High School Senior Hopes to Have Military Career

Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Tre Crain,

Accomplishment: Tre, a Giants fan who played football for the Cardinals up until this month, is entering his senior year and is carefully charting a career in the U.S. military after he graduates college with a degree in Political Science.

Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness: Tre’s love of the military started at age 3, when he was exposed to stories of his uncle’s involvement in the Army Rangers followed by a multi-tiered career immersed in law enforcement. His Christmas lists from then on entailed only requests for G.I. Joe figures and video games centered around combat. Tre’s knowledge of military history and weaponry is both extensive and impressive.

Q&A with Tre:

• Tell me about your decision to attend college before entering the military? It’s not the typical decision to do it that way, is it?
  No, a lot of kids go right from high school. I know that I want a military career, and want to join a branch for 20-plus years, and then retire. Some people do it to pay for college. This is what I want for the rest of my life. I want to retire with the military, and it’s something I have always wanted. It probably started because my uncle sent me G.I. Joes when I was little. He was definitely a strong influence. I also started watching military movies and my grandfather served in World War II as a naval officer. I wear his dog tags. I knew this was what I wanted. Always. I’m not sure whether it’s going to be the Marines or the Army yet, maybe both. I am exploring both fully.
  
  
• Are you looking at ROTC Programs for college?
  I considered it, but I want to see if I can play some more football in school and have a normal college experience. If I don’t play football, there is a Marine program in Hackensack. I’d like to explore that.
  
  
• What appeals to you about being a part of today’s military?
  Well, I think there’s a level of prestige that comes along with it. People can relate to it. You’re a respectable person to serve our country.
  
  
• Have you considered the possibility that you might end up being sent into combat or war zones? Afghanistan or Iraq, for example?
  Of course. It doesn’t really bother me. If anything, I’d want to fight for my country. Everyone should want to fight for their country, for what’s right. There’s a reason we are wherever we are. We’re there to help, to make things right, better, setting up nations that can then sustain themselves. We won’t be there forever.
  
  
• I understand you are also an avid reader. What kind of books do you favor?
  I like books about military strategy, and books about people who are survivors, who survive war. I love Marcus Luttrell’s The Lone Survivor, about a Navy Seal whose whole team got wiped out, and a step-by-step account of what he had to do to survive. I like educating myself. Another great book is The Art of War by Sun Tzu. It’s about ancient Chinese culture and warfare but the theories and strategy are so applicable today. I’ve read the book and others’ interpretations - the copy I have has a translation annotation and cultural explanation in the back. The book says a lot about leadership, and what works vs. what doesn’t as a commander. It tells you how to carry yourself as a soldier and as a person. I also read Kids Are People, Too by Bill O’Reilly. I took a few things away from that, but mostly, that some older people do need to acknowledge that [kids] should have liberties. We are capable of being a part of things, making some decisions. People should focus on molding us, rather than simply restricting us. We are the future of this country.