Each day that passed was one day closer to my last, and one day closer to what I thought would be a future marriage and the start of my life as a family man. The weekend was so hard on me because I started to fall in love with Marines all over again. The Marines from the old platoon were just like Marines are, easy to bond with, rough on the edges, sarcastic, humorous, and ready to train. One Marine in particular quickly became a good friend of mine, Jason. Jason would be taking over my job as the Chief Scout sniper and like myself he was a former active duty Marine, having served in recon nearly 8 years prior. Jason also shared with me in the fact that he too was a christian and is the associate pastor at a church in Mt. Shasta, California. We quickly bonded, sharing laughs and sweat as we trained the Marines according to the schedule I had created for the drill. Jason and I would later share tears as well, tears I didn't realize would come.
Because I had to turn in all my gear I didn't have a sleeping system that weekend. Although the sniper platoon was at the drill center we were required by the Captain to sleep outside. Not a problem, however it was April in Reno, and it was cold. After roughing it for 3 nights and freezing each night, on the last night Gunny and the rest of the leadership in the platoon decided that for my last night I should stay indoors and get a good nights rest. As I was laying on the floor regretting the fact that I was comfy on the hard tile floor while the rest of the Marines were out freezing, I couldn't help but sob. I don't really know or understand the point of it, but my heart hurt, especially because here it was, an end of an era and rather than being with Marines on my last night as one, I was indoors, and comfortable. As I was texting Jason I received a text from him. The text was actually a video, without giving the details of the video it was the newer Marines in the platoon breaking in their ghillie suits from training earlier that afternoon. I lost it. I wasn't there during that portion of training that day because I was busy with Gunny and the Captain checking out of the unit, however in that moment I was back in the midst of it all, back in my ghillie, crawling through the mud as a new PIG.　
The following morning started my last day in the Marine Corps. That day we were given a lecture and brief by the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps reserve. The lecture was about the changes that were coming to the sniper community due to the unprofessionalism of some snipers and the "Political Correctness" of the American military. Not only was it my last day and an end of a personal era, it was the end of a sniper era as some symbols and terms were being removed from the sniper community. The SS lightning bolts had been a Scout Sniper(SS) symbol for decades and were now being removed from all memorabilia and removed as the sniper symbol on a map because of politics. Long story short, a small part of history was removed from the Marine Corps that day. With the sniper community being as small as it is with less than 300 school trained snipers on active duty and less than 60 in the reserves, it was a blow to our history and pride.　
Finally the moment had arrived. It was time for my last moments as a Marine and Gunny allowed me to address the platoon. Standing in front of the group of Marines I was overcome with sorrow and pride. I don't recall exactly what I said but it was hard to get through words between the tears and weeping. In that moment I realized how much I loved the Marine Corps and Marines and how much I was giving up. When I left active duty I was so bitter and angry towards the Marine Corps I couldn't care less when I left. But God had allowed me to restore the relationship between the Corps and myself and now I was choosing to walk away. After my short speech the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps reserves presented me a challenge coin and said I reminded him so much of why he is still a Marine and he complemented me on my heart and thanked me for my service to the unit, our country, and Corps.　
Sitting here today in India and looking back, I realize that God has walked through so much of my life with me. He's taken my hurts and pains and restored so many things in my life. He restored my heart towards people, he restored my relationships with friends and family, and even my relationship with the Marine Corps. I am grieved at times thinking of those days, I loved and love the Marine Corps. There is no doubt in my heart I was made to be a gunslinger, I was a Hunter Of Gunman(HOG), I set out and accomplished nearly everything I put my heart towards in the military. But God has shifted the direction and desires of my heart to hunt down the devil and to restore and reveal the hearts of men. God told me about 6 months ago that "as men feared you as a sniper, hell will fear you as a son." My new destiny and purpose is redeeming people and bringing the kingdom of heaven close to them.　
My old reserve unit, the 4th Anti-terrorism Battalion is no more, due to budget cuts they have disbanded the unit. My active duty unit 3rd Battalion 4th Marines is currently on their 3rd and last deployment to Afghanistan and will be disbanded within the year. As this chapter has closed in my life and as the era's have ended, I look forward and press on toward the destiny and call that is on my life now. Seeking after God and all that He has, following the favor of God that is on my life in specific areas, and seeking out to free those the enemy has in bondage. Acts 10:38 says "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him." My responsibility is to heal those who are oppressed, I am to set the captives free, and there is nothing in my life that can be as rewarding and fulfilling as this mission and call. It's time to close this old chapter, and step into my destiny.　
