WEBVTT 00:05.559 --> 00:08.039 I'm Sergeant Major Donald Mark Swanner 00:08.039 --> 00:09.039 Junior . 00:13.739 --> 00:16.350 Um , born in Downey , California , but 00:16.350 --> 00:18.239 grew up in Baltimore , Maryland . 00:18.239 --> 00:20.350 That's where I consider home . I grew 00:20.350 --> 00:22.406 up there all of my life , moved as a 00:22.406 --> 00:24.128 young child from California to 00:24.128 --> 00:26.239 Baltimore , uh , and did that because 00:26.239 --> 00:28.350 of my father's work . Um , my dad was 00:28.350 --> 00:30.461 also kind of the inspiration to why I 00:30.461 --> 00:32.461 would go and serve as a marine if I 00:32.461 --> 00:34.517 ever decided to , to join the Marine 00:34.517 --> 00:37.189 Corps . Um , waited a little bit and 00:37.189 --> 00:39.349 let life test me out and , and , and 00:39.349 --> 00:41.571 challenge me in a couple of ways . Uh , 00:41.571 --> 00:44.299 I really , I lacked discipline and I 00:44.299 --> 00:46.860 needed a sense of purpose and so I was 00:46.860 --> 00:48.971 working in retail management , having 00:48.971 --> 00:50.971 already successfully dropped out of 00:50.971 --> 00:53.310 college , and was doing OK , but I felt 00:53.310 --> 00:55.470 like there was just more that I could 00:55.470 --> 00:57.689 be doing with my life . This was also 00:57.990 --> 01:00.549 at a time of war and our nation , and 01:00.549 --> 01:02.909 so I've reflected upon options , what 01:02.909 --> 01:05.076 kind of things I could do . That might 01:05.076 --> 01:07.242 instill a little bit of discipline and 01:07.242 --> 01:09.409 I was reminded of of my dad uh serving 01:09.409 --> 01:11.353 in the Marines . He didn't serve a 01:11.353 --> 01:13.409 career , but it was something he was 01:13.409 --> 01:15.576 always very proud of . He was a supply 01:15.576 --> 01:17.520 warehouse marine , served in North 01:17.520 --> 01:17.430 Carolina , and got out of service 01:17.430 --> 01:19.541 before I was even born , but whenever 01:19.541 --> 01:21.597 you mention . The Marine Corps , you 01:21.597 --> 01:23.763 saw him light up and stand up a little 01:23.763 --> 01:25.874 bit taller . He was always very proud 01:25.874 --> 01:27.874 of that and , and I recognized that 01:27.874 --> 01:29.874 young , and I remember just I would 01:29.874 --> 01:31.930 draw Eagle globe and anchors for him 01:31.930 --> 01:31.449 and , and I learned the Marines hymn 01:31.639 --> 01:33.639 and whenever I did things like that 01:33.639 --> 01:35.750 around again , you just see that that 01:35.750 --> 01:37.917 pride . And him come out , uh , he had 01:37.917 --> 01:40.028 a big Marine Corps , globe and anchor 01:40.028 --> 01:42.139 belt buckle , all of the things , and 01:42.139 --> 01:43.917 so for me it was never , uh , a 01:43.917 --> 01:46.083 question of another branch . I knew it 01:46.083 --> 01:48.083 was the Marines , uh , because they 01:48.083 --> 01:48.025 were the best , and I'm certainly 01:48.025 --> 01:50.144 biased after a few decades of service 01:50.144 --> 01:52.665 with them , um , but I needed 01:52.665 --> 01:54.832 discipline and I needed some structure 01:54.832 --> 01:56.109 to help me get there . 02:00.599 --> 02:03.199 The , the favorite base insulation unit , 02:03.319 --> 02:05.486 those , that's such a , uh , I think a 02:05.486 --> 02:07.989 challenging question , um , because 02:08.000 --> 02:09.722 it's limited really to , to my 02:09.722 --> 02:11.944 perspective , and if I say one specific 02:11.944 --> 02:14.167 thing then it , it kind of implies that 02:14.167 --> 02:16.111 like the others weren't good or or 02:16.111 --> 02:18.333 weren't awesome . I'll answer , say I , 02:18.333 --> 02:20.167 I'm a 2 me Marine , right , uh , 02:20.167 --> 02:22.389 because that's where my service began . 