MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, Bridgeport, Calif. -- -- Cpl. Ceaser Marin, a 21-year-old CH-53E Super Stallion mechanic from Houston, continues to live his Marine Corps dream.
Growing up, Marin constantly worked with his hands, leading him to pursue a career in mechanics. Since most of Marin’s family joined the military or police force, Marin wanted to apply his skills in those fields.
Marin was the president of his automotive class at the Alief Hastings High School, Houston, and later took multiple online courses to become a licensed mechanic.
“He was a mechanic before he joined the Marine Corps and that helped him a lot as far as being maintenance for the aircraft,” said Gunnery Sgt. Joe Ochoa, the HMH-462 avionics Staff Non-Commissioned Officer. “If he is already a licensed mechanic, the [CH-53E] is just another step to it.”
When Ochoa first met Marin, the characteristics of hard work and dedication were evident.
“I decided that I wanted to be in the Marine Corps when I was just a little kid; there was nothing else I wanted to be,” said Marin, an avionics technician with HMH-462. “I always kept that expectation of one day becoming a Marine and now here I am.”
As an avionics technician, he is responsible for all of the electronics on an aircraft as well as any wiring that connects to an electrical system.
Marin’s military occupational specialty is essential to the CH-53E community. Without his job, the CH-53E could suffer many electrical malfunctions including: GPS failure, lighting issues, engines malfunctions, landing gear and counter measures.
One of the most satisfying things about his job is when he notices there is a problem, fully understands it, fixes it and gets the bird flying again, said Marin.
“I always wanted to do something hands on because that is what I’ve done my entire life, but I wanted to be in the military because of my family and working on the CH-53E is actually pretty interesting; it’s not always the same thing every day,” said Marin. “It’s always something different, and that’s why I love my MOS.”