MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Know yourself and seek self improvement. It’s a common phrase heard throughout the Corps, said by leaders to inspire or placed on posters or power point presentations to motivate. Some Marines passively acknowledge the advice and move on, but others apply it and set an example for others to follow.
First Sgt. Adam M. Caetta, Logistics Company first sergeant, Marine Special Operations Support Group, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, set a self-improvement example worth emulating. He joined the Marine Corps more than 18 years ago with the intent on earning a college degree and pursued higher education as a lance corporal. Now, Caetta has a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in human resource management from American Military University.
Caetta was able to pay for his classes by utilizing tuition assistance and the G.I. bill. His desire to be competitive and remain one step ahead of his peers drove him to take the classes.
“I felt that in order to be competitive for promotion, I needed to do anything and everything above and beyond what was expected,” said Caetta. “Pursuing my off-duty education was just one of the things I did.”
Coming from the administration military occupational specialty, Caetta felt that business administration would be an appropriate degree to pursue. He chose a concentration in human resource management because of his desire to help people and his belief in the importance of customer service.
“It has helped me tune in to being a better people person, a better problem solver,” said Caetta.
Before coming to MARSOC in April 2007, Caetta worked for Capt. Linda Philipp, the II Marine Expeditionary Force Family Readiness Officer, as an administration chief. Philipp saw Caetta’s people skills first-hand.
“(Caetta) always put other’s needs before his own,” said Philipp. “Any time I asked something of him, he would always go above and beyond to get the job done.”
Philipp was also impressed with Caetta’s commitment to education.
“I would often see him after hours working on homework,” explained Philipp. “He worked hard on school but always took good care of his family and his Marines.”
Caetta believes he can be an example to younger Marines who want to get a degree while still on active duty.
“It’s not a secret that when you transition from military to civilian life, no matter how long you decide to stay in, you need to possess as many things as possible to make that transition seamless,” said Caetta. “You can’t guarantee success when you retire or when you (get out), but you can guarantee that you have enough items in your tool belt to ensure the greatest chance of success.”
According to Caetta, the Marines around him pushed him to better himself. His senior Marines and peers made sure he did all of his work during the duty day, but also asked him what he was doing on his own to improve.
The decision to pursue higher education was obvious, Caetta explained, and he would like to see more Marines seek out college courses and eventual degrees.
The first place degree-seeking Marines on Camp Lejeune need to go is the base education center, which recently relocated to Building 825 on Stone street. It is open from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. Education counselors are available to help select a college and course of study and to guide the way to effective use of tuition assistance and other education benefits.
“The Marines Corps guarantees you a place to live, a paycheck every two weeks, and you take advantage of those. So why in the world wouldn’t you take advantage of a free education?” said Caetta. “You have to assert yourself and strive to be better and get out of the Marine Corps better than when you came in.”