Marines TV

Sgt. Kevin Loy tells his journey of joining the Marine Corps and how his family supports him now.

Tyree Smallwood, a St. Louise, Missouri native, grew up watching both his father and step-mother have successful careers and retire from the Marine Corps. After realizing that college wasn’t for him, and getting the run-around from the Navy recruiters, Smallwood decided to give the Marine Corps a try in November of 2019. To this point Smallwood had lost 60 pounds, dropping from 320 to 260 pounds, but it wasn’t enough to enlist. Smallwood had to lose an addition 40 pounds, which he did with the assistance of his recruiter, Staff Sgt. Absalom Johnson, at Recruiting Substation Port Richey in Port Richey, Florida. On Aug. 24, 2020, Smallwood shipped off to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, where he will train for 13 weeks to earn the title of U.S. Marine. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Jorge A. Rosales and Sgt. Calvin Shamoon)