Marine Rifleman Heading To War In Afghanistan

By Andrew Gorosko

Rylan McCollum, 21, of Sandy Hook is facing some major changes in his life as the US Marine Corps member prepares to travel to Afghanistan in early March to become part of a Marine Corps’ fighting unit in the ongoing war against terrorism.

Private First Class McCollum became a Marine just over one year ago, after he left his post as one of the town’s dispatchers at the emergency dispatch center at Town Hall South. In that position, Mr McCollum had spent two years fielding a wide range of calls from the public requesting help from police, fire, and ambulance personnel.

In an interview at the Sandy Hook Firehouse, where Mr McCollum is a member, he said that some aspects of his past year of Marine training are more challenging than he had expected. One challenging part of military life is being away from family, friends, and fire company members for an extended period of time, he noted.

“I’ve definitely grown physically stronger, definitely [become] more disciplined,” he said of the arduous Marine Corps training program designed to toughen up people before they face armed combat.

In a practical, military sense, the infantryman has developed fighting skills that will help him as he faces the enemy in warfare, he noted.

“I’ve certainly gained a new perspective on being a citizen,” he said. “It’s a far cry from civilian life,” he said added.

Since joining the Marines in February 2007, much of his time has been spent in physical training and in field exercises in preparing for warfare, he explained.

He said he expects that life in Afghanistan as a Marine will both be interesting and intense as he serves in a counterinsurgency role. As a rifleman handling a M-16, his job will be to seek out and destroy terrorists, he said.

Mr McCollum is a member of Bravo Company with the 1st Battalion of the 6th Marine Regiment. When in Afghanistan, Mr McCollum will with the 2nd Marine Division functioning as the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Before his departure to Afghanistan, Mr McCollum’s rank will be elevated to lance corporal.

On the prospect of being at war, Mr McCollum said, “I’m a little nervous. I’m a little excited.”

His initial military service in Afghanistan is slated to last seven months, with a possible extension of another five months, he said.

The living conditions which he will face are uncertain, he said, noting that he might live on a military base or find himself in relatively primitive conditions. “We’re not sure what our living conditions will be,” he said.

Of his decision to join the Marines, Mr McCollum said, “I’m confident I made the right decision. I’m looking forward to doing my job, doing what I joined for.”

He said he expects that serving as a Marine likely will be the toughest thing he will ever do in his life, but also will be something that he looks back on as having been a good decision.

“It’s impossible to know how it’s going to affect [me]…I hope that I come back better for it,” he said.

Having been away from town for the past year while training as a Marine, Mr McCollum said he misses his hometown.

“I definitely miss Newtown…I enjoy coming back,” he said.

“I definitely do miss the dispatch [center]. I have a lot of fond memories there,” he said.

Mr McCollum said he would advise anyone who is considering joining the military to think clearly about making such a decision, as the military life is not for everyone.

“It certainly isn’t easy. There’s a lot of sacrifices that have to be made…I wanted to improve myself physically. I wanted to serve my country,” he said.

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 the Riverside section of Sandy Hook.