From Assaultman
To Data Systems Administrator
by U.S. Marine Corps LCpl. Angel Alvarado June
9,
2022
Throughout history the U.S. Marine Corps
has continuously evolved strategy capabilities to develop
warfighting operations. With the present-day multi-domain
environments the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General David H.
Berger has issued a strategic planning guide, “Force Design 2030.”
“Force Design 2030” (FD2030) prioritizes the integration of the U.S. Marine
Corps with their maritime counterparts, the U.S. Navy. The fighting
forces will reinforce their naval traditions to strengthen the U.S.
Marine Corps as a globally employable expeditionary force.
In
conjunction with FD2030, units and military
occupational specialties (MOS) are being deactivated due to restruction.
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Lucas A.
Dussaut, a native of Mound, Minn., data systems administrator and
data systems chief with Fleet Marine Forces (FMFLANT), Marine Forces
Command (MARFORCOM), Marine Forces Northern Command (MARFOR
NORTHCOM) was a prior infantry assaultman Marine who noticed a
progression within himself and took advantage of FD2030
to start a change.
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Lucas A. Dussaut, a data systems administrator and data systems chief with Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLANT), Marine Forces Command (MARFORCOM), Marine Forces Northern Command (MARFOR NORTHCOM) analyzes the server network at Naval Support Activity, Hampton Roads, Virginia
on May 20, 2022. Staff Sgt. Dussaut is responsible for training, domain infrastructure, active directory management, cloud services, disaster recovery, database management, scripting and hardware/software management of FMFLANT, MARFORCOM, MARFOR NORTHCOM. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by LCpl. Angel Alvarado)
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Since his first year of high school,
Dussaut knew he wanted to be a part of the U.S. military. He was a
rebellious teenager that dreamt of contributing to military
operations and witnessing artillery breeches. These aspirations led
him to the MOS 0351, infantry assaultman.
“I wanted to blow
stuff up, run in the fields, and shoot guns,” Dussaut remarked, “I
was dead set to join the infantry and become an assaultman. There
wasn't anything that could convince me otherwise, because I wanted
those experiences.”
Dussaut was confident the life of an
infantry assaultman was the life for him. However, he understood the
physical and mental rigors it takes to become an infantry assaultman
and most importantly how some individuals fail to meet such a
demanding occupation. This practical mindset inspired him to join
the Marine Corps, because he knew if he couldn't get the MOS he
wanted, he would still be content with earning the title U.S.
Marine.
Dussaut recounts, “I had a conversation with a buddy
of mine who wanted to join the Army Rangers, and I told him, ‘Hey,
if we join the Army Rangers and fail we will just be soldiers, but
if we join the Marine Corps, no matter what we do we will still have
the title U.S. Marine’.”
In July 2014, Dussaut graduated from the rigorous 13-week recruit
training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., thus
becoming a U.S. Marine. After graduation, Dussaut moved forward to
the School of Infantry; hungry to learn more and become something
greater than himself. Nevertheless, a wide array of new challenges
were sitting there waiting for him.
“I knew the Marine Corps
is about the mental strength more than the physical aspect…,” he
continued, “...but the School of Infantry was where I started to
falter and think ‘maybe this isn't who I wanted to be’ and ‘I don't
want to be here’ but some good leaders refused to let me quit.”
The School of Infantry, Infantry Training Battalion, facilitates
a 59-day course where the recently graduated enlisted Marines become
proficient in combat tactics. Marines perfect their marksmanship,
explosives handling, infantry patrolling, countering improvised
explosive devices, and other entry-level infantry knowledge and
tasks. During training Marines are taught they are no longer an
individual and to disregard personal wants for the sake of mission
accomplishment and teamwork. During this mental transition of
constant sacrifice it is common for Marines to feel ignored and
invaluable, which was a personal struggle for Dussaut.
“I was
having a hard time because it is easy to feel like another body,”
Dussaut explained, “I kept telling myself if I quit now then I can
be home in a week. Looking back, I realize that was definitely not
true, which is why I am grateful for the other Marines who
constantly reminded me I’m not just another cog in the machine.”
Dussaut managed to find the mental strength to finish the course
and was assigned to his first duty station; 3rd battalion, 5th
Marine Regiment (3/5), 1st Marine Division (1st MarDiv) where he
employed Anti-Tank 4 and M72 Light Anti-armor Weapon rocket
launchers, breaching systems, and demolitions. Although he
accomplished what he aspired to do, the mental rigors remained.
“The fleet in the infantry was something I surprisingly
struggled with the most,” Dussaut stated, “If you made a mistake
then the results would be disproportionately bad; looking back I
realize that was an allegory for mistakes in war.”
Throughout
the Marine Corps mistakes are emphasized because they are the
difference between life and death during times of war; mistakes are
highlighted throughout training to equip the Marines with mental
resilience and to mitigate potential risks. However, reprimand in a
garrison environment is not always appropriately executed.
Dussaut stated, “It wasn’t good for me and I think it has changed
since then, but I would never treat my junior Marines that way.”
Experiences of disproportionately negative consequences for
mistakes are more acceptable in the infantry according to some
people’s opinion. In 2017, (3/5), 1st MarDiv became a Marine Corps
Warfighting Laboratory. Dussaut and his comrades were tasked to test
new equipment, capabilities, and operating concepts contributing to
force design.
“We piloted reconnaissance drones, new radio
communications, and much more to see if they are tools we could
utilize for a battalion or only special forces,” Dussaut continued,
“They were also testing what it was like not having an assaultman.
The Marine Corps posed the question of how the combat engineers do
the same things as assaultmen so why have both when we can just have
combat engineers. While I enjoyed being an assaultman, it made
sense.”
As the 0351 assaultman occupation began to disband in
October of 2018, enlisted Marines were faced with the crossroads of
staying in the infantry or doing a lateral move into another
occupation. A lateral move allows military personnel to change their
occupation and further career progression. Dussaut reflected on the
experiences and opportunities he was given and realized he was no
longer the rebellious teen he was years ago.
“I wanted to
live the life of an infantry assaultman and I did. I shot rocket
launchers and played with demolitions,” Dussaut continued, “I got
that fill but I was ready to have a practical job that can translate
to the civilian world easily. I had past interests and skills with
computers, so during the disbandment I lateral moved to
communications.”
Dussaut noticed that as the Marine Corps
developed, so had he. He decided to take the lessons he learned as
an assaultman and apply them to his new occupation, data systems
administrator. As a result, he developed a universal mental tenacity
and utilizes lessons learned from the leaders before him to his
Marines today.
“It definitely helped me mold my leadership
style because I learned a lot of what not to do. Those experiences
in the infantry weren’t necessarily good for me but having those
experiences changed my perspective. It’s like Thomas Edison’s
saying, ‘I didn't fail 1,000 times to make a lightbulb, I found
1,000 ways to not make a lightbulb,” Dussaut continues, “However, a
lesson I still apply is one my platoon sergeant told me; time never
stops. You will have good days and they will end. Likewise, you will
have bad days and they will end. Some hardships may seem like they
will last forever but they won’t because everything is in constant
change. You can not stop time.”
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