Math Teacher Became A Reconnaissance Marine
(March 23, 2011) |
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Staff Sgt. Jesus Cisneros Jr., a team leader with Force Recon Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, awaits the arrival of a MV-22 Osprey in order to conduct a freefall on one of the training fields near Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. March 16, 2011. Cisneros is a former high school math teacher., U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Ed Galo |
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (MCN -
3/18/2011) — At 25 years old, Staff Sgt. Jesus
Cisneros Jr. was a high school math teacher in Lake
Station, Ind., with a drive to serve his country.
Through word of mouth, he heard U.S. Marines
offered the hardest and most intense training of any
of the branches of service and began his enlistment
process by setting his standards high.
“I was
teaching students who were planning on joining the
service,” said Cisneros, a team leader with Force
Reconnaissance Company, 2nd Reconnaissance
Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. “I heard the Marines
were the best and I would settle for nothing less. I
knew right away which branch I was going to join.”
In January 2004, Cisneros shipped off to
Marine Corps recruit training and soon after found
himself aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.,
as a radio operator with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine
Regiment.
While with 3/2, Cisneros deployed
to Iraq in 2005 and worked with Marines from force
reconnaissance, an element of the Marine Corps |
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known for being tasked with difficult assignments. |
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“While I was deployed, I spoke with Marines from the unit
who told me force reconnaissance was the real deal,” said
Cisneros. “I became interested and upon returning from
deployment, I started to look into it more deeply.”
In 2006 Cisneros found himself in Iraq again as a radio
operator, this time with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, home
of Force Reconnaissance Company.
After two combat
deployments to Iraq and a deployment with the 22nd Marine
Expeditionary Unit, Cisneros joined Force Reconnaissance
Company, 3rd Platoon in 2010 and deployed again.
After being promoted to staff sergeant, Cisneros became a
team leader and is responsible for preparing other Marines
within the company for future deployments.
“He's a
great family man and a great Marine,” said Gunnery Sgt.
Daniel Howe, the future operations chief for Force
Reconnaissance Company. “I would trust him with my life any
day.”
While Cisneros reflected back on his past, he
explained how he was an active participating athlete in high
school, playing football, track, and wrestling. He is also a
graduate of the University of Minnesota where he earned his
teaching degree.
“If I could see myself now back
when I was teaching high school math, I wouldn't have
believed it,” said Cisneros. “I love what I do though, and
I'm definitely in for the long run.” |
Article and photo by USMC LCpl. Johnny Merkley
2nd Marine Division
Copyright 2011 | |
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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