Jess Merino '20, Serving a Greater Purpose

Jess Merino is a senior from Chicago, majoring in exercise science with a concentration in human performance, and a member of the Women’s Basketball team.

Student Spotlight

“During high school, I knew I wanted to go to college and I wanted to be in the Service, and basketball was my first passion. I had to figure out how I could do all three,” said Merino. “When I came on my visit to Quincy I met the whole basketball team, had lunch with them and saw the team dynamic. I kind of got that feeling like, ‘Okay, I think this is where I belong.’”

At the beginning of Merino’s junior year at QU, she received a mass email from a recruiting officer about being able to go to school, train for the Marines during the summer, and then go back to school. She decided to respond that she wanted to learn more. Merino met with the recruiting officer from the Champaign office at the University of Illinois. During this meeting Merino learned about the Platoon Leaders Course, a ten-week program over the summer called Officer Candidate School. This program is the officer’s side of basic training, and candidates must have a college degree (or be in pursuit of one). The benefit of this program is that it is not binding; it’s more of a trial period for candidates. If they graduate, they have a choice to accept their commission or not.

Merino flew out to Quantico, Virginia, on June 1, 2020, starting an indescribable journey into the Marine Corps.

“As soon as we pulled into the base, we got on what they call “Brown Field,” which is where Officer Candidate School is. The bus stops, and a Sergeant Instructor gets on and immediately starts yelling at us. We all have to yell back, and at that point it was chaos. We didn’t know what we were doing,” says Merino.

800 candidates reported for the ten-week program as a training class referred to as a battalion. The commanding officer split the class into three companies (groups). During the ten-week training, the officers graded the candidates on physical fitness, academics, and leadership. They attended classes, had written exams, and fitness events. Anyone who fell below 80% in any of those areas, were put on probation.

“I found it very difficult there because I wasn’t used to the sleep deprivation. We were up at zero-four-thirty, got very little sleep, and the activity level was just something that I had never experienced before; along with the stress. It was very hard to stay awake during classes,” said Merino. “My grades

suffered from it. I was actually in danger of being sent home. But, it came down to the very last exam for me. Luckily, I was able to pull through, and I ended up graduating.”

Throughout the training Merino lived a military lifestyle. From the 4:30 a.m. wake-up call, to bed inspections, locker inspections, down to the language, measuring the tape used to mark belongings, and a certain way to lace boots, Merino’s lifestyle came down to timely structure.

“I adapted to a military lifestyle, there’s a method to everything,” said Merino. “I took pride in that discipline.”

The adjustment back to civilian life in Quincy was hard for Merino. Because the recruiting officer is two hours away, it’s up to Merino to stay on top of her training and discipline she learned over the summer. Once basketball season is over, she plans to increase her physical training, but still maintains simple disciplines such as making her bed every morning and making sure her clothes are folded and not wrinkled.

The next steps for Merino will require discipline and persistence...and it all lays in her hands. After finishing up her semester

at QU, Merino has chosen to accept her commission. On May 30, 2020, Merino will swear in as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps at a commissioning ceremony. In August or September, she will spend six months back in Quantico, Virginia, for Second Lieutenants training learning how to conduct in combat situations, as well as exploring different field options to pursue.

Merino mentions that whatever position she ends up doing in the Marine Corps, she wants to help others and continue the Franciscan values she learned at QU.

“The focus on the Franciscan values and the community service with service learning hours...all of that, even though it’s required, it wasn’t a chore. Doing it made me feel good,” said Merino. “ My faith has definitely gotten a lot stronger since I have been here and as I’ve gone through my training. We all got a lot stronger in our faith there, since in times of struggle, you tend to lean on your faith. It’s a great thing.”

“It goes back to my patriotism, my pride in my country, my desire to serve and help others, and to be an example," said Merino. “Just knowing that what I’m doing serves a greater purpose than just for myself.”