Texas Border Business
By Ashley Craig, Navy Office of Community Outreach
MERIDIAN, Miss. – Seaman Marc Morin, a native of Weslaco, Texas, serves the U.S. Navy aboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian, Mississippi.
Morin, a 2018 graduate of Weslaco High School, joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Morin serves as a master-at-arms.
“I joined the Navy to better myself and to make my family proud,” said Morin. “The Navy also just always interested me. I like the Navy and what it represents.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Weslaco.
“When I was young, I had to learn a lot of hard lessons early on,” said Morin. “Some days it felt like I was on top of the world, and other days it felt like everything was out of control. And that’s the biggest thing, control — what can you and what can’t you control. Another hard lesson is that this world doesn’t owe you a thing. Earn everything, expect nothing.”
Located in East Central Mississippi, NAS Meridian trains sailors and Marines in aviation and technical-related fields. It is home to Training Air Wing ONE, Training Squadron NINE, Training Squadron SEVEN, Naval Technical Training Center, Marine Aviation Training Support Squadron One and the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.
Serving in the Navy means Morin is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy can go anywhere, whenever,” said Morin. “The majority of the world is made up of water. I feel confident that the United States Navy can protect and preserve everyone’s peace of mind and freedom with them knowing we have the watch.”
Morin has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“Honestly, just enlisting in the Navy had been my greatest accomplishment until very recently,” said Morin. “I was just awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, which I’ve been told is unheard of for someone so early in their service. That felt pretty great. The base went through its Final Evaluation Problem exercise back in August, where we were tested on multiple scenarios. I scored 100% on three of them. They said I was the most professional master-at-arms they’ve seen in the evaluation process of all the bases.
The citation for the medal cites Morin’s “superior performance” of duties while serving as a sentry and patrol officer at NAS Meridian.
Morin’s “meticulous attention to detail during assessed evolutions contributed to an overall score of 94 percent during Commander, Naval Installation Command’s Final Evaluation Problem. Seaman Morin’s distinctive accomplishments, unrelenting perseverance, and loyal dedication to duty reflected great credit upon him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service,” the citation states.
As Morin and other sailors continue to perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Being in the Navy has made me very proud and honest,” said Morin. “The biggest thing though is being an inspiration to my friends, family and others to take a leap of faith and try something that terrifies them. You never know what’ll happen, but if you don’t try, you will have regret and that is truly scary.”
Morin is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my mother and father, Celinda and David Morin, for their support and instilling in me the ability to always be able to prove people wrong,” said Morin. “I also want to thank my uncle, Mike Pequeno, for showing me that doing something that scares you can be beneficial.”
Morin had words of encouragement for those who may need them.
“If there’s anyone reading this who has a lot of thoughts of self-doubt, please know that no matter what or where you come from, no matter what anyone says, especially if they say ‘you can’t,’ they’re wrong, you can, and you matter,” added Morin.
