What would you say to another person who stutters wanting to join the military?
I would say go for it. If you want to serve your country, there is a pathway open to you. It may not be easy, but it is possible, and of course, very rewarding. Don’t let your fears hold you back.
Would you prepare differently if you had the chance to do it again?
I’m not sure that I could have prepared diff erently. The basic training phase is the most diffi cult. There is no access to SLPs, medication, or speech fl uency devices. If you are using any of these, you’ll need to learn to do without for at least a year (basic training, combat schools, job schools). Once you get out in the Fleet Marine Force (what is commonly referred to as ‘being in the Marines’), you can resume any medication or therapy (at no cost to
you...it’s all covered). But until then, I would prepare by learning as much as you can about the Marine Corps. There’s a saying that luck is when preparedness meets opportunity. Being armed with extensive knowledge will go a long way to making the basic training experience easier. Also, I would off er that sometimes during hard experiences, we tend to focus our attention on getting out of the situation, or maybe what life will be like afterward. In the terms of basic training, we think about life outside of bootcamp... the things we’ll do, friends we will see, and the places we’ll go. In a sense, we stop focusing on the “now” and think about the future. I would argue this is the wrong approach. Basic training (bootcamp) is only 3 months. It seems like an eternity when you’re going through it, but it’s no more than a brief interlude in your life. I look back on 20 years in the Marines and wonder where the time went. So, while you’re in bootcamp, focus 100 percent of your eff ort on what you’re doing in the moment. Learn all you can. Become the best Marine possible. Don’t focus on the outside environment. I promise that basic training will go much faster that way.
How can people connect with you?
I’m on FB and Instagram as @ jordanrnorthrup. Also, my book, The War Inside: Finding Victory over Alcohol, can be found on Amazon. Email is jordan.
northrup@gmail.com. Please reach out! I want to help as many PWS as I can!
During his time in the service, Jordan traveled extensively for training and deployments. He was been stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Base Quantico, and the Pentagon. For training, he went to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Base 29 Palms, Iraq (Al-Anbar Province) and Afghanistan twice (Kandahar, Kabul).
Jordan has three combat deployments. He deployed to Iraq with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment (3/2 - an infantry battalion), serving as the platoon commander of the Motor Transport Platoon. He commanded 75 Marines whose mission was to execute convoys (resupply, troop transport, detainee transport), mounted patrols, and route clearance. In the seven months they were deployed, his platoon executed 235 combat missions, and he personally commanded 115 of them. They were involved in fi refi ghts, IED
explosions, and routinely took incoming mortar fi re. Thankfully, none of his Marines were wounded or killed.
During his second deployment, he was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 24, part of the 24th Marine Corps Expeditionary Unit. Their assignment was to deploy to Kandahar, Afghanistan, and engage the
Taliban in combat operations. His role during this deployment was the primary staff position of Logisitics Offi cer, the senior logistics advisor to the Commanding Offi cer. It was his responsibility to coordinate and sustain all battalion logistics eff orts across the range of combat operations. He was deployed for a total of eight months.
His last deployment was for one year to Kabul, Afghanistan. He was serving at the Pentagon at the time. A quota came down the chain of command for a logistics offi cer to deploy to support Task Force Spotlight. The chain of command selected Jordan for the role, and he deployed soon thereafter. Once in country, their Task Force’s mission was to organize, train, and regulate the 3rd party security contractor companies in country, which provided security to bases and other facilities around the country. These companies routinely hired Afghans from the local economy. As such, there wasn’t much regulation or oversight. His Task Force provided what was needed to maintain good order and discipline.
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