Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- When faced with a challenge, one has the option to stand still and be defeated or to push forward, adapt and overcome. One determined Marine, Pfc. Mark-Louie H. Taocta, Platoon 1007, Alpha Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, never stopped pushing forward through the obstacles of his life and the journey to earn the title United States Marine at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.
Taocta was born in the Bacolod, Philippines, and had two older brothers and one older sister. When he was four years old, his father left them to go to the United States. It wasn’t until he came back nine years later that he learned why his father had really left.
“When my dad came back to the Philippines after nine years of not seeing him, I didn’t really recognize him,” said 18-year-old Taocta. “He explained to me why he left. He said he left to find better work so he could send money back to us to better our education and to petition us to go to the United States after he himself became a citizen.”
At the age of 15, after finally getting approval, Taocta and his brothers and sister moved to Hercules, Calif., to start a new life. His mother decided to stay behind as his parents had divorced. Now in the United States, Taocta faced many challenges while adjusting to his new home.
“When I first came to Hercules, I didn’t know any English,” said Taocta, who was recruited out of Recruiting Station San Jose, Calif. “It was a large language barrier for me because I couldn’t talk to anyone. When I went to school, all I really knew then was yes, no or extremely basic responses. It was a big difference compared to how I used to live in the Philippines.”
Determined to learn all he could, Taocta spent every day improving his English and knowledge of American culture.
“It was a struggle every day,” said Taocta. “I tried to catch up on everything, and I pick things up fast, so I started reading a lot of books, tried socializing with other people and asked them questions to learn the language and culture better. Within four years of being here, I could speak English fluently enough to carry a regular conversation with people.”
While getting accustomed to his new settings, Taocta’s father told him about the United States Marine Corps and what it could offer him.
“When my dad was in the Philippines, he was a Philippine Marine Corps officer,” said Taocta. “When I came to the United States, it was one of the things he had mentioned to me. He said how he used to be a Philippine Marine and how hard it was.”
Taocta stated that hearing his dad talk about his time with the PMC had motivated him to join the United States Marine Corps.
“I’ve done my research about the Marine Corps, and it suits my personality in the way I want to live my life,” said Taocta. “I could potentially make it a career.”
Arriving at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego for the first time, Taocta was ready to endure the 13-week challenge to earn the title Marine.
“Game on,” Taocta thought. “I thought, this is it, there’s no backing down now. I made this choice, and now I have to finish it. I was scared a little, but I was just as motivated to get through the training.”
During receiving week, it was discovered that Taocta had a medical condition that pulled him out of training and landed him in the Marine Rehabilitation Platoon for three months of observation.
Taocta stated that during his initial time at MRP he became sad thinking about back home and how his family was doing. He realized it was going to be even longer before he saw them again and thought about quitting.
“It was hard for me at first, but then I started talking to other recruits who had been there longer than me and started to get motivated again,” said Taocta. “Some of them had permanent issues and wouldn’t be able to return to training, so I thought how lucky I was that I could still go back. I just had to wait for my time. What really helped me keep going was my family. I couldn’t go home not being a Marine. I was embarrassed with the thought of telling them that I quit. My dad encouraged me to keep pushing forward.”
While waiting to be released back to training, Taocta took advantage of learning from those who had been there longer than him.
“I talked to the guide and squad leaders at MRP and asked them how they did their jobs and how to lead a platoon,” said Taocta. “When it came time for me to go back to training with Alpha Company, I was instantly ready to become the guide.”
Cleared for duty, Taocta picked up with Alpha Company. Motivated and ready with a new arsenal of knowledge and skills, Taocta stood well above the rest of the recruits, which was recognized by the drill instructors who instantly made him the platoon guide.
“He instantly struck me as a leader,” said Staff Sgt. Jason. J. Gutierrez, senior drill instructor. “He was knowledgeable and willing to help the other recruits in the things that he knew. The other recruits instantly looked up to him because he knew what was going on. After noticing these things, we knew making him guide would also help the drill instructors out in our daily tasks.”
Earning the title Marine, Taocta continues his journey to Infantry Training Battalion at the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he will train to become an infantry machine gunner. But first, he will enjoy his ten days of leave with his family he has wanted so long to see.