Adventure, necessity led Bills to join Marine Corps
Red Oak’s Brian Bills enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in February 1975, as part of the delayed entry program. He was still a senior in high school waiting to graduate. The reason for enlisting, Bills said, was complicated.
“Part of it was the desire for adventure, part of it was necessity. I didn’t have a great home situation, little chance of going to college. The military offered a path for adventure, training, the GI Bill for college and a paycheck. Joining the USMC was my reasoning that if I was going to join, I might as well go for the gusto. So the Marines it was,” Bills expained
He added it wasn’t long before he questioned that reasoning, but he continued on the path.
“I left Des Moines, my first plane ride, headed to San Diego and Marine Corps Recruit Depot. I don’t think anyone forgets their first hours as a recruit. Head shaved, face shaved, all personal belongings confiscated, everyone in uniform, a very scary drill instructor in your face and your new name is recruit.,” Bills said. “I was definitely thinking I had made a mistake. I can’t speak to what the other services’ basic training is like, but I can, however, say for certain the Marines will ask for everything you have and then some more before you get to wear the uniform and call yourself a Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine.
Regardless of rank or occupational speciality all Marines are riflemen, so that is where the training starts. According to Bills, he was very fortunate and had the opportunity to work in a number of specific occupations while on active duty.
“With the exception of a three-year tour of recruiting duty, I spent most of my career in Marine Aviation. I was trained and worked, “in order,” as a jet engine mechanic, aircraft data analyst, UH-1N and UC-12B aircrewman. I graduated NCO School, the Staff NCO Academy and the SNCO Advanced Course. I was stationed in California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona. I was deployed to Japan, the Phillipines, Thailand, Spain, Italy, Greece, Lebanon and of course the high seas aboard a number of naval vessels.”
Vietnam was just before Bills’ time when he got onto active duty, however, the Soviet threat and the Middle East was on their radar. Tensions were high with those soldiers who returned from Vietnam, and Bills said it took many years before public perception changed.
“The sentiment toward military personal was much different in my early days. Not many got thanks for they’re service back then. Seems like it was sometime in the late 1980’s that changed and people started to show appreciation for the military again,” said Bills.
.Later in his military career, Bills was transferred to the Fleet Marine Reserve in February,1997 as a Gunnery Sergeant and then to the retired rolls in March of 2005.
Bills said he’s happy to see the support that Americans now show for the men and women in uniform, and pleased with the response veterans receive on Veterans Day.
“Thankfully the public perception of the military has changed from the Vietnam Era. Service members make sacrifices everyday doing what they do, and their focus is keeping us all safe. Spouses and families make sacrifices as well. There is a lot family separation, spouses are often left behind not knowing where their service member is, or if they are safe and the pay is not the best. You don’t do it for the money. I think it’s important to celebrate Veterans Day. It’s the only thanks some vets get.
Bills also said he had some advice for anyone who was undecided about joining the armed services.
“As I mentioned earlier, I was a recruiter for three years and advised many undecided young men about the military and whether or not to join. I told them all this: Like anything, the more you put in, the more you get out. Whether you love it or hate it, do one tour or make it a career, you will never regret serving your country. And you will get to see some of the world doing it,” Bills advised