The Former Marine

Chapter 1: The Call to Action

Derek Rogan was born in 1994 in a small town in rural Indiana, surrounded by farms and endless fields. His childhood was simple and full of responsibilities from an early age, helping his family on the farm. His life was marked by hard work, but also by the sense that the world beyond those fields was bigger and full of possibilities.

During his teenage years, Derek developed a growing desire to escape his quiet life. He watched news reports, documentaries, and war movies, fascinated by the stories of courage and sacrifice that came from the battlefield. The military began to seem like the answer to his desire for something bigger than what he had known.

In 2012, at the age of 18, Derek made a life-changing decision. He signed up for the United States Marine Corps, determined to push himself and do something meaningful. The first few weeks of basic training were brutal. The unrelenting heat of a South Carolina summer, the strict discipline, and the intense physical exercises seemed designed to break him. But Derek held on, finding strength where he didn't know he had any.

At first, he felt overwhelmed, as if military life were an impossible mountain to climb. But he soon began to realize that training wasn't just about physical strength, but also about mindset. He learned to trust his teammates, to depend on his team, and to follow orders without hesitation. It all had one purpose: to create relentless soldiers, ready for any challenge.

In late 2012, Derek graduated from basic training. He felt like he had transformed. The young man who had come from a small town in Indiana was now a Marine. The blue and white uniform with the Marine Corps patch on the chest represented more than just a new career. It was a symbol that he was now part of something bigger, a brotherhood of warriors dedicated to protecting their country at all costs.

Over the next few months, Derek continued his training, specializing in infantry operations. He excelled in maneuvers and drills, always eager to learn more and go above and beyond what was expected of him. His desire to prove himself made him a constant presence at the forefront of exercises. Throughout 2013, he underwent advanced combat training in urban areas, learning to move with precision in hostile environments, and honed his marksmanship skills, becoming one of the best marksmen in his unit.

With his official graduation approaching, Derek knew that his future in the Marine Corps was just beginning. He eagerly anticipated his first assignment, imagining what unknown lands he would explore and what challenges awaited him.

However, there was also a weight on his shoulders. Military life, with all its demands, would require personal sacrifices. He would leave behind his family, friends, and the tranquility of his hometown. But for Derek, the call to action was greater than any doubts he might have had. He knew that the path he had chosen was difficult, but he believed that a purpose was born there: to protect what he loved most and serve his country with honor.