In 2016, I was a freshly minted Master Sergeant with orders to Okinawa, Japan. I found myself well outside my comfort zone, realizing that I had unfulfilled potential going to waste. As I reflect upon it now, it closely adheres to Vonnegut's "Man In A Hole."

During the assignment, I stumbled upon the idea of interviewing my peers and colleagues for several reasons:

First, it was a perfect way to actively engage with fellow Marines to come to a deeper understanding of their individual stories.

Secondly, it allowed me to identify how they each uniquely managed to sustain a balance between personal and professional obligations.

Finally, capturing these interviews and disseminating them to the audience allowed others to benefit from my unique placement and access.

As a result, I eventually determined the Sergeant was my intended audience, focusing on delivering "Intimate conversations with Marines sharing their journeys and ideas."

Fortitudine