Biography:

Early Life

Brian Boehmer was born in Cardston, Alberta, Canada. While he was raised there until he was 13, he will forever consider Tooele, Utah, home. He grew up learning outdoor and survival skills early in life through the Boy Scouts. One of his favorite childhood memories was driving a truck with his dad when he was just eleven years old. Those early experiences helped shape his independence and confidence before he eventually chose to serve his country.

Joining the Marines

Brian went straight into the Marines after graduating from high school. Because of that decision, he felt that he made different sacrifices than some of his peers. For example, he chose to delay serving his church mission and left home for the first time at a young age. One he completed boot camp, MOS, and Combat Training, he did take a two year leave of absence from the Marines to serve his church mission in the Philippines.

Marine Corps boot camp lasts 13 weeks, and Brian described it as extremely difficult. The purpose of boot camp, he explained, is to break you down so they can build you back up into what the Marines need you to be.

One of the most memorable moments happened on his very first day. He walked into boot camp eating a double cheeseburger, and the drill instructors immediately started yelling at him for eating right before arriving.

One person who had a major impact on his life was his Bulldog drill instructor, whose tough leadership pushed him to do things he didn’t think he was capable of doing. Brian credits that instructor with helping shape him into a stronger Marine.

Training

After boot camp, Brian went through additional training that included:

• Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) training

• Combat training

One of the hardest parts of training was a three-day event called The Crucible. During this event, recruits sleep very little and must complete a series of difficult challenges such as patrol exercises, land navigation, and mock combat scenarios. By the end, recruits are completely exhausted. The completion of this event is often described as “Becoming a Marine.”

Deployment to Afghanistan

Brian served in Afghanistan, where he spent about nine months working almost continuously.

One thing that surprised him was the environment. Even though Afghanistan is often imagined as a hot desert, Brian said it was strange to be surrounded by sand but still feel very cold.

During deployment, Marines often used the phrase “hurry up and wait.” There were long periods where soldiers had nothing to do while waiting for orders. During those times, they passed the time in simple ways—like throwing rocks at targets or even catching spiders and making them fight each other.

Brian also learned a little Pashto, the local language, so that he could communicate better with people in Afghanistan. He noted that most of the locals he met were kind and cordial people, and he remembers meeting many good people during his time there.

Missions and Experiences

One of the scariest missions Brian participated in involved drug interdiction, where Marines worked to stop drugs from crossing the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

During one mission, they chased a truck suspected of transporting drugs but had to stop when they got too close to the Pakistani border.

Brian also remembers one particularly large drug bust involving an entire truck full of black tar heroin.

Weapons Training

Brian trained on several weapons systems, including:

• MK19 – an automatic grenade launcher

• M203 – a grenade launcher attached to a rifle

Although these weapons were part of his training, he never had to use them in combat.

Military Life and Humor

Marines often use humor and slang as part of their culture. Brian mentioned that Marines are sometimes jokingly called “jarheads” because of the large white hats they wear with their dress uniforms. There is also a running joke that Marines eat crayons.

His favorite school-appropriate Marine joke was:

“How many Marines can you fit on a bus?”
Answer: One more.

The joke reflects the Marine mindset that no matter how full something seems, there is always room for one more person willing to step up.

Fear and Sacrifice

Serving in a combat zone comes with real risks. Brian admitted that there were times during his deployment when he was afraid he might not come home. Some of the Marines he served with did not.

When you sign up for military service, he explained, you understand that those sacrifices are possible.

Brian also experienced homesickness, especially during boot camp and deployment, since it was the first time he had been away from home for such long periods.

Life After Combat

Returning home from Afghanistan was an adjustment. In combat, soldiers are constantly on high alert. Once home, that level of alertness is no longer necessary, and learning to relax again can be difficult.

The military provides a reintegration period where returning service members gradually transition back into normal life.

Brian also experiences some PTSD, particularly when hearing high-pitched noises that remind him of rockets. He receives counseling to help manage those experiences.

Reflections

Despite the hardships, Brian’s experiences in the Marines shaped him deeply. From the intense training of boot camp to the realities of serving overseas, his time in the Marine Corps changed his life and helped make him the person he is today.