02:22.539 --> 02:24.039 I was with 2nd Light Armor 02:24.039 --> 02:26.150 Reconnaissance Battalion . I enlisted 02:26.150 --> 02:28.428 as an infantryman . I was a tow gunner , 02:28.428 --> 02:32.199 uh , and , um . I love that opportunity . 02:32.309 --> 02:34.309 I love that unit . That unit will 02:34.309 --> 02:37.350 forever be a special unit of mine , uh , 02:37.589 --> 02:41.350 because that's where , uh , I , that's 02:41.350 --> 02:43.406 what I joined to do , and it's where 02:43.406 --> 02:45.517 I've had connections with individuals 02:45.517 --> 02:47.683 that only come through shared hardship 02:47.683 --> 02:49.906 like combat , uh , that still exists to 02:49.906 --> 02:51.794 this day . I'm the only remaining 02:51.794 --> 02:53.683 member of that group that's still 02:53.683 --> 02:55.794 active in service , but every year we 02:55.794 --> 02:57.794 get together . And uh we spend time 02:57.794 --> 03:00.017 together , we tell our war stories , we 03:00.017 --> 03:02.350 reflect on our brothers that we've lost , 03:02.350 --> 03:04.517 and we just strengthen one another and 03:04.517 --> 03:06.517 spend time together reinforcing our 03:06.517 --> 03:08.739 relationship that we've now had for the 03:08.739 --> 03:10.906 last 22 years , and that's very , very 03:10.906 --> 03:13.128 special to me . um , but then I've I've 03:13.128 --> 03:15.183 had other transitional opportunities 03:15.183 --> 03:17.128 too with great units and had great 03:17.128 --> 03:19.183 experiences , went to the ACE , uh , 03:19.183 --> 03:21.128 the aviation combat element , very 03:21.128 --> 03:20.919 different from the GC , very different 03:20.919 --> 03:23.141 mission . Uh , and it's got its ups and 03:23.141 --> 03:25.308 downs there as well , but that's where 03:25.308 --> 03:27.530 I became a firefighter , uh , love that 03:27.530 --> 03:30.279 experience , um , grew , grew my family 03:30.279 --> 03:32.446 in that era in that time and season of 03:32.446 --> 03:34.557 my Marine Corps career too , so a lot 03:34.557 --> 03:36.279 of great joys there , but then 03:36.279 --> 03:38.446 challenges come because then you , you 03:38.446 --> 03:38.139 stay in the Marine Corps long enough 03:38.139 --> 03:40.306 and then we're gonna send you to go do 03:40.306 --> 03:42.361 something else that you may not have 03:42.361 --> 03:42.179 thought about like a special duty 03:42.179 --> 03:44.460 assignment like recruiting duty , um , 03:44.610 --> 03:46.666 challenging , no doubt , but being a 03:46.666 --> 03:49.330 Marine . Uh , removed a lot of the , 03:49.470 --> 03:51.470 the concerns of something like that 03:51.470 --> 03:53.581 where you didn't volunteer to do it . 03:53.581 --> 03:55.803 Oh , you're going to be a salesperson , 03:55.803 --> 03:55.190 like , and I didn't feel like that at 03:55.190 --> 03:57.190 all in that very challenging duty 03:57.190 --> 03:59.190 because I just was a marine talking 03:59.190 --> 04:01.246 about marine things and , and if you 04:01.246 --> 04:03.579 connected with an individual who's like , 04:03.579 --> 04:03.500 that , I think I would like that , then , 04:03.750 --> 04:05.861 then it was not salesmanship , it was 04:05.861 --> 04:08.139 just talking about being a marine , um , 04:08.149 --> 04:10.750 the things like MSG , uh , Marine 04:10.750 --> 04:12.806 security guard duty , you know , and 04:12.806 --> 04:16.059 you get to see firsthand , um . Our 04:16.059 --> 04:18.226 national powers being implemented at a 04:18.226 --> 04:20.337 scale that you don't typically get to 04:20.337 --> 04:22.559 see as a as an active duty marine , you 04:22.559 --> 04:24.670 know , diplomatic and information and 04:24.670 --> 04:26.892 military and economic powers throughout 04:26.892 --> 04:26.609 the world and parts of the world that 04:26.609 --> 04:28.820 you would