By Stephanie Bunker
Moapa Valley Progress
For the last three months Zach Frehner, son of Willie and Holly Frehner, has been put to the test in the Marine Corps Basic Training. On August 10 Frehner graduated from basic training in San Diego, California at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot.
Though getting through basic training is considered a big accomplishment, Frehner isn’t finished with his training yet. After a 10 day break, Frehner will be ship out to Camp Pendleton in North Carolina for three more months of intense training. There he will receive infantry training along with more physical training. When he is through with the programs at Camp Pendleton, Frehner will then be headed to Virginia for close quarters combat training.
What motivated Frehner to join the Marine Corps?
“I was looking for a lot of adventure and something that would bring a sense of accomplishment,” Frehner said in an interview. “It gives me a lot of opportunities as well.”
During basic training, Frehner said that he learned to adapt and overcome. In other words, this meant to learn fast and move fast, he said.
Of course there was also plenty of marching and physical exercise, he said.
“It was day to day intensity and fast paced,” Frehner said. “They expected perfection and precision.”
One of the perks of service in the Marines is that the Corps offers to pay for schooling. This incentive was especially appealing to Frehner.
“The Marines offer so much with schooling and a job,” Frehner said. “I am going to work hard and just see where it takes me.”
Although Frehner has signed up for a 5 year contract, he said he keeps an open mind about making it a career in his life.
Frehner doesn’t have immediate plans to be shipped out after training. He said one of his officers said that, even though the US is pulling troops out of Iraq, there is always going to be a conflict somewhere that will need military influence.
“Of course I don’t want to go,” Frehner said. “But I will be ready when I’m called to.”
