Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- Six months before his 28th birthday, Recruit Titus L. Pannell, Platoon 2106, Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, made the decision to join the Marine Corps. However, at the time he was 274 pounds, working full time and going to school. His recruiter explained he would need to lose 74 pounds in five months before reaching the Marine Corps’ age limit of 28.
Despite his busy schedule, Pannell continued to work full time, go to school and work out every day. Though he was losing weight, it wasn’t coming off quickly enough. One month before his deadline, he started spending every minute of his spare time in the gym. At one point, Pannell said he was running 16 miles a day and consuming nothing but water and salads.
“I hated eating that salad,” said Pannell with a smile and a laugh. “But you know I just had to keep going, and it was worth it.”
Pannell explained his desire to join the Marine Corps came from wanting to do something more with his life than what he had accomplished academically and in the work force.
“I wanted to know that I could push myself physically,” said Pannell. “When I saw the Marines, their standards and how tough they are. I was like, ‘let me push myself to the limit’, and that’s why I came here.
Pannell decided to join the Corps as an infantry man because he was angered by watching reports of terrorism taking place around the world. He felt those reports were signs telling him what military occupational specialty he should choose.
“The last month of working out I kept seeing Islamic State of Iraq and Syria on TV and I heard we might be sent back over there to fight them. I felt, ‘this is the reason why God called me to be here, to fight this evil’.”
Because Pannell has three college degrees, he had the option to enter Officer Candidate School, but instead chose to enter through the enlisted route.
“I really wanted to earn the title Marine before I earned the title of Marine officer,” said Pannell. “I didn’t want to skip any steps. I wanted to see where (Marines) were coming from before I lead them.”
The Washington, New Jersey, native said he believed by becoming an enlisted Marine before a commissioned officer, he would be better suited to empathize with and lead enlisted Marines.
In his platoon, Pannell has contributed to recruit morale by being the platoon prayer leader and by using his skills learned from his Masters in Fine Arts to make motivational artwork for his platoon.
Currently Pannell is in third phase and will graduate soon. His drill instructors have nothing but high praise and high expectations for Pannell.
“He’s a leader for the younger recruits and humble,” said Staff Sgt. Vicenti Ervin, senior drill instructor, Platoon 2106. “He’s an adult who really knows where he wants to go. I think he’s awesome and that he is going to make a good infantry officer.”
Ervin explained he respected Pannell’s decision to go through enlisted training before becoming an officer and believes that says a lot about his character.
Following graduation and infantry training, Pannell said he plans on immediately working his way toward becoming an infantry officer and has a few long-term goals to start working on.