Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- “I just realized I wanted to do something bigger for myself,” said Lance Cpl. John R. Porchivina, Kilo Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. “I was just sitting around doing nothing. I could go to school and play football, but how is that benefiting anybody else but me?”
The 20 year old grew up in Novato, Calif., with a loving and supportive family that included his mother, father, brother and sister. He played football, baseball and basketball, but decided to commit most of his time to his favorite sport, football. He played in the Pop Warner league and at Casa Grande High School.
“Football was what I excelled in,” said Porchivina. “It was pretty much my entire life. When I was a kid, I realized I wanted to play football in college and later join the Marine Corps.”
After graduating, he attended UC Berkley College on a football scholarship.
Porchivina attended with the intention to transfer to San Jose State University after playing at Berkley. Shortly after he arrived there, however, he sustained an injury at football practice that changed his path completely.
“I broke my hand the weekend before the season started,” said Porchivina. “I was put on the bench the entire season.”
As he watched his teammates play, all he could do was sit and wait to recover. It was this break that he continued to take classes.
Joining the Marine Corps was something that had been on his mind since childhood. When he was 19 years old and sitting on the couch watching attacks and terrorism on the news, he knew that it was the time to join before it was too late.
“I wanted to go fight for my country,” said Porchivina. “I was watching the news a lot and saw what was going on with ISIS, and that’s what got me thinking.”
His brother was the first person he approached with the idea to enlist.
“We kind of had a heart to heart,” said Porchivina. “That’s when I realized now was the time to join and hopefully make a difference in this world and this country.”
His father, who previously had served with the Marine Corps, and his mother, were also supportive.
Porchivina went to the recruiting station and about a month later departed for Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego to take the challenge to become a United States Marine.
While aboard the depot, Porchivina served as the guide for his platoon. During phase one of training, Porchivina and his platoon felt discombobulated while trying to adapt to a new lifestyle. Toward the end of phase two, he gained enough confidence to lead his platoon and he felt phase three of training was the toughest for him as it required more leadership from him.
“The lifestyle has been different and was a culture shock,” said Porchivina. “Instead of being the best football player, I have to be the guide and lead from the front and be a good example.”
While most recruits find recruit training difficult, he found motivation by striving to be better than his father.
“I’ve always wanted to outdo my father,” said Porchivina, with a smile on his face. “He was never the guide, so I wanted to be guide. He shot expert, so I had to shoot expert.”
Porchivina is expecting his parents, siblings and extended family to attend his graduation, which is the thought that kept him going throughout recruit training.
Following recruit training, Porchivina will report to the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, Calif., to become an infantryman.