I went straight from the Marine Corps to the MFA. The way that you would express things among Marines is somewhat different than the way you're supposed to express things in a creative-writing workshop.

In the Marine Corps, you meet this really broad segment of the country; you're working with people from all kinds of backgrounds. And it exposes you to the American military, particularly the American military at war.

The Marine Corps is supposed to be the toughest and most rigorous of its class.

Without discipline, there is no Marine Corps.

Semper Fi! MotherFucker!

In the Marine Corps, everything had a purpose.