The Former Marine

Chapter 2: Forging an Operator

In 2013, just a year after completing basic training and joining the Marine Corps, Derek Rogan felt he was ready for more. He didn't want to be just another Marine, he wanted to be among the best. As he heard stories of covert missions and high-profile special operations, a new ambition took hold of him: to join Marine Special Operations Command, or MARSOC.

MARSOC was one of the most elite units of the United States Special Forces, known for its highly secretive and dangerous operations. To Derek, it was the pinnacle of what a Marine could achieve. The process, however, was grueling and selective. Only the most mentally and physically prepared made it. But he was determined to prove himself.

Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, would be the next stage of his transformation. After being accepted into MARSOC, Derek arrived at boot camp with a mix of excitement and nervousness. The air was thick, heavy with the tension of men who, like him, were ready to give it their all.

Within the first few days, Derek realized that the environment was very different from what he had experienced before. 

"This isn't Boot Camp," one of the drill sergeants shouted at the front of the formation. "You're here because you think you're the best? This will prove otherwise! Only those who push themselves beyond their limits will emerge as operators!"

Derek stood firm, listening intently to every word. He knew that every minute of training would be a chance to prove that he belonged among the elite.

The first big test was physical training. Throughout the day, the candidates were pushed to the limits of their capabilities. They carried sandbags for long distances, crawled through mud under barbed wire, and ran until their legs threatened to give out. Derek, his muscles burning and his breath at the limit, remained focused. He had prepared for this for months and knew that his success depended on not giving in to the pain.

While some of the other candidates were beginning to show signs of exhaustion, Derek stood firm, his mind as strong as his body. 

"Come on, Rogan!" one of the drill sergeants would yell as he watched him excel. "I'm not here to watch you walk, I'm here to watch you fly!"

One night, after hours of intense training, Derek sat on the edge of his bunk in the barracks, rubbing his sore muscles. Beside him, another candidate, Johnson, was clearly dejected. 

"Man, this is insane. I don't think I can keep this up much longer."

Derek looked at him and, with a tired smile, said, "We all feel it, but that's where the difference comes in. The one who stops or the one who keeps going."

Johnson chuckled weakly. "Yeah, man. And it looks like you're going like a locomotive."

Over the next few days, Derek continued to impress. When tactical training began, he displayed remarkable accuracy. During shooting sessions, he hit targets with speed and accuracy. His ability to remain calm under pressure was evident, and he not only completed the tasks, but did so with a precision that quickly caught the attention of his instructors.

"Rogan!" one of the drill sergeants called out to him during a shooting session. 

Derek, focused on the target in front of him, lowered his weapon and turned. 

"Do you think you're in a target practice?" the instructor continued, approaching him. "I want to see you move faster and be more efficient. You're competing against the clock and against enemies who won't give you a second chance. Show me you deserve to be here!"

Derek took a deep breath, nodded, and repositioned himself. When the restart signal sounded, he moved forward faster than before, his movements fluid and calculated. With each shot, the sound of metal striking echoed across the field. At the end of the session, the drill sergeant simply nodded, satisfied but unenthusiastic. "Good job. Keep it up."

The weeks at Camp Lejeune continued, and the challenges became more complex. The tactics of infiltration and exfiltration, communications under fire, and teamwork during simulated operations required more than physical skills; they required intelligence, leadership, and a relentless mindset.

During one of the simulated urban combat scenarios, Derek led a small team on a mission to infiltrate a heavily defended building. His teammates were all like-minded candidates, eager to prove their worth. He coordinated their every move, making sure they covered each other as they advanced through the narrow streets. When the mock enemy caught them by surprise in an alley, Derek kept his cool and quickly organized a defense.

"Johnson, take the rear! Ferraz, cover the exit!" he shouted over the roar of gunfire. His teammates followed his orders promptly, and within minutes the team had eliminated the targets and completed the task.