KOTZEBUE, AK. -- Discipline. The foundation of every successful Marine and Sailor. Petty Officer 3rd Class Victor A. Gonzalez is a Plano, Texas, native and Reserve Sailor who through the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, instills a number of mental and character discipline requirements in his students to develop their Warrior Ethos.
The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program focuses on personal development of each Marine and Sailor in a team framework using a standardized closed combat system. It embodies the Marine Corps fundamental values of honor, courage and commitment to enhance the skills of each student striving to achieve a higher belt level.
Gonzalez is a dental technician based out of Fort Worth, Texas, with 4th Dental Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, and is participating with his unit at Innovative Readiness Training Arctic Care 2018 in the Northwest Arctic Borough of the state of Alaska, April 13-27, 2018. When he’s not conducting his naval training, Gonzalez serves as a firefighter for the city of Little Elm, Texas.
For this training, he is serving as the lead MCMAP instructor and is responsible for the successful training of each of his students.
“What is unique about instructing MCMAP for Arctic Care is that it’s not just the Navy and Marine Corps participating,” Gonzalez said. “It is an opportunity for individuals from the other services, and the Canadian Armed Forces, to get involved and see what our training is all about.”
Gonzalez joined the Navy in 2009 and served 5 years active duty before making the transition to the Reserve side in 2014.
“I joined the military for training, education and life experiences,” Gonzalez said. “I decided to switch to the Reserve side because I wanted to go to school full time and further my education, but still wanted the component of the military in my life. Joining the Reserves seemed like it would give me the ability to have the best of both worlds.”
Reserve Marines spend two weeks each year building their capabilities at an Annual Training exercise. This year, 4th Dental Battalion is conducting readiness training by providing medical care to 12 remote villages in the Northwest Arctic Borough. This training helps ensure the service members are ready to activate whenever the nation calls.
“As a health care providers and service members, we are servants of the community,” Gonzalez said. “Participating in training like Arctic Care is a double win for all of us involved because we are sharpening our skills, while at the same time making a lasting impact on the local community. Service members should absolutely jump on the chance to participate in an IRT whenever the opportunity comes up.”