Zachary is just a guy from a small town in southern Colorado. He was the popular football and basketball player – the all-star with plans for college after high school. But life has a funny way of changing plans. At 22-years-old, he chose to join the Marine Corps.
He chose the Marines because he wanted to make a difference, inspire change, and serve in the most elite fighting force within the United States Armed Forces. He believed that, of all the branches, he’d receive the best training, have exposure to the most exciting operations, and get to travel the world.
Zach served just over four years in the Marines as a Combat Engineer. He explained, “Combat Engineers primarily serve by performing heavy construction or conducting route clearance operations – clearing IEDs, landmines, and breaching doors so infantry units can move safely.” He chose Combat Engineering because it sounded like the most fun and challenging role he could take on. It was not behind a desk, nor was it constant front-line combat. It combined technical skill with fieldwork and gave him hands-on experience with explosives, breaching, and heavy construction – skills that tied back to his childhood and previous work experience. And, of course, he was thrilled to learn he’d get to play with C4.
Zach’s decision to leave the military was in part due to an injury which was not healing properly and part because he felt he needed to pursue school. He had joined primarily to serve his country, focus on his future, which included pursuing education afterward. He felt ready to transition and focus on that goal. Around that time, he met his now-wife, Nicki, and faced a difficult choice: continue a life of deployment and long separations or build a life with her. He chose Nicki and a future focused on his family and education, so he could provide the best possible life for them.
When asked what the most rewarding part of serving was, Zach paused before answering.
“That’s a tough one,” he said. “I’d say the experience that shaped me the most was being told I could not deploy with my brothers to Afghanistan-with an injury to my shoulder which limited my functional capacity. It was hard, but it humbled me and reminded me why I joined in the first place: to help people.”
The reason Zach couldn’t deploy remains a sensitive topic. While training for deployment, he sustained a shoulder injury that required surgery to install pins and wires to support full function. After months of physical therapy and being told that he may never restore full function, he was medically separated. Instead of deploying, he focused on mentoring Marines to lead others. That leadership gave him peace of mind – knowing others would be guided by leaders ready to protect them and make the right calls. It was difficult time in his life and “It was really hard to be humbled,” he said. “To go from being the ‘golden boy’ – meritoriously promoted through almost every rank to being sidelined for various reasons. I had to accept it, figure out what was best for my future, and take my next steps.”
Zach credits his Marine Corps leadership experience for shaping him into the leader he is today. He led eight marines – though he always says he served with them. “They weren’t my subordinates. They were my people. My friends. I’m still close with some of them today.”
The Marine Corps taught him that true leadership is about serving others. “You have to put people first,” he said. “Without those who serve under and alongside you, you can’t succeed. Leadership is about giving up part of yourself so others can grow and succeed.”
Transitioning from active duty to civilian life wasn’t easy. The shift from a structured, high-intensity routine to the freedom of civilian life was a challenge.
“You go from being told when to wake up, when to eat, when to work out – to suddenly managing your own schedule,” he said. “It’s easy to lose that structure.” He admits he took for granted the discipline that came with service and continues to work on rebuilding it in civilian life.
Navigating the VA system was another challenge. Trying to figure out the benefits, education and next steps. Zach found that the same perseverance the Marines taught him helped him push through. “There are resources out there for veterans,” he said. “You just have to be persistent. Pick up the phone, ask questions, talk to other veterans. Someone’s been through what you’re going through. Don’t give up.”
His advice to anyone preparing to join the Marines is simple:
“Move fast. Pay attention. Learn discipline – instant willingness and obedience to orders. Be courageous enough to take command of the small things, because those build up to the big ones.”
Like every Marine, Zach lives up to the mantra, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.” “I’ll never not be a Marine,” he said. “That brotherhood doesn’t go away. We can pick each other out in a crowd, no matter the branch. We’ve all served one common mission, one common goal. We’re family.”
When asked what he’d tell his 22-year-old self, he reflected, “Keep your long-term goals in mind, but don’t get lost in the day-to-day. Make sure your short-term choices align with your bigger vision.”
Finally, when asked what the Marines Corps Birthday means to him, Zach’s answer was full of pride:
“I always celebrate. To me, the Marine Corps Birthday is a testament to one of the strongest fighting forces the world has ever seen. People can’t understand the passion until they’ve seen it. Marines don’t serve because it’s a job, we do it because it’s the right thing to do and Marines are crazy. There’s a sense of duty and pride that never fades.”
Here’s to the United States Marine Corps’ 250th Birthday – celebrating 250 years of courage, honor, and brotherhood.
