Sgt Roger Mont

United States Marine Corps 2003-2012

A MESSAGE FROM THE WARRIOR OF THE WEEK:

"Leaving the Marine Corps was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I talked a big game before I got out talking about the jobs I was going to get, the school I was going to go to. In reality, I was scared, nervous, and NOT ready to say goodbye to the team. In retrospect, that’s exactly how I felt before I left for boot camp. The difference is that in boot camp you don’t have a second to think you just follow orders. But once you’re a civilian again, there is too much time to think. So when I got out, I quickly fell into a six-month depression. The good thing is that I had a support system, my girlfriend and family, they pushed me to go to community college. Once I finally signed up for school and all the paperwork was complete I took the same approach that boot camp did. I didn’t give myself a second to think and I gave myself a new mission, Graduate at all cost! I didn’t take summer or winter breaks I took classes every semester and at times I would take 20 units per semester. I found out the hard way that school can be stressful, and mentally taxing. So I started new hobbies between classes and study time. I would go to the golf course and hit balls, mountain bike, learning how to make gourmet meals. I tried to find ways to keep me mentally, and physically stimulated to help manage the stress. Before I knew it I was graduating from a university and working full time in the field I graduated in. Mission accomplished? Sure, but what's next? Get better at golf, because I'm not that good. Have fun mountain biking with friends. Give back to the community in any way that I can. Whatever it is that I decide to do next I know that the hardest part will be getting started. So start today, what you put off yesterday!"

-Sergeant Roger Mont

ABOUT SERGEANT ROGER MONT:

Sergeant Mont joined the Marine Corps in 2003 and was honorably discharged in 2012. He served as a logistics operator and Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor (Black Belt 1st Degree). During his service he deployed three times to Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and two times to Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He also served in Japan, Korea, Philippines, and Thailand.

He has been awarded the Purple Heart Medal, five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals, National Defense Medal, Afghanistan and Iraqi Campaign Medals, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Korean Defense Service Medal, the NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal, Combat Action ribbon, seven Navy Sea Service Deployment ribbons, and various unit commendation ribbons.

After his military service, Sergeant Mont graduated from California State University Northridge in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Currently he is a Financial Analyst for Boston Scientific in their Neuromodulation division in Los Angeles CA. Additionally, he is the Co-Captain for the Veterans employee resource group at his company.