Many young men and women are joining the military and serving our country. Some join right out of high school and some leave college to pursue this career. With different branches of the service to choose from, the possibilities are plentiful. One of the more popular branches that is chosen by so many men and women is the Marine Corps. It is one of the more difficult branches to get into, with its boot camp being a grueling 13 weeks in Parris Island, South Carolina or San Diego. Only the recruits that make it through the crucible, a challenging retreat at the end of boot camp, will be able to call themselves Marines.

One of Abington’s own, Jack Feeney, has been in the Marines for two and a half years, and has moved up four ranks within that time. Feeney is currently a Corporal, and his formal title is Corporal John Feeney of the United States Marines. When he attended Abington High School (Class of 2010), Feeney played for the football and lacrosse teams and was a good student. He attended Massasoit Community College for one year before deciding to join the Marine Corps. Since then, he has traveled to North and South Carolina, California, and Afghanistan, and will soon be going to Kentucky for another short mission. Feeney spent seven months in Afghanistan where he worked with data and communications.

While in Afghanistan he had limited contact with his family and loved ones. The only times he could contact anyone was when he was able to use the satellite phone which was usually only once a week at that. He was in constant danger. At one point while out on a convoy, one of the Humvees drove over an IED, or improvised explosive device. Luckily no one was seriously injured, and they did not encounter any more explosives. The MOS, or Military Occupational Specialty, that Feeney chose was Data and Communications. This means that he spends long hours fixing computer programs, setting up communication systems and much more.

Feeney still has a year and a half left on his enlistment. Most likely it will hold many new adventures and changes.

Note – Corporal John Feeney is the author’s brother.