never . Of your own accord , 04:28.899 --> 04:30.788 probably a visit like the Central 04:30.788 --> 04:32.510 African Republic and countries 04:32.510 --> 04:34.677 throughout the Sahel where I was where 04:34.677 --> 04:36.732 I was fortunate enough to be able to 04:36.732 --> 04:38.732 serve and be exposed to and it just 04:38.732 --> 04:40.677 gives you an appreciation for what 04:40.677 --> 04:42.843 Marines do around the world in various 04:42.843 --> 04:44.788 different ways um to include my my 04:44.788 --> 04:46.677 current duty here at Marine Corps 04:46.677 --> 04:48.843 Logistics Base Albany . Right ? Like , 04:48.843 --> 04:50.955 and I tell some of my , my , my peers 04:50.955 --> 04:52.959 and my friends that I share this 04:52.959 --> 04:55.181 journey with , uh , about being here in 04:55.181 --> 04:57.237 Albany and where's Albany ? What's , 04:57.237 --> 04:59.403 what's in Albany ? And I'm like , well 04:59.403 --> 05:01.126 this is where we take national 05:01.126 --> 05:03.348 resources and we convert them to combat 05:03.348 --> 05:05.570 power to go out and do what the meth is 05:05.570 --> 05:05.200 here to do and what they need to do at 05:05.200 --> 05:07.329 our nation's time and choosing . Um , 05:07.429 --> 05:09.040 and you don't really have an 05:09.040 --> 05:11.040 appreciation for that until you get 05:11.040 --> 05:12.985 exposed to it . And so I think I'm 05:12.985 --> 05:15.040 gonna say like Albany is my favorite 05:15.040 --> 05:17.151 place to be because like that's where 05:17.151 --> 05:19.318 I'm actively serving right now and and 05:19.318 --> 05:18.760 I'm very fortunate to be here . 05:24.779 --> 05:27.001 Yeah , so the biggest accomplishments , 05:27.001 --> 05:29.223 I guess over the span of , of my career 05:29.223 --> 05:32.790 is uh I think it's just the the ability 05:32.790 --> 05:35.489 to to continue to serve , to be able to 05:35.489 --> 05:38.529 continue to serve , uh , and to be 05:38.529 --> 05:41.089 accepted for continued service , and 05:41.089 --> 05:43.311 that's what I mean by being accepted to 05:43.311 --> 05:45.533 serve because there's , uh , that's the 05:45.533 --> 05:47.478 social aspect of it , right ? Uh , 05:47.478 --> 05:49.533 because there's two organizations or 05:49.533 --> 05:51.700 two groups that have a say whether I , 05:51.700 --> 05:51.450 whether or not I continue to serve or 05:51.450 --> 05:53.617 not , and that's before I get a say in 05:53.617 --> 05:55.672 that , and that's my , my family and 05:55.672 --> 05:57.617 the Marine Corps and , and in that 05:57.617 --> 05:59.672 order , right ? And so mama gets the 05:59.672 --> 06:01.839 first say in that and my kiddos get to 06:01.839 --> 06:01.619 say . Uh , Whether we continue to do 06:01.619 --> 06:03.841 that , but just knowing that you've got 06:03.841 --> 06:05.952 a support structure in place , groups 06:05.952 --> 06:08.008 of people behind you that says , you 06:08.008 --> 06:10.341 know , you've accepted this way of life , 06:10.341 --> 06:12.508 this is what you , you are giving your 06:12.508 --> 06:14.619 life to , and we support you in doing 06:14.619 --> 06:16.786 that , and that gives you the strength 06:16.786 --> 06:18.952 to continue to , to do that , and it's 06:18.952 --> 06:18.820 something I'm really , really proud of 06:18.820 --> 06:20.542 to be able to continue to do . 