Parents' Stories
Brothers in Arms
Two sons from one family find focus in the Military.Like most brothers, Adam and David Marquis grew up with different interests and personalities. Adam, the eldest, did well in school but never really found his passion. Younger son David had many interests but struggled with authority.
“He didn’t like to take orders,” said the boys’ mother, Arlene Marquis.
What both boys shared was typical of many teenagers: They didn’t know what they wanted to do after high school. Then, a cousin who was serving in the Army talked to them. David was the first to decide that the Military might be a good option.
“David is more of an introspective type of person,” said Arlene, “So he wouldn’t talk about his plans until he really had them mapped out. I was a little surprised at first, because he didn’t seem to me to be the kind of kid who would want to get interested in the Military.”
But Arlene quickly realized that David was serious. He was attracted to the educational opportunities the Military provided, as well as the discipline he knew he would obtain in the Service. David enlisted in the Army Reserve while still in high school and attended Basic Training during the summer between his junior and senior year.
Senior year, during fall semester, there was a noticeable difference between David and his classmates.
“I knew there was a big change in him. I could see it in his face and in the way that he carried himself. And when he went back to high school, I could see a difference between him and his friends.” Arlene beamed with pride. “He had crossed over from being a teenager to being an adult.”
Arlene notes that David’s schoolwork improved, and he was better able to focus, even on subjects like English, which he had previously found difficult. With a stronger work ethic and increased maturity, David completed his senior year with flying colors. And, in an ironic twist, the boy who once balked at authority decided to attend college and enroll in the ROTC program. He hopes to build on his leadership skills and eventually serve as an officer.
“He did learn to control that part of him that was explosive. I think if he hadn’t gone into the Military, he would still have a problem with that,” remarked Arlene. Older brother Adam, meanwhile, decided serving in the Army would help him find direction.
“I think that for Adam, he was just at loose ends. No idea whatsoever what he wanted to do. He didn’t know what he was interested in. The advanced training was where he finally developed his focus.”
When the boys enlisted, Arlene spoke to them about the importance of choosing the right job specialty. She wanted her sons to acquire skills that would benefit them in the Service and thereafter.
“It seemed like a shame to spend all this time and energy learning something that could only be used in the Military,” she commented. She was pleased that her sons settled into fields that could develop into rewarding civilian careers: David in medical administration and Adam in satellite communications.
“Adam, much to my surprise, found out that he really likes working with computers and is getting into programming. He was working in satellite communications for his advanced training, and when he would call home, he would tell me all about the classes he was taking and how interesting they were. So this is what he’s pursuing now. He was a very smart boy, but he had no self-discipline. That’s what the Army gave him.”
Arlene Marquis is proud of both of her sons, the experiences they have gained and how they have grown.
“When they came home I had to look at both boys as not being boys anymore, but being men. I think that the way we started treating them was more mature … we had to stop seeing them as just teenagers. They’ve earned the right to be treated as adults.”
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