Alumni

There is a quiet, unassuming building on the eastern edge of the Delmar Loop. It’s only two stories, but on the front is emblazoned the name of an honored military branch— Marines.

Staff Sergeant Marc Cox has his recruiting office inside, doing something he considers a crowning achievement in life — helping people just like his younger self find a path forward. The location is conducive to it too — his office is at what he lovingly calls “the middle” of St. Louis, where many of the region’s groups tend to collide geographically.

SSgt Cox is a St. Louis native, a Bayless graduate, and he’s been a collaborative communicator his whole life.
SSgt Cox grew up in North St. Louis, near Natural Bridge Avenue and Kingshighway. In fourth grade he came to Bayless through the VICC Program and stayed there until he graduated. He speaks fondly of the experiences he had at Bayless, and says coming back to his alma mater is one of his favorite parts of being in charge of the recruiting station here.

SSgt Cox graduated from Bayless in 2004. He looked to join the military in 2009 after completing some undergraduate work. Being in the armed forces was not his initial plan, but he did have a desire to serve his neighbors.

“Service to the country was always something that was in my mind,” Cox said. “It might not have been in the military, per se. It could’ve been in the medical field, even in the religious field. My grandfather was a bishop when he passed, my grandmother is a pastor. I kind of thought for awhile that would be the route I took.”

Several conversations with his family, who all suggested he would fit in a military environment, began to push him in that direction. It was then a process of choosing which one.

“I looked at the four major branches, and the Marine Corps didn’t stick out to me,” Cox said. “You hear about the others all the time.”

But during his search, the other branches got crossed off the list. For Cox, the Army felt too large, the Navy had longer deployment cycles, and the Air Force was for brainiacs (something Cox now admits is true of members all branches, but he didn’t quite catch that at the time). He intentionally left the Marines for last.

“(I said to the recruiter that) I’ve always heard that you guys are just, hardworking, you guys go in first, you leave last, you guys are straight edge and the most dangerous person in the room,” Cox said. “Then the recruiter said ‘well what if people stop saying that about just us and start saying it about you?’”

That sealed his choice — he was going to be a Marine. In July of 2009, he had been waiting for a contract to come up, and got a call from a recruiter on a Tuesday. There was a spot open as an aviation mechanic, but he had to leave Thursday.

He packed up his apartment in two days and got on a plane to San Diego. Recruit training began shortly after.
“It’s 13 weeks, which is the longest in the Department of Defense,” Cox said.

After 13 weeks of recruit training, he was officially a Marine, but still had another month of combat training, which covered many of the weapons the Marines use in combat situations. Then he spent another year of training on the east coast learning to work on aircraft and eventually got stationed in San Diego.

During his early years, Cox also set off on an international deployment. He was sent to Japan, where he and his fellow Marines had to act as informal “Ambassadors to the World.” Since service members are one of the main ways Japanese citizens interact with Americans, Cox had to understand the culture and communication barriers that might exist in that context.

“It’s really about knowing what the American culture is, positive or negative, and how others view us,” Cox said. “As a Marine — holding true to everything that is just and right. While you’re there, it’s a full on respect, and an exploratory mindset and being willing to try new things. You have to respect the people and their place — because it’s theirs.

“There’s a historic aspect to being over there as well,” Cox said. “We fought each other in a war. During my time I’ve been to Pearl Harbor, where that war started, and to Hiroshima, where the war ended.”

Cox had several jobs after his time in Japan, building a diverse skillset he credits the Corps for providing. He worked his way through the ranks, eventually being promoted to the Non-Commissioned Officer rank of Staff Sergeant.

“Marines have the unique opportunity of being really good at a lot of stuff,” Cox said. “One hat I wear now is station commander for St. Louis. Before that it was quality assurance for a division of Marines in aviation.”

Between Ospreys, Hueys, rotary and others, he oversaw many different aircraft. This is where being a collaborative communicator is truly important.

“Relying on the thinking heads around me,” Cox said. “There’s Marines that have been through this before me, seen it done a million times — why not reach out to them? Then being able to translate and teach that to a new generation. And sometimes (younger Marines) have different approaches than I might, and that approach is the missing piece.”
That willingness to collaborate is an important example for not only the Marines under his command, but anyone looking to succeed in life.

Collaborative Communication, paired with one other thing Cox finds vital in the recruits he speaks to, will take people far.

“Consistency,” Cox said. “You might not get it right, but never stop shooting. One foot in front of the other, if you keep on that path you’ll be alright. That will help you — not just here in the Marine Corps — but in any profession.”