Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- “The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!” as quoted by Marvin Phillips, a motivational writer, and for Private First Class William R. Potter, lived that quote and pushed through the difficult training to achieve his goals of becoming a United States Marine.
Potter, Platoon 2166, Hotel Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, wanted to join the Marines, but did not meet the weight standards. He weighed 235 pounds when he first spoke to a recruiter, but left for recruit training 125 pounds lighter after originally weighing 315 pounds.
On the outskirts of a little town in Emhouse, Texas, is a farm built on several acres of a cattle ranch that 20-year-old Potter calls home.
There he attended and graduated from Corsicana High School where he was a successful student with good grades, but while the grades came easily, the introverted student mostly kept to himself.
“Growing up on a cattle ranch farm my nearest neighbors were like 30 miles away, and the only person I had to hang out with was my brother,” said Potter. “It was hard for me to socialize with other students at school because I had no experience with it, and I wasn’t very confident with myself.”
After graduating from high school, Potter worked a few jobs but wanted something more.
“I was working at Walmart unloading trucks and I started realizing I was losing a little weight,” said Potter. “It was demanding work unloading the trucks, especially a guy as big as I was. I wanted to lose more, so I started working out and eating healthily.”
With a healthy, balanced diet and new regular workout schedule, Potter began to notice he was five pounds lighter every time he stepped on the scale.
“During high school I remember seeing a Marine Corps recruiter talking to the students, but I never went over to talk to him because I knew I was too heavy to make the Marine Corps’ weight standards, so I never even tried to talk to him,” said Potter. “Seeing the recruiter put something in me though. It fired me up and put a burning sensation inside of me to be a Marine.”
Two years and 80 pounds later, Potter finally decided to seek out a Marine recruiter and set out on a journey to become a United States Marine and serve his country.
“I came home and told my brother I was going to join the Marine Corps, and I think that motivated him to start thinking about doing something with his life as well,” said Potter. “He lost 50 pounds and joined the Army soon after.”
Potter quickly turned to his recruiter, Staff Sgt. Rigoberto Ramirez, and under his guidance and direction began making positive life changes.
“I was weak and still overweight, but when I asked him if it was possible for me to join, he said ‘yes you can join’,” said Potter. “He helped me through motivation, physical training and mentorship. He took me under his wing, paved the way for me and did all the things you would expect out of a Marine.”
Growing up, Potter recalls hearing several military-related stories from his grandfather, WWII Marine veteran.
“He was the one who initially motivated me to join the service, and after my grandfather passed away in 2010, I knew I needed to start setting my path to become a Marine and serve in his remeberance,” said Potter.
After being in the Delayed Entry Program for six months, Potter arrived at the depot, January 12, ready to take on recruit training.
Once Potter started recruit training, he realized personal changes right away.
“Immediately I realized a new-found confidence in myself after arriving here at recruit training,” said Potter. “I went from not being able to lead people to being able to successfully lead a fire team.”
Now a private first class in the United States Marine Corps, Potter will continue his path by attending Marine Combat Training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and then onto his military occupational specialty to learn the ropes of being a data communication Marine.