By Jack Beck ’18 and Jackson Daignault ’18

Dylan Marone ’18 has always been vocal about his desire to join the military, a result of his continuous exploration of post-high school military programs. In the past three months alone, Marone partook in two events that would ultimately strengthen  his military experience and contribute to his already-apparent expertise.

During the summer, Marone attended a Navy Seal Wrestling Camp, which was truly an eye-opening experience for him. “It taught me where my limits were and how much I could push myself,” Marone said.

At wrestling camp, Marone was put up in a bunk with other young men and endured intensive training for one week.  Other than merely working out and wrestling, Marone attended seminars and speeches onsite, where military personnel spoke about their own experiences.

“I met all kinds of people there. CIA agents, FBI agents, Colonel Osborne of the US Army, Dan Miller from Wounded Warrior, a neuro specialist. All types of people spoke, whether they were involved with national security or not.”

Marone also participated in the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security and Defense in Washington D.C., where he spent a week attending seminars that primarily centered on National Security and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), along with other topics involving the armed forces. He was nominated for this forum by his guidance counselor, Ms. Victoria Capozzi, who considered him to be a perfect match for this conference.

“Dylan had told me many times about his increased interest in serving our country, so when I got an email about this leadership conference, I knew Dylan was the right guy to be nominated,” Capozzi said.

Marone, who intends to join the military in the future, met many people involved with both the armed forces and national security at the conference. “People from (the) FBI, CIA, Air Force, Army and the Coast Guard were there.” Said Marone, “Pretty much anyone who had a role in national security.”

Throughout the conference, Marone spent much of his time in  National Security Action Meeting classrooms, learning about the various issues America’s military is involved with.

Marone’s experience at the Navy camp also broadened his experience as a prospective member of the military.

The day-by-day agenda at the camp posed a very difficult challenge, according to Marone. “We’d get up every morning at 5 or 6 (am) and we’d run a couple miles a day, and have a couple practices,”  Marone said. “And end the night out with a really tough workout with some Navy Seals.”

Marone and the rest of the campers were only allowed one four hour rest period per day, otherwise,they were required to practice and participate in obstacle courses.

Ian Cooney ’18, Marone’s cousin, applauds Marone for his involvement in these two programs. “I think they were great opportunities for him to learn more about an area that he is so clearly passionate about.”

Marone learned a great deal about the military from these two experiences, which he hopes will help him in the future, “It taught me a lot more about jobs I could choose.”