MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- As the sun rises in the early morning sky, an alarm clock begins its morning music. A man awakes, and begins the day as a single Marine father.
Raising a child is never an easy task, but adding the challenges of being an active-duty single parent, who is also a full-time student, can make the task down right daunting.
For Sgt. Matthew Gregory, a musician, with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing band, his day starts with his son. “It’s hard being a single father,” Gregory said. “The hours (Marines) work, and the time we have to put into our jobs, is sometimes very stressful.
“I try to spend as much time with my son as I can, but it is rough making sure there is time for a quality family lifestyle.”
Gregory wakes up every morning at 5:45 a.m. to care for his son, Colin, and get him ready for day care.
“Every morning that I wake up and get my son ready, I think, ‘They could tell me I’m getting deployed.”’ Gregory said. “Half of the band is in Iraq now, and more are leaving in August.
“Right now, I feel lucky that I am not deploying this time, I get to stay in the rear and be with my son,” Gregory said.
Life wasn’t always so stressful. Gregory originally joined the Marine Corps in July 2000 and was honorably discharged in July 2004.
“I had my son and wanted to go to college,” he said. “I stayed home for a year, taking care of my son and ensuring a quality lifestyle, but it was difficult making ends meet.”
With the stress at school and the need to properly raise his son in December 2005, Gregory
decided to give the Marine Corps in one more try.
“I wanted to make sure that my son was well taken care of,” Gregory said. “In the military, we receive many benefits such as medical coverage as well as a guaranteed job.
“The trade off is difficult at times, I have to sacrifice a lot of my free time,” Gregory added. “We play multiple gigs a week in the band and I am a full-time college student.
“Monday nights are when I have class, and I usually end up not getting home until around 10 p.m.,” Gregory said. There are also group sessions as well as homework from class.
“But it is always great to come home after a long day, and see my wonderful boy,” Gregory said.
Though it’s difficult to find childcare after work for his son, whose Mira Mesa daycare program closes at 6 p.m., the close-knit group at the band is always willing to lend a hand, Gregory explained.
“We are all willing to help out the families here in our shop when it is needed,” said Sgt. Justin Melton, musician, 3rd MAW band. “We try to help out Sgt. Gregory as much as possible, recently we invited his son over for a birthday party we had for our son.
As a Marine, one must be able to adapt and overcome any challenge. Gregory has managed to balance his lifestyle to ensure quality family time as well as doing his job.
“I often bring my son to our concerts,” said Gregory. “It’s a family environment, and is a great opportunity to spend time with my son and let him see what I do for a living as a Marine and how the band is a big family.”