Emergency Dispatcher To Become

Marine Corps Infantryman

By Andrew Gorosko

After having spent the past two years fielding a wide range of calls from the public as one of the town’s emergency dispatchers, a local man has opted to channel his sense of duty into a different realm as he becomes a member of the United States Marine Corps (USMC).

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Riverside resident Rylan McCollum, 20, of his desire to become a member of the military.

“I see the Marines as having a higher reputation than the other [military] branches,” he said of his interest in joining the organization. The Marine Corps is a unit of the US Department of the Navy.

Mr McCollum will be leaving Newtown for his initial military processing on February 12. He has enlisted to become an infantryman, serving for four years in active service, and then for four years as an inactive reservist.

His initial training will include 13 weeks at the USMC Recruit Depot at Parris Island, S.C. After graduating from basic training, he would spend at least eight weeks in infantry training at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Following that training, Mr McCollum expects he would be based in the United States, with the potential for deployment to an overseas post.

“I’m not doing it because it’s easy. I’m doing it because it’s hard. I want that challenge in my life. I’m seeking excellence…I will do my best to stay safe,” Mr McCollum said of his future in the military.

“I hope to gain invaluable experience and training,” he said. He adds he expects the experience that he gains as a Marine would serve him through his lifetime.

There is a high likelihood that he would serve in the ongoing wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, he said. The prospect of fighting in those wars as a Marine was not a factor in his decision to join the organization, he said.

Mr McCollum said he started considering a career in the military when he was in seventh grade, looking forward to the day when he would enlist.

Mr McCollum said working as an emergency dispatcher has been an educational experience for him.

“It’s a very stressful job [with] a lot of tough things to handle,” he said. Such work experience has helped him handle stressful situations calmly, he said.

Like the other dispatchers with whom he has worked, Mr McCollum has provided emergency medical information to callers in seeking to keep their emergency situations stable until an ambulance crew and paramedic arrive at the scene.

Tom Ramsdell works as an emergency dispatcher with Mr McCollum.

Mr Ramsdell said Mr McCollum’s entering the military is a good career choice, which will provide him with much valuable experience.

“Rylan is a very nice, fun, and outgoing person…It was very pleasurable working with Rylan. He’s easy to work with…I wish him the best of luck,” Mr Ramsdell said.

Joseph DelBuono is the town’s director of emergency communications, heading the Town Hall South dispatching center for police, fire, and ambulance calls.

Of Mr McCollum’s decision to join the Marines, Mr DelBuono said, “It’s honorable and it’s admirable.”

“It’ll be a big change… He thought it out...He didn’t make the decision lightly,” Mr DelBuono said.

“He was an excellent employee for us…very capable,” Mr DelBuono added.

Mr McCollum was very perceptive when he received emergency calls, discerning the magnitude of emergency situations, Mr DelBuono said. He was able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, which is an important trait in a dispatcher, he added.

“He has a lot of potential. He’s still maturing…We’re sorry to see him go. We’ll really miss him,” Mr DelBuono said.

Mr McCollum is a member of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, serving as an engineer in maintaining that fire company’s rescue truck.

Mr McCollum graduated in 2004 from Fairfield College Preparatory School, also known as Fairfield Prep, a Catholic high school run by Jesuit priests in Fairfield. He is the son of Laurie McCollum of Riverside.