp.”

Wilson went to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., and graduated three months later.

“It wasn’t too difficult down there. It felt like football practice all the time,” said Wilson.

In February 2003, Wilson checked into Lima Company, 3/3, and immediately took part in the super squad competition here – an experience he said made him realize he made the right decision to join the Corps.

“It was challenging right off the bat, but I was learning so much, and it was a good challenge,” said Wilson. “Since then I’ve been a lot of places with Lima Company and just keep learning.”

Wilson’s most recent deployment with 3/3 was in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The battalion returned last week.

“It’s a different type of war now over there than it was when it first started,” he said. “But being over there made me realize how much we take little things for granted. I have a different outlook on things now.”

Wilson said being able to talk with family helped him to get through the deployment.

“It was hard at times out there, but we did great things in Iraq, and I would go again if given the opportunity.”

Wilson's first deployment was on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to Southeast Asia, Japan, the Philippines, East Timor, Australia, and Indonesia. His second deployment was to Thailand, his third to Afghanistan, fourth to Iraq. He left Hawaii in January to become a combat instructor at the School of Infantry Camp Geiger in Jacksonville.

“I think SOI East will be good for me because I’ll be closer to home, and I will be able to get my ‘B’ billet taken care of,” said Wilson. “I’m also thinking of one day putting in a MECEP (Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program) package. I’m not sure yet.”

Wilson said he is happy he made the decision to enlist because he knows he is a different person from the one he would have been had he had attended college.

“All you have to do is listen to your leadership and train hard,” said Wilson. “It’s all definitely been an experience so far and one that I plan on continuing for awhile.”

Wilson's awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Navy Meritorius Unit Commendation, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat V.

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