Give a Marine a challenge…
Unafraid, alert and up for the challenge, a few Marine veterans find themselves in jail; to up the ante, they volunteered for the experience. In the first 4 seasons of 60 Days In, there were three Marine veterans (self-identified on the show) who volunteered. In addition there was one Marine veteran involuntarily incarcerated, one who was a chief jailor, and one who falsely claimed he was a Marine (to the uproar of the Marine veteran volunteers). The Marine veterans went so far as to involve incarcerated gang members in the prison to test the inmate on Marine Corps knowledge — and the inmate predictably failed the test. As it turns out, whatever you did to get in jail, even there you cannot steal the title of Marine.
The premise of the show includes volunteers who go behind bars, and undercover, they observe and acquire insights of the jail, the inmates and the guards. Upon exiting the program they provide their insights to help improve the operations of the jails going forward.
Marine veteran reservist Zac handled himself very well. His low key approach and sense of how to handle himself let him navigate the situation successfully. In addition to providing tips to future volunteers, while in he also reflected:
It’s baffling to me these guys are people who’ve broken the law and are locked up and they are getting better food than guys who volunteer to serve their country.
Another Marine veteran, Nate, who like Zac had a calming presence and awareness to his surroundings had an ability to handle stress exceptionally well. So well in fact he was asked to stay another 60 days. Despite hardships to his fiancé, he agreed to do so. Nate never flinched from violence amongst the inmates, yet he was reluctant to engage in any himself or encourage it when another inmate stole and then broke his rented iPad.
Like many of the other veterans on the show, Nate found the goodness in some inmates and did what he could to help those whom he could reach. Nate genuinely liked his gang affiliated cell mate and encouraged his cell mate to consider a better life after his stint in jail.
Zac and Nate, on camera, came across as strong men. Men who benefitted from their experience and training in the Marine Corps. Both modelled decency, strength, courage and leadership under challenging circumstances. All things which Marines challenge themselves to uphold in the Marine Corps and as veterans in civilian life.
Marines are not just warriors, they are also peacekeepers, humanitarians, and ambassadors of good will.
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