10/30/2024
Warriors Wednesday!
Every Wednesday, we're dedicated to fortifying our poolees' strength and knowledge. This week, it’s our opportunity to speak with two young men who grew up together, shipped out together, and returned together as Marines! Cade and Cole Weston.
What made them want to join the Marines? Cade wanted to challenge himself, bond with others, and gain unique life experiences like traveling the world. Cole is driven by a desire to uphold the legacy of past Marines and distinguish himself from peers.
Upon their return to Colorado, these Marines had the chance to talk about their experiences and insights while earning the title: United States Marine.
“It definitely wasn't like the videos I watched.” Cade said. “A lot more behind the scenes that you don't get to see, more class time and drill. The everyday before you actually get to start doing fun stuff, like the range, the obstacle courses, and in the hikes.”
The brothers faced and overcame challenges in bootcamp. For Cole, being a squad leader was the hardest part, as he led and counseled peers, some of whom were older than him, while managing disagreements.
“I was third squad leader,” said Cole. “So leading them, counseling them, even though they're my age, or older, that was probably my biggest challenge. That was the hardest part for me, being a squad leader with 25 guys that are my age or older.”
When things got hard, both of the brothers found ways to stay strong. Cade focused on the goal of graduation to keep him grounded. Cole found support in talking with other squad leaders and their guide, using these interactions to navigate challenges.
Both drew motivation from making their family proud.
After weeks of hardship, they both earned their EGAs. For Cade, receiving the EGA symbolized fulfilling a lifelong dream. Cole described it as the culmination of years of effort, especially after completing the final challenge, the Reaper, which represented his journey's peak.
Advice from these warriors to the next recruit? Just don’t quit on yourself. Break the day from chow-to-chow and day-to-day. These tips make the transformation manageable.
Leadership begins now and is always ongoing! Stay strong, warriors!