What I've Learned: Trevor Rowett

Twentynine Palms -- Pfc. Trevor Rowett, Combat Videographer, 3rd Marine Regiment

I didn’t know that I was going the join the Marine Corps until the end of high school. I joined because it’s the hardest branch, it has the highest standards—I’ve always been competitive because I played sports when I was younger which instilled that drive in me.

I’m an only child—I didn’t grow up in the richest family, but it was nice to be the center of attention. I wouldn’t have changed it, and I don’t think my parents would have changed it either.

The stress that the Marine Corps has given me has made me stronger and more adept to handle more in the future, whether I reenlist or go into the civilian world.

Dealing with challenging situations on the spot has made me more capable than before I joined the Corps. I’m not sure what I would want to do if I went back into the civilian world, though.

I joined to be in the infantry, but when they switched my contract I was pretty lucky with what they gave me. Recently I heard about a reconnaissance indoctrination that I could possibly jump on, but if I don’t then I wouldn’t mind staying in this field. I don’t necessarily have a passion for it, but it’s a good skill set to take with me.

My favorite part of videography is after all the work of editing and shooting, having a final product for people to look at to critique or praise.

I know it’s cheesy, but I look up to a lot of the NCOs that I had when I first came in. I took into consideration their ways and the traits that made them the inspiration to me as they were, but then I also decided that I needed to take my own route. They definitely never caved under pressure; they knew exactly how to react to a variety of situations and had a steadfast attitude. That is something that I will take with me through my career, in or out of the Marine Corps.

I understand, too, that paving my own path comes with time and experience, I won’t let my mistakes inhibit me from reaching my full potential, and reaching a potential beyond what my NCOs initially inspired me to be.

I love that I’m in a division unit and that I get to go on field operations as often as I do—they provide a lot of character-building experiences because of all the stress and hardship that they provide, and its something that not a lot of other people in the Marine Corps get to experience, and no one’s experience is as diverse in terms of the different situations and procedures I witness while working.

I think that you have to go through something tough to have modesty about it.