Bloom Where You're Planted

Photo By Cpl. Lukas Kalinauskas | “As long as you bloom where you’re planted and do well, things fall into place.” In his 24 years in the Marine Corps, Colonel John R. Polidoro Jr., commanding officer of Headquarters and Support Battalion, has used the idea of “blooming where you’re planted” to drive his success and work ethic. From being an armor officer with Delta Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, Camp Lejeune, N.C. to being the commanding officer of Headquarters and Support Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif., Polidoro has taken advantage of every opportunity. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Lukas Kalinauskas.)  

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

11.16.2017

Story by Lance Cpl. Haley McMenamin 

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

“As long as you bloom where you’re planted and do well, things fall into place.”
In his 24 years in the Marine Corps, Colonel John R. Polidoro Jr., commanding officer of Headquarters and Support Battalion, has used the idea of “blooming where you’re planted” to drive his success and work ethic.
He was sent to Yakima, Washington to serve as a company inspector instructor for Bravo Company, 4th Tank Battalion, and training reservists. It was a job that he wishes he could have gotten out of. However, he states, “It not only set his career path to where I’m going now, but it also let me develop some critical skills that I would need later on in life”.
“You have to go where the Marine Corps needs you,” said Polidoro.
Marines initially receive orders to the east coast, west coast, or overseas. Every Marine has a different career path. Each Marine experiences different aspects of Marine Corps life and may find themselves guarding embassies around the world as Marine Security Guards, or supporting crisis response operations in various countries. Polidoro continues to emphasize that a Marine might not like their assignment, but it is necessary to obtain certain skills to enhance their growth within their Marine Corps career.
The Naval Academy graduate also served as the executive officer for 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, with whom he deployed twice to Iraq from Aug. 2004-Feb. 2005 and Feb. 2006-Feb. 2007 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“If I can make a difference with Marines or the organization, institution and maintain relevancy, then I’m good with whatever they tell me to do.”
Occasionally, Marines have the opportunity to coordinate a duty station of their preference. The last time Polidoro chose an assignment was in 1997. From then on, he’s been told where to go. For the most part, when it comes to getting stationed, Marines have little control over where they will end up.
“I think people forget that” said Polidoro. “It’s not about what can the Marine Corps can do for me, those times are over”.
From being an armor officer with Delta Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC to being the commanding officer of Headquarters and Support Battalion, Camp Pendleton, Calif., Polidoro has taken advantage of every opportunity.
“You have to be authentic, you have to be transparent and you have to be who you are and be true to yourself before you can be true to your Marines that serve us”.

• Date Taken: 11.16.2017
• Date Posted: 11.20.2017 13:10
• Story ID: 255622
• Location: CALIFORNIA, US