Marine Corps offers many diverse job opportunities for recruits

Marine Corps offers many diverse job opportunities for recruits


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SALT LAKE CITY — Each year, 17,000 young men graduate from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. After boot camp, they head off for more training in their chosen fields of expertise.

One Utah Marine who's served in combat is considering his future in the Corps.

After 13 weeks of boot camp with drill instructors hounding every move, after the physical challenges and the baptism in leadership, the Marines savor the celebration.


Marine Corps is a very diverse organization. We have a lot of different aspects within the Marine Corps, a lot of different opportunities.

–Maj. Lance Day


Graduation happens in front of superiors, friends and families. About 400 graduate nearly every Friday.

"Each year we continue to get better and better more qualified applicants," said Maj. Lance Day, commander of the Salt Lake Marine recruiting station.

Marine statistics show 99 percent are high school graduates.

"We sell the Marine Corps," Day said.

Day said downsizing has intensified the criteria.

"Marine Corps is a very diverse organization," Day said. "We have a lot of different aspects within the Marine Corps, a lot of different opportunities."

Lance Cpl. Corey Chidester of Kearns said he's grown up in the Corps.


That maturity was really big the first couple of months: just learning more about myself, what I'm capable of, what I can do.

–Lance Cpl. Corey Chidester


"That maturity was really big the first couple of months: just learning more about myself, what I'm capable of, what I can do," Chidester said.

He's a weather forecaster at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and deployed to Afghanistan to give pilots accurate forecasts in combat.

"Being able to support them as they do what they need to do, that was a good feeling," Chidester said.

Chidester is a third-generation Marine with one year left on his current contract. Right now, he's weighing his options for the future: whether he will remain a Marine or transfer into civilian life. One thing he said he knows is that he does appreciate the personal growth that he's had as a member of the corps.

"I'm trying to keep my options open, don't close any doors, leave them all open," Chidester said. "I will look into that as that approaches."

Chidester says he can easily see himself as a Marine for another four years, but he also wants to continue his education. That's another benefit and opportunity he's earned as a Marine.

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Jed Boal

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