Interview of Jason Moffitt by Claire Harrison

November 2, 2016

Sergeant Major Jason Moffitt was born on July 3, 1970, in Springfield, Illinois. Although his father was a Vietnam veteran, young Jason Moffitt did not plan on following in his father’s footsteps. He wanted to attend college and raise a family—the quintessential American Dream. But for Sergeant Major Moffitt, his dream took a very different shape from that of most Americans.

Eighteen-year-old Jason Moffitt arrived at Marine Corps Recruiting Depot (MCRD) San Diego on August 2, 1988, to begin the process of becoming a United States Marine. Unable to afford a college education on his own, he originally intended to serve for four years, return to college using the GI Bill, and go on to lead a normal civilian life. However, after finishing basic training, Sergeant Major Moffitt left for his first deployment to South Asia and never looked back. He had found his calling in life, and he would spend the next 29 years fulfilling it.

During his years of service, Sergeant Major Moffitt visited every continent but Antarctica. He deployed nine times. He served as the Sergeant Major of First Recruit Training Battalion at MCRD Parris Island from 2012 to 2014, gaining the unique perspective that comes from experiencing the training at both MCRD San Diego and MCRD Parris Island. Sergeant Major Moffitt’s story is one of an unexpected but lifelong love affair with the toughest military branch of America’s Armed Forces. He is a true Marine, and every aspect of his character reflects the candid integrity, fortitude, and discipline revered by those who serve as members of this elite fighting force.

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