Photo By Spc. Tyler Main | U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Michael Colley, a flight line mechanic with VMM-262 Flying...... read more read more
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UTAPAO, Thailand — Before joining the Marine Corps Corporal Michael H. Colley was an accountant in Columbus, Ohio. Coming from a military family and holding their experience in such high regards he decided office work wasn’t for him.
It’s now been nearly four years since Colley joined the Marine Corps, serving as a flight-line mechanic with the VMM-262 Flying Tigers and he wouldn’t change a thing.
“What’s funny is the only thing I didn’t want to do is be a jet engine mechanic, it ended up being what I did. But I enjoy it a lot… It’s been a good experience.” Said Colley
Colley and other members of the VMM-262 Flying Tigers have been repairing and maintaining MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft throughout the duration of exercise Cobra Gold. They were previously conducting operations in the Philippines before coming to Thailand.
There no one thing you can to do prepare for an exercise like this, Colley said, “It’s an accumulative thing, it’s not any one specific event that prepared me for this, it’s more of just a constant building up to this point. Everyday you’re learning something new. Everyday you’re acquiring a new skill.”
These skills have helped keep the MV-22 Ospreys readily available throughout Cobra Gold, which have been used in various missions throughout the exercise, including the amphibious capabilities demonstration, where the aircrafts played a pivotal role.
Colley reminds himself of the importance of what he does every day. “It’s just kind of a drive, a drive to want to work. To go out there every day and give max effort.” said Colley.
Other members of the team have caught on to Colley’s positive attitude. “Cpl. Colley is a great leader. I learn something new from him every day, and he’s taught me how to work hard.” said Lance Cpl. Demetre Ortiz, also a flight-line mechanic for the Flying Tigers.
Keeping this constant drive is a challenge, but one that Colley is up for. His advice for others is “just don’t get discouraged.” Colley explains, “A lot of times people will say, “This is going to be bad, or it’s going to be rough.” “Really, everything is what you make of it. If something is bad, you perceive it to be bad, if something is good it is because you’re making it good. That’s what I really believe.”
| Date Taken: | 02.16.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.19.2016 05:41 |
| Story ID: | 189256 |
| Location: | UTAPAO, TH |
| Hometown: | COLUMBUS, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 119 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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