MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- To be selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program is to be selected for greater expectations, greater challenges and greater responsibility. Taking an enlisted Marine, who has already proven himself worthy of serving in the company of the world’s most feared fighting force, and giving him the opportunity to further his career by becoming a second lieutenant is the paramount mission of the ECP.
Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Hester, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 Headquarters operations chief and native of Tucson, Ariz., a husband and a father, accepted the opportunity in May of this year and is preparing himself now for the long road ahead.
“For a year and eight months I’ve been stationed here,” said Hester. “This is something I’ve wanted to do since I came here. Hard work had a lot to do with it finally happening. The feeling is truly overwhelming.”
Hester leaned back in his chair and gazed outside of his window-lit conference room. He began to recall his life before ever stepped on the yellow footprints.
In the summer of 1997, Hester, 20, worked construction in his hometown for little more than minimum wage. In a growing city, the blue collar gig seemed to be the ideal job for Hester and his friends. His recruiter had a different job in mind. A job that would offer endless benefits far more adventure.
He joined the Marine Corps later that year, graduating boot camp early December.
“If I wouldn’t have come in, I would have probably still been doing construction in Arizona,” admitted Hester.
After eight years of service and after completing a tour as a Sea School instructor, Hester achieved the rank of staff sergeant March 2006.
“My wife and I were really excited,” he said. “I felt like I had won the big game or that a certain fight was over now that I was a staff non-commissioned officer.”
Currently, Hester handles what needs to be taken care of when MALS-12 prepares for and returns from deployments, including deployment rosters and acting as liaison between different units.
“Here, I am tasked with a greater level of responsibility than I ever have in the past, however, I know I’m the right man for the job,” said Hester. “My actions can make or break the start of each MALS-12 mission. I hope that when I leave here September 7, I have mentored the Marines under me enough to take my place.”
Hester will begin Officer Candidate School September 21. The ten-week course will end with Hester reporting in to the Basic School. After six more months of training, he will be commissioned to the rank of second lieutenant.
“I have my wife and my children to thank for this opportunity,” said Hester. “My family motivated me to move forward in my career. Picking up staff sergeant seemed to be the end of the fight. Fortunately, that’s not the case.”
Hester said he plans to stay in the Marine Corps for 15 more years when his children are well into college. He expects to help his daughter, 13, and son, 9, through school.
“After the Marine Corps, the kids will be gone,” said Hester. “It will just be my wife and I back home in Arizona!”
His enthusiasm reflects on his future. His future is a direct result of his past. Hester’s career in the Marine Corps has made a “new beginning”, as he called it, starting again as a second lieutenant from a staff non-commissioned officer. After his new training, he will be recognized as an undisputed, even more capable leader of Marines.