SAN DIEGO -- Like any child, Pvt. Javier Blanco, Platoon 3206, Company I, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, only knew of his first few years of life through stories and pictures from his family.
Blanco was born in Havana, Cuba in 1993 and when he was 7-months-old, his family and 23 other refugees left Cuba in attempt to reach the Florida Keys.
“We were out on the water for 19 hours until the Coast Guard caught us,” said Blanco, 19. “We were all sent to Guantanamo Bay processing, which took about 6 months.”
By the time they were all able to leave, Blanco was more than a year old. They moved to San Diego in 1994, where Blanco’s mother gave birth to his younger brother.
“We were pretty much alone in California, just me and my family,” explained Blanco. “We later moved to Texas where we had other family, and that’s when we started to adjust to living.”
Over the years, the Blanco family became accustomed to living in America. Blanco attended Northbrook High School in Houston where he played sports and participated in The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps.
“Freshman year of high school, my friend and I decided that we wanted to join the Marine Corps together,” said Blanco.
Blanco, whose father served in the Cuban military, admired Marines because of their strength, precision and how they carried themselves. Although he was never influenced by his father’s military experiences, Blanco still received his support.
“My mother didn’t want me to join, but my father respected my decision and gave me his support,” explained Blanco.
The active teenager kept up with his studies and athletics, while attending poolee functions at the local recruiting station. He was elected to receive a scholarship from JROTC, but was later denied because he was not a citizen.
“I felt pretty low about myself when I couldn’t get the scholarship anymore,” said Blanco. “I just continued to go to poolee functions and tried to stay positive.”
July 11, 2011, a 17-year-old Blanco raised his right hand and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Once he graduated from high school, he shipped off to recruit training June 18 aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
The fast-paced, high stress environment of recruit training can put any recruit into shock. Blanco admits he had a hard time adjusting at first, but he kept his head up and constantly pushed himself.
“I knew Blanco for about a year because we attended poolee functions together,” explained Pvt. Alexander Lunsford, Plt. 3206. “He was physically fit and always motivated others.”
Lunsford, an 18-year-old Houston native, explained that Blanco adjusted well to recruit training and always cared more about the platoon than himself.
“He always went out of his way to help someone else before he took care of what he needed to do; everyone noticed, even the drill instructors,” said Lunsford.
Sgt. Carlos Soto, senior drill instructor, Plt. 3206, noticed how hard Blanco worked to excel above his peers.
“He was always motivated and he literally pushed himself to his limits every day,” said Soto. “His past experiences made him try so much harder than other recruits so he always stood out.”
Both Soto and Lunsford explain that Blanco has something that makes him stand out, which is heart and that nothing will hold him back to succeed.
With a dedication that only comes from deep within, Blanco looks forward to his Marine Corps career and earning his citizenship through the military.