|
MUSA QA'LEH DISTRICT CENTER, Afghanistan (4/25/2012) — When Sgt.
Andrew Jender, watch chief for 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment,
enlisted in the Marine Corps, he envisioned himself becoming an
infantryman but he had no idea he would be looking after the
president.
|
April 25, 2012 - When Sgt. Andrew Jender, watch chief for 2nd
Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, enlisted in the Marine Corps, he
envisioned himself becoming an infantryman, he had no idea that
decision would allow him look after the president. Photo by USMC
Lance Cpl. Mark Garcia
|
|
Three days after his high school graduation during June 2008, Jender
was on his way to recruit training. While there, Jender was screened
to become a part of the presidential security detail at Camp David.
“I was originally planning to go into the infantry, but they
selected me for the presidential security instead,” Jender said. “It
was rough at first because I joined to be in the infantry so I
wanted to be in the fleet doing infantry things. Now that I look
back on it though even though, there were some long days, it was
worth it. I got to work with a lot of secret service guys so it was
a nice experience to work with civilians in that field. Even though
I didn't originally enlist to do that it was still a good experience
and I enjoyed my time there.”
Jender was one out of 300
infantry Marines interviewed while in boot camp. To narrow the field
they did an extended background check, a written test and then a
verbal sit down with first sergeants and sergeants major.
“They ended up narrowing it down to three people from my boot camp
company. I originally joined to be in the infantry, but when they
picked me for that instead, I decided to give it a go and see how it
was,” said Jender.
Jender ended up being stationed at Camp
David for two and a half years where he got to meet the president. |
“I got to meet the president twice, once when he landed
at Camp David. Then when you finish up your tour you get to
do a White House meeting in the Oval Office with a guest, so
I took my dad and it was a good time,” Jender said. “It was
a lot of work looking after the president, especially when
his family was with him at Camp David. All the preparation
and all the security that has to be put into it so there
were some long days and some rough days. But I liked it up
there though, it was relaxing and a good experience.”
Jender hasn't decided whether he wants to make a full
career out of the Marine Corps but said he wants to further
his education either way.
“I haven't decided yet if
I'm going to re-enlist, but I've heard a lot of people say
you don't really know if your going to re-enlist until the
time comes,” Jender said. “My plan right now though is to get
out, go to school and try to use my experience to get a job
with the secret service or the CIA. If that doesn't work out
though I'd like to major in sports medicine and become a
physical therapist or personnel trainer.”
Jender
said besides missing friends, he misses his family more than
anything else.
“I enlisted for my dad and family,”
Jender said. “This is my first deployment and they've been
so supportive, they've sent me 13 care packages since I've
been here. My dad flew to California to drive my car back to
Chicago because he knew it would be easier for me. I mean
they've been nothing but supportive so I definitely can't
wait to see them again when this deployment is over.”
To cope with being away from home, Jender focuses on his
job while working 12-hour shifts in the Combat Operations
Center and keeps a positive mental attitude. Jender's daily
tasks include tracking battalion movements, sending up any
reports companies require and working with the Afghan
National Army soldiers and interpreters located in the COC.
“If your not paying attention, or your worried about
stuff back home, it doesn't do anybody any good, plus
everybody out here is missing somebody from back home,”
Jender said. “Trying to keep your time occupied is the main
thing because dead time is time you spend thinking about
home and it gets rough.”
Staff Sgt. Mark Koerner, 29,
from Joliet, Ill., assistant operations chief with 2nd Bn.,
5th Marines, noted Jender's professionalism in a harsh
environment.
“Sgt. Jender is a good guy in every
facet, he's very knowledgeable and he's like a sponge. He's
a real quick learner,” Koerner said. “He doesn't need any
supervision. If you give him a task, he'll get it done for
you. He knows how to take care of his Marines. He looks
after the younger guys and makes sure they're taken care of.
From the start, I've been real impressed with his work
ethic. One thing I like about him the most is he continues
to keep a good sense of humor. I have no doubt that he'll
excel in whatever he decides to do in life.”
Once
Jender left Camp David and checked into 2nd Bn., 5th
Marines, he was placed in the battalion operations section.
Even though he wasn't able to go to a line company doing the
things he originally enlisted to do, he still keeps a
positive mental mentality.
“It sucks knowing that I
have friends out there with line companies that I cant
really help,” Jender said. “I work in the battalion section
so I hear about everything that's going on so it's hard to
listen to everything that's going on and not being able to
do anything about it. At the same time though, I'm not the
type of person that's going to complain and do my job badly.
I figure if they put me here, I'm going to help out
everybody the best I can.”
By USMC Lance Cpl. Mark Garcia
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
Comment on this article |
