Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- A young man, who grew up on eight acres of woodland on the out skirts of the city in Grand Rapids, Mich., learned the meaning of hard work, dedication and brotherhood starting at six years old.
Since the day Private First Class Jonathan A. Uitvlugt, Kilo Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Platoon 3226, began wrestling in the 2nd grade, he embraced the meaning of hard work.
“I enjoyed the physical challenge of wrestling,” said Uitvlugt. “When it’s just me and one other person on the wrestling mat competing against each other, and I come out victorious, that is most rewarding.”
Uitvlugt started wresting in the 135-pound weight class his freshman year and ended up at the 160-pound weight class by his senior year. Wrestling not only kept him in physical shape, but it kept his mind in shape as well.
“When you’re in the third period, which is the last period before the match ends, you’re tired and they’re tired, but you can’t show any weakness and must be physically and mentally strong to complete the match,” said Uitvlugt. “I enjoyed the hard effort of work that is demanded from wrestling as well as the brotherhood.”
Uitvlugt explains that wrestling helped build his composure and mold him into a young man.
“It’s a tough sport so most people quit within the first couple of weeks, but the ones who stay are the ones who work hard and put forth the effort for each other,” said Uitvlugt. “It’s not on the same level as the Marine Corps, but suffering together brings you close together. Shared misery creates a band of brothers. You get to know what each other is made of and learn to depend on each other.”
Once Uitvlugt graduated, he bounced around from job to job and then realized it was time to put on another uniform.
“I’ve tried a lot of different jobs including plumbing, a worker at sheet metal factory, apprentice and personal trainer,” said Uitvlugt. “After about a year, I decided to apply for a position at our township’s fire department and was hired part time. They needed young men to come in because a lot of the firemen were retiring, so I immediately started training with them.”
Being a fireman was like stepping into a bigger brotherhood, explained Uitvlugt.
“Each fireman depends on each other going into a fire,” said Uitvlugt. “You can study different ways of approaching a fire, but until you get into that house you don’t know what’s going to be in there. There is nothing like being in a house that is fully involved with flames coming over the ceiling and having this massive adrenaline rush, knowing the guy next to you has your back because you’ve been through the training together.”
Uitvlugt proudly spent two years fighting fires in the community where he grew up, but decided to make a transition into the Marine Corps to serve his country. He embraced the philosophy of no Marine left behind and left his hometown with a burning desire to serve in the Marine brotherhood.
“I love my community,” said Uitvlugt. “Everyone takes care of one another, so I felt like it was my job to serve my community as a fireman to give back. I felt like that wasn’t enough though. I wanted to give back to my country as well.
Uitvlugt explains his farther instilled in him at an early age the military is the strongest breed.
“My father always said the strong take care of the weak,” said Uitvlugt. “That is very honorable, and I want to fulfill that legacy.”
At each different stage of his life, Uitvlugt transitioned from one uniform to the next, each uniform having great responsibility.
“Each uniform I put on through each step of my life weighs a little more on my shoulders… metaphorically speaking,” said Uitvlugt. “It has a lot to do with challenging myself, and the Marine Corps is the toughest service. We have the longest recruit training, the longest hikes and accomplish missions with fewer service members.”
Uitvlugt utilized his leadership traits he learned though past brotherhoods at recruit training, and was selected by his senior drill instructor to be the platoon guide.
Drill instructors select their guides by seeking out a recruit with leadership traits, the will to outwork other recruits and the capability to lead the platoon.
Uitvlugt is scheduled to graduate recruit training May 29. After graduation he will take a well-deserved 10 days of leave before reporting into the School of Infantry at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., to train for his military occupational specialty as an infantry rifleman.
“You only have one thing when you die, and that is your honor,” said Uitvlugt. “We should all put our best efforts out there and make our legacies the best they can possibly be.”