06:24.929 --> 06:27.096 So some of the goals that I've set for 06:27.096 --> 06:29.207 myself to to kind of help make sure I 06:29.207 --> 06:31.318 create that right environment and and 06:31.318 --> 06:33.429 that Marines are able to connect with 06:33.429 --> 06:35.596 that sense of purpose and see how they 06:35.596 --> 06:37.762 contribute to the warfighter effort is 06:37.762 --> 06:40.130 by reminding them of the scope of their 06:40.130 --> 06:42.352 influence , right ? And and I think the 06:42.352 --> 06:44.408 way that I'm I'm going to do that or 06:44.408 --> 06:46.352 the way that I'm establishing some 06:46.352 --> 06:48.463 goals to do that is by developing the 06:48.463 --> 06:50.519 leadership development structure for 06:50.519 --> 06:52.630 that to accomplish to to happen . So 06:52.630 --> 06:55.049 Marines want to know that they've got a 06:55.049 --> 06:57.049 purpose each day when you give them 06:57.049 --> 06:59.271 authorities and the freedom of movement 06:59.271 --> 07:01.170 to be able to execute that , um . 07:01.980 --> 07:04.258 They're more connected to that mission . 07:04.258 --> 07:06.202 Uh , that only comes by developing 07:06.202 --> 07:08.424 their leadership capabilities , right ? 07:08.424 --> 07:10.536 And the Marine Corps is very specific 07:10.536 --> 07:12.591 of what leadership is . It says that 07:12.591 --> 07:12.329 it's some of those qualities of 07:12.329 --> 07:14.489 intellect , human understanding , and 07:14.489 --> 07:16.700 moral character that enable an 07:16.700 --> 07:18.779 individual to inspire and control a 07:18.779 --> 07:20.890 group of people successfully . Yeah , 07:21.209 --> 07:23.359 and that definition , uh , I love is 07:23.359 --> 07:25.303 simplistic . It comes from General 07:25.303 --> 07:27.526 Lejeune , and so it's been around for a 07:27.526 --> 07:29.890 long time . And so what I hope to , to 07:29.890 --> 07:32.057 bring here is an understanding of what 07:32.057 --> 07:35.920 it is to be a leader . If someone 07:35.920 --> 07:38.339 is considering military service 07:38.339 --> 07:40.395 regardless of the branch , and again 07:40.395 --> 07:42.561 I'm , I'm sure I'm , I'm biased and my 07:42.561 --> 07:44.728 Marine Corps bias is going to come out 07:44.728 --> 07:43.700 and I'll lead them that way if they're 07:43.700 --> 07:45.867 the right fit for for what we do , but 07:45.867 --> 07:48.179 it's to , it's to count the cost to to 07:48.179 --> 07:51.980 recognize what it is that you 07:51.980 --> 07:54.940 are considering giving your life to uh . 07:55.029 --> 07:57.251 Because it could come to that , right ? 07:57.251 --> 07:59.473 We are a department of war and we exist 07:59.473 --> 08:01.696 for that very reason that if our nation 08:01.696 --> 08:04.190 needs warriors to go to hard places to 08:04.190 --> 08:06.357 do hard things on behalf of our nation 08:06.357 --> 08:08.023 and our ideals to protect our 08:08.023 --> 08:09.857 Constitution , its citizens that 08:09.857 --> 08:11.912 promote freedom worldwide , like you 08:11.912 --> 08:14.023 gotta be ready for that . And so it's 08:14.023 --> 08:16.246 just something you can't take lightly , 08:16.246 --> 08:18.468 um , nor can you forget , right ? And , 08:18.468 --> 08:20.801 and , and once you're in service , it's , 08:20.801 --> 08:23.023 it's equally important to remember that 08:23.023 --> 08:25.134 my bias coming out now are the best . 08:25.440 --> 08:28.140 Right , Marines are not the best 08:28.720 --> 08:31.369 because they're the best . They are the 08:31.369 --> 08:34.010 best because they constantly strive to 08:34.010 --> 08:36.090 be better because if you , if you 08:36.090 --> 08:38.201 obtain that level of being the best , 08:38.201 --> 08:39.929 then then there's a level of 08:39.929 --> 08:41.929 complacency can sneak in there that 08:41.929 --> 08:43.770 you've made it and Marines don't 08:43.770 --> 08:46.210 believe that we've ever made it and 08:46.210 --> 08:48.729 that gives us an edge that gives us uh 08:48.729 --> 08:50.785 inspiration to continue to challenge 08:50.785 --> 08:52.785 and move forward to be better today 08:52.785 --> 08:55.390 than I was yesterday and our better 08:55.640 --> 08:58.469 will always beat anyone else's best .