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FORWARD OPERATING BASE SABIT QADAM, Afghanistan – Hailing from the 50th state in the United States, Wailuku, Hawaii, native, Lance Cpl. Michael J. Bumanglag, left the sunny beaches and surfing for the sands and mountains of Afghanistan.
With an ambition for a change of scenery and new adventures, Bumanglag decided to join the Marine Corps.
“I just wanted to go out and see the world,” said Bumanglag, 19. “A Marine was just always something I wanted to be since I was little. It looked cool in movies.”
While his mind was set on joining the Marine Corps, his parents were not initially supportive of his decision.
“My mom wasn’t about it,” said Bumanglag jokingly. “She made a big deal about it. My father said the same thing.He didn’t want me to go in any service.”
With his mind made up and his parents slowly supporting his choice, he jumped head first into the military lifestyle.
Bumanglag has an affinity for the “cool” things, even growing up he spent his time doing things that most would have to travel to enjoy.
“Growing up in Hawaii was all right,” said Bumanglag. “You go to the beach, surf a lot, fishing, diving, camping, just a lot of nature stuff.”
Being that active growing up allowed him to transition into his current life as a rifleman fairly easy.
“It was easier than most. A lot of people struggle with it,” said Bumanglag about joining the infantry. “I grew up outdoors and being active, so it was pretty easy for me.”
Now serving with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, Bumanglag has had an opportunity to experience all new adventures and has his sights set on more in the future.
“We’re from Twentynine Palms, so all the training people do for (Enhanced) Mojave Viper we do yearround, “said Bumanglag. “So it’s a lot of live fire ranges and shooting a lot of different weapons.”
One weapon he hopes to pick up is a sniper rifle.
“I was thinking of becoming a scout sniper,” said Bumanglag. “My recruiter was one, and he told me about it. I plan on trying out for the next (indoctrination) as soon as we get back from deployment.”
Having been in a little more than a year, Bumanglag’s Marine Corps career is just starting, and his new adventures are just what he had hoped.
| Date Taken: | 11.08.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.08.2012 10:30 |
| Story ID: | 97487 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE SABIT QADAM, AF |
| Web Views: | 149 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, From small Hawaiian island to Afghanistan, Marine experiences new adventures, by Cpl Anthony Ward Jr, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
