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Reserve Marines bring civilian skills to OIF II fight

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 4/6/2004

Story by Sgt. Rob Henderson

AL ASAD, Iraq(April 6, 2004) -- In a world where time is money and the business market waits for no man, how do you keep your clients happy when you have to leave them for an unspecified amount of time?

Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of businessmen and women have climbed down from America's corporate ladders to don uniforms and defend the American way of life as mobilized reserve Marines.

For two Atlanta-based reserve Marines, activated to support Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., the transition has given them an opportunity to employ the business skills they have honed as small business owners.

Atlanta natives Staff Sgt. Jeffery S. Stanhagen, logistics chief, MWHS-3, and Cpl. Bryan L. Carson, embarkation specialist, MWHS-3, have given a lot of time to the global war on terror since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in 2003. Originally assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 42, Marine Forces Reserve, the Marines have both been mobilized twice and sent away from their homes and their businesses.

Stanhagen was activated last January to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his eight-month mobilization at MCAS Miramar, Stanhagen, worked in several roles, finally landing the job as the MWHS-3 Substance Abuse Counselor. In August, Stanhagen reported back to Marine Aircraft Group 42, where he stayed on active duty, and in early February, was again mobilized to support MWHS-3. This time, he jumped at the opportunity to come to Iraq.

"When I was on active duty in Atlanta, they asked for 25 volunteers to come to Iraq," said Stanhagen. "Since I didn't get a chance to go forward last year, I felt obligated to this time, so I volunteered to come to Iraq for OIF II."

Stanhagen left his business, Waterford Development Inc., in the hands of his family to volunteer for duty in Iraq. As most reserve Marines well know, there are inherent obstacles that must be overcome before and during a deployment.

"The challenge is making sure everything at home, at the business, stays the same while you are deployed," said Stanhagen. "When you go back, you know things will have changed. You have to go through the routine of meeting the new people and getting back in the swing of things."

Stanhagen believes the skills he uses as "the boss" at home have helped him complete his mission in Iraq.

"A lot of the managerial tools and knowledge I have from my business translate into my Marine Corps job," said Stanhagen. "Everything from coordinating working parties to dealing with third country nationals goes back to the basic leadership skills I learned from the Marine Corps and I've gotten to practice in my business."

Carson was also activated in early February last year, and he spent four months at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait. Deactivating at the end of July last year, Carson would only spend six months off active duty. He was reactivated on Jan. 5 and landed back in Southwest Asia on Feb. 28.

Bryan's Window Cleaning, the very definition of a small business, lost its best and only employee when Carson deployed to support the war on terror, but Carson sees value in the lessons he's learned working for himself.

"Back in the rear, I've got to get my job done; otherwise, the day isn't over. The same goes here. Mission accomplishment is the number one priority," said Carson. "Here in Iraq, there are other people to help accomplish the mission, but you still know, if the job isn't done, your day isn't over."

While attached to the MWHS-3 logistics shop, the reserve Marines have done everything from building gyms and managing Iraqi workers to fortifying living spaces and sandbagging work spaces.

"Since I've been at Al Asad, it's been really busy," said Carson. "The biggest challenge for us is understanding the Iraqis we have working here on base. It's hard to get a read on them, but I think they are really glad we are here."

In Iraq, Stanhagen and Carson have worked on levels in which neither of them was familiar, but both feel the time they spend here will pay dividends back at their businesses. Understanding people is universal, so getting familiar with a different culture will help the entrepreneurs with their future clients, according to Carson.

For the only two reserve Marines working in a shop with five other enlisted Marines and one officer, Stanhagen and Carson have earned the respect of their peers and leaders alike.

"These two Marines are more mature than a lot of Marines in their respective pay-grades," said 1st Lt. John Siracusa, logistics officer, MWHS-3. "We could not complete our mission here without them, and I think their civilian experience gives them some perspective to how small things fit into a bigger picture. They are really putting to rest any negative myths about reserve Marines."

Climbing down from their places in the American workforce, Stanhagen and Carson have figured out the secret to success in business - honesty, dedication and daring. Those principles, identical to the "Honor, Courage, Commitment" credo of the Marine Corps, are the cornerstone of their success as Marines and entrepreneurs.