Joining the Marine Corps after high school graduation is the pathway to adulthood for many teens. However, for an 18-year-old, Wharton, Texas, native, adult life started much sooner than graduating high school. He had to learn how to balance growing up with becoming a father at the same time.
Private First Class Kirkland B. Outlar, Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, was one of four siblings split up in foster care at a young age.
He spent most of his childhood separated from his brothers and sister. With no one to depend on, Outlar had no choice but to become an independent child.
“My grandma took me in, but I had to become self-sufficient,” said Outlar.
His self-sufficiency became more of a necessity when his first daughter was born.
“When I was twelve or thirteen I had my first child,” said the young father. “I started working for people at grass farms, egg farms, construction and little things here and there.”
A few years after the birth of his first child, while still in high school, he and his girlfriend learned they were pregnant again.
“It was tiring, a lot of late nights,” said Outlar.
Even with the responsibilities of being a student and father of two, Outlar said school wasn’t too bad. He balanced his academic responsibilities with sports, Junior ROCT and part time jobs to support his family.
“When I turned 16, I got a better job,” said Outlar. “I started modeling.”
While at a Junior ROTC event, Outlar was approached by a photographer who got him into his new profession, which kept him busy and helped with finances.
“I gave any money that I earned to my family first,” said Outlar.
While modeling, Outlar was offered a contract and the opportunity to travel, but stayed in Texas for his family.
“I joined the Marine Corps to earn the title as a Marine,” Outlar said. “I wanted to be a better image of a man for my kids.”
Although Outlar said he enjoyed his time modeling, he would rather hear his kids say their dad is a Marine than have them say he is a model.
“I try to set as much discipline in my life for me and my children,” said Outlar. “As a father, I’m strict and really big on discipline and being self-sufficient. I’m a pretty good dad.”
Outlar said being a father helped him a lot while in recruit training.
“Having kids helped me lead the other recruits,” said the 18-year-old leader. “I really got to know them, observe them and figure out what their problems were. It allowed me to help them out.”
Outlar served as a squad leader and guide during training, which helped him understand the recruits and look out for their welfare while he was in charge.
Despite his very different background from most of his other young subordinates, he did not hide who he was from them.
“I didn’t want the recruits to be afraid to talk to me,” said Outlar. “I tried to be open and honest with them.”
In his hometown, everyone knew who he was and about his situation, but telling his story at recruit training stunned the recruits and drill instructors. He received advice from drill instructors with children around the same age as his and gave advice to other recruits with children on the way.
During training, Outlar received a letter with the news about the birth of his third child, and after running a perfect initial physical fitness test and combat fitness test he was rewarded with a phone call home.
Outlar looks forward to seeing his girlfriend at graduation and will meet his youngest daughter when he returns to Texas for his ten days of leave upon graduating recruit training.
Following recruit training, Outlar will report to the School of Infantry at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., to become a reconnaissance Marine.