Introduction The American Army has never been involved into a full-scale warfare since the moment of its creation. However, it is full of veterans, considering the international policy of the country that positions itself as the major peacemaker and fighter for democratic values in the world. My interviewee is the friend of my family, and he is the veteran of the Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait, 1991. His name is John Blackwood; he is 43 years old, and he has the rank of Sergeant Major of 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines. John is still in active military service. My father has known John since high school, so it was not a problem for John to answer the questions from the interview list. Individual Background John was born in Chicago in the family of a schoolteacher and a truck driver. However, when he was 10, the family moved to Florida, and they settled in Miami because his mother needed warmer climate because of the health issues. He grew as a typical boy, played football in high school, and after the graduation, he decided to become a driver working for a delivery company. When he was 18, John decided that the life of a driver was not what he truly wanted. John desired to achieve something in life according to his words and do something useful. The Decision to Join The decision to join the military was conditioned by several factors. First, John was tired of what he was doing at that moment. Second, he had always admired the idea of serving his country in such a noble way as being a soldier. Finally, the third factor was money. John wanted to become a warrior, belong to the company of the best soldiers in the world, to see the world, and to have financial stability. It can be said that John’s decision was ideological by 70% and business by 30%. John went to the recruitment office, and the new chapter of his life has started. Personal Experience The initial period in the military was very controversial, as per John’s words. It was especially difficult when he decided to become a marine. John had always loved the ocean, but he had never thought how intimidating the ocean could be. It was the time of tremendous challenges, but as John said, it was the best time in his life. In the Marine Corps, he learned what real friendship and brotherhood were, finding friends for life, brothers he had never had as a civilian. Through the hardship and challenges, John had managed to coin strong will and understanding of what he was made of. He said that he would never refuse to choose this way again if he had such a chance. Combat Experience As for combat experience, he said he had such, of course, during the Operation Desert Storm. His battalion was in the middle of the battle of Khafji in 1991 when 3rd Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps had the task to support the process of the city liberation from the Iraqi troops. According to the vague description of that tense situation, there were no heavy casualties and shooting, but it was an incredibly nervous moment for the young private John Blackwood. He said, smiling, that it was his first combat, but he shot only two rounds and did not hit anyone. However, he added, this exceptional experience would be quite useful in his future service. Impact The military experience has had the great impact on John’s life as per his words. He had managed to get through the toughest drills in the world that provided him with the understanding that will could do almost anything in thi