MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT/EASTERN RECRUITING REGION, PARRIS ISLAND S.C.-- -- The stereotypical Marine is a muscular, young, clean-cut man standing 6-feet tall with big biceps and tight abs. The stereotype of a martial arts instructor is likely more extreme. Combine the two and you have an individual with godlike attributes.
While Depot Reproduction Marine, Lance Cpl. Robert E. Feliz' 5-foot, 5-inch, 130-pound frame hardly fits this demigod image, his extraordinary spirit has allowed him to complete nearly three weeks of the toughest training he's ever undergone at the Green Belt Instructor Course of the Corps' martial arts program.
Feliz, a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, graduated Aug. 16 from the course. Looking at him, one would hardly think he would be in charge of training Marines how to dominate the opposition in hand-to-hand combat on the battlefield.
Growing up on the mean streets of Santo Domingo, Feliz learned early on that life was hard, and in order for him to survive, he would have to make a change in his life.
"Sammy," as his friends know him, left the Dominican Republic and arrived in the Washington area when he was 18 years old and enlisted in the Marine Corps less than a year later in August 2000.
Feliz wasted no time. After completion of recruit training and training for his Military Occupational Specialty, he arrived back on the depot in July 2001.
He quickly found being stationed in Beaufort was nothing like his native homeland and started looking for ways to keep himself busy.
Finding an interest in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, Feliz developed that interest into a passion for the training.
"I love to train," said Feliz. "They say the Marine Corps is a force in readiness. I just want to make sure I'm ready to go when the blood's about to flow."
Feliz takes the same high-speed, can-do, no-quit attitude to all he does, whether he is at work or at home.
"He's high speed," said Staff Sgt. Kevin McCants, Feliz's staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge. "At work, I know I can depend on him to get the job done."
McCants, who is also a MCMAP instructor, has nothing but confidence in the 21-year-old.
"I know he'll be a fine instructor," he said. "Not only is he teachable, but he loves to share his knowledge."
Feliz's motivation for training doesn't stop there. Recently, during a trip to the gas chamber for his annual training, he requested to go through twice after seeing other Marines running for the doors.
"I wanted to motivate them," said Feliz. "That and I loved being in there."
Feliz attributes his hardcore attitude toward training to his time spent in his homeland.
"It's a different world over there," he said. "You learn one of life's little lessons every day."
Feliz recalls a lesson he learned at the age of 10. His father came home one day with a baby pig and gave it to him as a pet. For the next year, Feliz cared for and raised "Bienvenir" until he realized nothing in life was for certain.
"On Christmas Eve, my family waited until I went with some friends to play basketball before they sprang their trap," said Feliz. "When I got home, I found out we were having pig for dinner. That was my pig!"
From that day on, Feliz learned that in order to make it, he would have to both test himself every day and take his pets with him every time he left the house.
"Now I don't have to worry," said Feliz. "They don't let me keep pets in the barracks anyway."
Although Feliz finds that day both humorous and hurtful, he remains loyal to his family by bettering himself every day in hopes of providing them with a positive role model to emulate.
"They're really important to me," he said. "If I can show them I am successful, maybe some of them will follow in my footsteps.
"That's why I train so hard and push myself the way I do. Besides that, I don't want to develop a gut the way so many of my friends do."
Having the opportunity to instruct his friends in a MCMAP course is something Feliz remains eager to do.
"I can't train anybody until I pick up corporal," he said. "Once I do, they better watch out because that's when I'll get my kill on!"