Marine Corps enlistment provides state trooper with career footing

Jason Crites enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1993. Following his discharge in early 1997, he became a member of the Missouri Highway Patrol. He now serves as a lieutenant assigned to Troop F in Jefferson City.
Jason Crites enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1993. Following his discharge in early 1997, he became a member of the Missouri Highway Patrol. He now serves as a lieutenant assigned to Troop F in Jefferson City.

The multitude of opportunities available after high school can often prove overwhelming to a young person seeking to make plans for their future. As Jason Crites explained, when he neared graduation from Portageville High School in the spring of 1992, he reached the point of needing to finalize his future education and career goals.

"I thought that I would attend college for a year, followed by a four-year enlistment in the Marine Corps and then return to school to finish my degree in engineering," he said. With a grin, he added, "Those plans changed just a little."

Enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps under the delayed entry program when his recruiter told him "it's not for everyone," Crites embraced his early plans by completing a year of college at the University of Missouri-Columbia after graduating high school.

In May 1993, he traveled to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego for several weeks of basic training, followed by a few weeks of combat training at Camp Pendleton, California. From there, he traveled to Fort Lee, Virginia, to receive instruction as a bulk fuel specialist.

"Let's just say that the bulk fuel training we received (in Virginia) is not what we really did when I got to my unit," the veteran said. "We really did not deal with loading and removing fuel from trucks; we were more like storage people." He added, "We essentially ended up digging the burms and installing the big tanks the fuel was stored inside."

When his training in Virginia came to a close, Crites received orders to return to Camp Pendleton and was assigned to the bulk fuel section of the 7th Engineer Battalion, which, he explained, had only recently returned from a deployment to Somalia.

While attached to the battalion, the young Marine spent much of his time conducting inventory and maintaining his section's equipment while also participating in field training exercises several times a year. Additionally, he recalled, the battalion traveled to Twentynine Palms for brief training periods that included live-fire exercises and practicing assault maneuvers.

"While I was assigned to the battalion, I was sent to Bridgeport in northern California for three weeks of cold weather training with a reserve unit," he said. "That was some pretty rough training, and I lost 15 pounds in three weeks because cold weather will really suck the weight right off of you."

Crites soon received a break in his stateside cycle of training when he was given orders for overseas deployment to the Marine Corps Air Station at Iwakuni, Japan, to work in the bulk fuel operations for a Marine Air Wing.

While stationed overseas, he was sent on temporary duty in Australia to participate in "Exercise Pitch Black" - a biennial joint warfare exercise that included not only the Marines, but elements of the Australian Air Force and other nations such as Canada, Germany and France.

"After the exercise ended, I returned to Japan," Crites said. "While I was there, I remember we had a neighbor back home that was in the Missouri Highway Patrol who told my dad that I should consider the patrol as a career when I got out of the Marines." He added, "I really started thinking seriously about it because at that point, I didn't see myself as getting back into engineering."

The Marine left Japan in March 1997, received his discharge at Camp Pendleton and returned to Missouri. The following month, he applied for the patrol academy, took the requisite tests and several months later, returned to the University of Missouri for the fall semester.

"I got a conditional employment offer from the Highway Patrol in September (1997) and started the academy in February (1998), which allowed me to complete the fall semester of college," he said. "After graduating the academy and completing my initial training, I served three years with Troop F assigned to the Boonville area."

In 2001, the state trooper was transferred to Troop E in his home area of Portageville, remaining there until 2015. He now serves as a lieutenant assigned to Troop F in Jefferson City.

Married with two daughters, Crites notes that although the best laid plans for his education and career may have changed slightly throughout the years, his service in the Marine Corps has helped him realize and appreciate the higher calling that is public service.

"When I was younger and still in high school, all I ever wanted to do was become an engineer and make a lot of money," Crites admitted. "But after serving in the Marine Corps and being placed in leadership roles, I feel that I was imbued with the principles of leadership - to accomplish your mission and take care of your people."

"This," he further explained, "provided me with an appreciation for the paramilitary structure of the Highway Patrol - you start as a minion, follow your instructions and get promoted."

He added, "Having the privilege of serving in both the Marines and patrol has helped me to also understand and appreciate the sacrifices of those who came before and worked to make our communities better and safer."

Jeremy P. Amick writes on behalf of the Silver Star Families of America.