MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Many young men and women leave for recruit training with memories of prom still freshly imprinted in their minds. Others arrive years after high school. One drill instructor, after having earned two college degrees and several years of work experience, celebrated his 32nd birthday in a recruit squadbay.
“Enlisting in the military was something I wanted to do since high school,” said 37-year-old Sgt. Patrick Sheedy, drill instructor, Platoon 2141, Company G. “As time passed, I knew I was pushing the cut-off age of enlistment and that I had to go before I was 32 years old.”
Prior to reaching that point, Sheedy worked at United Parcel Service of America while attending Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, N.Y., where he obtained an associate degree in advertising and design. Seeking an advanced education, he later earned a Bachelor of Science in graphic design from Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, N.Y.
Once he obtained his bachelor’s degree, he worked as a manager for a shipping company for five and a half years.
As manager, Sheedy was responsible for 45 drivers, trained new drivers and worked a variety of shifts, including night shifts. “I tried for the longest time making use of my degree,” said Sheedy, a Syracuse, N.Y., native. “I was making decent money, but it wasn’t at all fulfilling. I finally realized this job wasn’t aggressive enough for me.”
Once Sheedy made the decision to enlist in the Corps, he had to pass physical performance test to receive an age waiver. After he received his waiver, was at recruit training a week later.
“There were other recruits that were only a couple years younger than me, so it didn’t really bother me,” said Sheedy. “I was in physically good shape so I didn’t feel like I had a disadvantage.”
As for the drill instructors, he knew they had years of experience in the Corps and many had had deployed in the past, so he respected that, Sheedy said.
“I never have taken age into account,” he said. “I just treat people based on their professionalism.”
Before he was a drill instructor, Sheedy’s military occupational specialty was assault amphibious crewman.
“Initially I was put into artillery but because I had a swim qualification of level two, I was moved over to the amphibious side,” said Sheedy.
“I am very happy where I am,” said Sheedy. “I may be a few years behind my peers, but all my previous experience helped me to where I am now.”
“The maturity I gathered from my previous jobs helped me tremendously as a noncommissioned officer,” he said.
After three deployments to Iraq, Sheedy feels having the experience prior to enlisting aided him in adapting to the conditions of combat and deployments.
“I think there are some advantages to joining as late as I did,” he said.
Sheedy never got into trouble as a junior Marine, and he thanks his age and maturity were contributing factors.
“I look forward to what’s ahead of me,” said Sheedy. “I have 20 more years to continue this and better myself.”