Marine Corps 6 Years of Fame Trilogy: Pt. 1

As I continue to reflect on my past through blogging, yes, more self therapy. I now turn to my time in the media. You see, I was in Radio/Television for 11 years (6 of those in the Marines) prior to my current career of Technology. There are many, many fond memories of that time and I found myself digging through various on-line places trying to find others I worked with during that time.

Everyone remember Good Morning Vietnam? Well that is pretty much what I did for the Marines from 1988 ~ 1993. It was my first real career shift having transferred, internal to the Marines, from a Field Wireman for Artillery, into Broadcasting. It was a strange transition because in many ways it was just fun, and we all know Marines are not supposed to have THAT kind of fun. Seriously, I did my 13 weeks at Paris Island, SC; “The land where Marines are made and that God forgot” then spent 3 years in a direct fire support artillery battery. This move was something that I really wanted. Besides, at the time everyone used to tell me I sounded like Bryant Gumble!

FEN RIK

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So, in order to make the move, I had to take a Voice Audition Test. Huh? Voice test, in the Marines? This was no joke. I was at Camp Lejeune, NC at the time and had to go over to the base Public Affairs Office at night and be coached on how to better use my voice in order to pass the test. Finally they took my reel and it was sent off to the Defense Information School, located at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN (which has since moved to Ft. Meade, MD.) From that point it was a very nerve racking wait until the results came back and I would be moved over to the Public Affairs Office when the official orders would be cut changing my MOS (Military Occupational Specialty, official speak for job) from that of a Wire-monkey to an official Broadcast Journalist.

Much to my relief, I passed and began my stint at the base public affairs office doing various jobs and being cross trained on the art of being a combat correspondent/broadcaster. It was all so fascinating. I would be assigned stories to cover that could involve any unit on the base.

This was how I got to see and experience the entire Marine Corps. I did stories on the Air Wing, Tanks, Infantry, families and even on the Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit! You name it I covered it. Then there was the human interest stories, the orphanage visits, beach cleanup efforts etc..

Iwakuni EA-6B “Prowler” and Rik

We were basically Marine Corps reporters. We had no newscast, radio shows, we filed stories with Navy News, in Washington D.C. which was distributed world wide within the Department of the Navy.

Reporting was not the only thing we as broadcasters were involved in. We were also often used as the “voices” for most of the base-wide ceremonies and events. I remember I had not been in my OJT roll that long when I was assigned to be the announcer for the 210th Marine Corp Birthday Ceremony held at the Sports Stadium on the base. Does not sound like that much of a big deal, but when you take into account that it quickly filled up with approximately 40,000 Marines and Navy personnel, I was a bit nervous to say the least. Just me and the Navy Chaplain in the press box looking down into the stadium as our words triggered every step of the hour long ceremony. Wow what an intimidating moment.