McCarthy, Scott, GySgt

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS.
I was a rebellious teenager who had a father that served in the Marine Corps for twenty-seven years, as an enlisted man, warrant officer and commissioned officer. He spent his whole time in the infantry. He completed three combat tours in Vietnam with Lima 3/26, Hotel 2/7 and with the Joint Casualty Resolution Center.

I grew up listening to all of his stories about the Marine Corps and time in combat. The one thing I truly wanted to know was why he was such a hard ass all the time and I realized the only way to find out was to embark on the same journey for myself.

I enjoyed a twenty year career as one of our nations finest and I now understand my father.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
I enlisted in 1987 and attended recruit training at Parris Island as a member of Company A, Plt 1093. I then attended Infantry training at Camp Pendelton. Upon graduating from the School of Infantry I received orders to the 1st MEB in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii where I took the indoctrination for Recon and was accepted for duty with Company A, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. After five years in paradise I was transferred to Det Force Reconnaissance Company (later re-designated 5th Force Recon Co.) 3rd SRIG, where I spent three years when I received orders sending me finally to the east coast and Camp Lejeune for duty with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion and 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company. I ended my career with a tour of duty with II MEF Special Operations Training Group.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
I participated in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm with 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion as a young Corporal and again as a Gunnery Sergeant with 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I also participated in contingency operations in the former Zaire and again in Liberia.

Iraq was the most significant for me because I was the Platoon Sergeant and took 22 Marines into Iraq and brought 22 Marines home. The greatest achievement of my career.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
My fondest memories are of my time in Hawaii with A company 3rd Recon. It was a beautiful place to be stationed and I was still young enough to truly enjoy it.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
My first day in Company A, 3rd Recon. Not only was this my first unit, but it was with a Recon unit. I was a nineteen year old Private First Class with now fleet time under my belt and was scared do death of what I was getting myself into.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
I received no combat "V"'s during my tours. I did however receive an Air Force medal for saving the life of an Air Force Captain in Turkey. We were there as part of Operation Dynamic Mix conducting diving operations and were notified as we were boarding the plane to come home that there was an Air Force officer that was suffering from decompression sickness due to a recreational dive in the Red Sea three days earlier and there was no US chamber facility in country other than our deployable chamber. We returned top the port facility and treated the young Captain for two days and she was able to return to full duty.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. I have 7 and received them from doing what Marines are supposed to do, forward deploy!

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
As I previously stated, my Father spent twenty-seven years as a Marine. He enlisted in 1956, went through the ranks to SSgt then became an infantry Gunner and ultimately retired as a Major.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
During my first week in Recon, the company was conducting a Two week team competition event called Operation Cowboy Bear. I had no experience and we were thrust into a team and into the competition. The old salts liked to razz us new boots, and I was told to report to the company Gunny and request batteries for the PRC E7! (get it?).

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
I Retired from active duty in 2007 but still had the desire to serve and be close to Marines so I accepted a job with a government contractor and became an Instructor at the Marine Corps Engineer Center at Camp Lejeune, training Marines in counter IED operations and Route Clearance before they deploy to combat.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I am a life member of the American Legion Post 95, the Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. I joined these organizations because they continue the spirit of camaraderie and they still provide support to our service men and women as well as our fellow veterans.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
My time in the Corps gave me a deep sense of commitment to anything and everything that I do. For this reason I am able to work a full time job and still attend college. I still don't know how to deal with civilians but I approach everything with integrity and a never give up attitude.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE MARINE CORPS?
In no other walk of life will you make the same relationships as in the Corps or the service. they are truly lifelong so Keep the faith and take care of each other.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
Together We Served Has been a tremendous asset in giving me the ability to re-connect with old friends that I don't think I would have had otherwise. I am grateful for the creators of this site for continuing to serve veterans in this unique way.

DMR