No. 762 Jay Harland (pseudonym), 2009

File — Box: 73, Folder: 5

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Jay Harland (pseudonym) was born in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1980, where he has spent most of his life. He joined the ROTC program at West High School and that is where his military career began. He joined the Marines because of their reputation for being the toughest military branch and he left for boot camp right after graduation. Jay describes his training experience at boot camp in San Diego and at Camp Pendleton, his interactions with his training officers and with the other Marines. These interactions opened his eyes to a diversity of worldviews because he was working with people he never would have met in Utah. His own worldview and faith was shaken because of his interactions with some of his NCOs, who Jay felt treated him and his fellow soldiers unethically and acted immorally. Ironically, Jay achieved sergeant and became an NCO on his second deployment. He talks about his leadership style and the way his leadership style was received by his fellow NCOs and commanding officers. He was taken off squadron leader after a few months. The NCO corps improved when Jay was in Okinawa and he discusses why it was better. Because it improved Jay decided to reenlist, but when he returned to Okinawa the second time the chain of command changed again and for the worse. Jay’s experience only declined further when he did winter warfare training in Bridgeport, California, which he describes as miserable. Jay talks about his desire to travel, which influenced his decision to reenlist. He was able to go to Europe and describes his time in Spain, Italy, Germany, England, and France. He says being exposed to different cultures and viewpoints was the greatest benefit of his to enlistments in the Marine Corps. He discusses whether or not he would have enlisted if he knew what he knows now and says he would not. He promotes volunteer work, community service, and education as an alternative to military service.
Project: Iraq and Afghanistan oral history project.
Interviewer: John C. Worsencroft

Dates

2009

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.