Ryan Newkirk

Ryan Newkirk, USMC 2011-2016

Listen to Ryan’s story or read it below.

My name is Anthony Newkirk. I go by Ryan, my friends call me Newkirk. I was in the Marine Corps for 4 years, 10 months. I got out in 2016 at 23 years old. I was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California for the majority of my time. I went on one deployment, I went to Iraq and Kuwait for about 7 months all together. I worked on satellite communications equipment. I was pretty good at that. I think I was one of the best in the Marine Corps at my job. I always knew I wanted to be in the military. From the age of 7 years old. By the time I was in the  7th grade I knew I wanted to be a Marine. My cousin was in the Navy and I saw how everybody treated him in the family.  I knew I wanted to be in the military for sure. Doing my research I found that the Marines were the best and so that’s what I went with. People ask me all the time would I do it again, or did I have a good time, was it worth it. I think it was definitely, I would definitely do it again. Yea, it sucked at parts but it was definitely worth it. I met my best friend, I got to be in his wedding. I got to see the world. I went and did some cool stuff, I met great people. I don’t regret it whatsoever. It’s helped me be more of an adult. I could have gone to school right out of high school. I know that I would not be where I’m at now if I had tried to do that. I would have dropped out or something. Now, I’m going to school, I’m trying to be a teacher.  I’m definitely more of a man now than if I hadn’t of done it.