Happy 241st Birthday Marines!

Once a Marine...

Prior to lunch time, Cox Business Training Consultant Jorge Hernandez goes to the Cox Communications gym in Foothill Ranch to do his PT (Physical Training). The former Marine likes to stick to his routine.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Hernandez has shown an interest in the U.S. Marine Corps since he immigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador when he was 14. He received a pen with the “Eagle, Globe and Anchor,” the official emblem and insignia of the USMC, and thought about how cool it was.

When he graduated from Belmont High School in 1984, his interest would take him to a Marine recruiter where he would enlist and begin serving his country and learning the skills that stick with him to this day.

At the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) in San Diego (the military installation where Hernandez arrived after reporting for duty) there are yellow footprints where new recruits must stand to attention.

“When I stood on those footprints, I realized what a huge responsibility it would be to serve my country,” said Hernandez. “I thought of all the people who stood on these footprints before me and asked myself if I could make this commitment.”

Make the commitment he did, and during his seven years of military service he learned about setting up telecommunication networks for field operations, training new Marines and surviving in hot weather (during his time serving in Desert Storm and Desert Shield).

In 1991, Hernandez was honorably discharged and took his telecommunications experience to Century Communications where he worked for over seven years…until one day he had a wonderful Cox experience. Hernandez contacted Cox to switch out his cable box and he was surprised that they were able to send a technician at 7:30 p.m. He was very impressed with the Cox service.

Cox was just getting into the phone business, and in 1998, Hernandez became a Net Ops technician for Cox.

Drawing from his experience as a Marine Sergeant and his passion for training, he became a trainer for Cox in 2001. He continued to serve in a variety of roles at Cox over the next 18 years and exhibit the same discipline and commitment to the job and his fellow coworkers.

In his current role, Hernandez travels extensively throughout the country and has noticed some similarities between Cox and the USMC.

“Regardless of which doors you walk through, if you’re a Cox employee, you’re treated as family,” said Hernandez. “We all want to do our best, and that makes life and work easier.”

Hernandez is the father of three children. He lives in Rancho Santa Margarita with his wife and daughter. His two sons are currently attending UC Berkeley and Sonoma State. When he isn’t traveling, Hernandez is a volunteer soccer referee and is an avid fan of the Barcelona and LA Galaxy soccer teams. On his bucket list is to visit the Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington D.C.

At the age of 50, Hernandez returns from his lunch workout, preparing for his next task. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Semper Fi.