Greg's Journal: I Joined the Marine Corps

Greg's Journal | Entry No. 10

People sometimes assume I joined the Marine Corps because I came from a military family.

That's only part of the story.

The truth is, I joined because I wanted my own stories to tell.

Growing up, I listened to my dad and my uncles talk about their time in the military. Those stories fascinated me. There was a sense of purpose. Adventure. Brotherhood. Challenge.

As an eighteen-year-old, I wanted to know if I had what it took. More than anything, I wanted to prove something to myself.

Looking Back at Eighteen

Eighteen-year-olds see the world differently. At least I did.

Back then, life seemed pretty simple. There was right. There was wrong. There wasn't much room in between.

I hadn't lived long enough to appreciate how complicated people really are.

Experience has a way of introducing you to all the gray areas.

The Marine Corps didn't necessarily teach me that. Life did. Healthcare certainly did.

But the Marines gave me the foundation that helped me navigate those gray areas later.

Boot Camp

People are always surprised when I tell them this.

I actually enjoyed boot camp.

Was it hard? Absolutely. Was I tired? All the time.

But I liked being pushed. I liked finding out where my limits were. I liked discovering I could do more than I thought I could.

One thing I've learned about myself is that people often underestimate me. I'm okay with that. What they don't know is that I'm probably one of the most stubborn people you'll ever meet.

Once I've decided I'm going to accomplish something, I don't spend much time wondering whether I can. I start figuring out how.

That mindset has served me well ever since.

Learning to Fail

One of the hardest parts of boot camp for me wasn't the physical training.

It was the rifle range.

Before the Marines, I'd hardly ever fired a weapon. There were recruits around me who had grown up hunting. I hadn't. I had a lot to learn.

Eventually, I qualified. Today, I could still hit a target at 500 yards with iron sights. It's not a skill I expect to use again. But learning it taught me something more valuable than marksmanship.

The first time you struggle with something doesn't determine how you'll finish. Persistence matters more than natural ability.

Discipline

People hear the word "discipline" and think punishment.

That's not what I learned.

Discipline meant doing what was expected. Doing it correctly. The first time.

Not because someone was yelling at you. Because someone else was counting on you.

That idea followed me into nursing. Into anesthesia. Into marriage. Into parenthood.

If someone is depending on you, your effort matters.

Mission Accomplishment

The Marines have a saying:

Mission accomplishment first. Troop welfare second.

People sometimes misunderstand that. It doesn't mean people don't matter. It means there are moments when the mission requires sacrifice.

I've carried that lesson throughout my life.

Sometimes that sacrifice has meant missing holidays because I'm on call. Sometimes it's meant taking extra anesthesia shifts to help fund Bloomfield while we built the business. Sometimes it means getting home after everyone is asleep.

Those aren't forever sacrifices. They're season-of-life sacrifices.

The important part is knowing why you're making them.

Real Strength

One lesson has changed since I left the Marines.

When I was younger, I thought strength meant never changing your mind. Never admitting you were wrong. Never backing down.

I don't believe that anymore.

Real strength means evolving. It means learning. It means having enough confidence to admit when you've made a mistake. Taking ownership of your failures just as quickly as your successes. Changing your opinion when new information deserves it.

That isn't weakness. It's maturity.

Marines Don't Quit

People sometimes ask what the Marines taught me that I still use every day.

The answer is simple.

I don't quit.

That doesn't mean I never hit roadblocks. It doesn't mean everything works the first time. It means I believe there's almost always another way forward.

If Bloomfield needs money, I'll pick up another anesthesia shift. If something isn't working, we'll change it. If a plan fails, we'll make a better one.

Giving up has never seemed like a productive strategy.

The Person I Hope My Children See

I don't expect my children to join the military. That's their decision.

What I hope they inherit isn't my career. It's my work ethic.

I hope they understand that difficult things are worth doing. That keeping your word matters. That serving other people gives life meaning.

That failure isn't the opposite of success. Quitting is.

Looking Back

Joining the Marine Corps gave me the stories I thought I wanted.

Looking back, it gave me something much more valuable.

It taught me resilience. It taught me responsibility. It taught me that preparation builds confidence.

And it introduced me to a simple truth that has shaped every chapter of my life since.

Just because something is hard doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. Sometimes it simply means it's worth doing well.

For the Quiet Hours,
Greg Wiggins, CRNA
Co-Founder, Bloomfield Schoolhouse Lavender