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Life In The Marinecorps ™/ Text / Ronnie Grebenyuk / Photography / Courtesy Of The Marine Corps 13th August 2008 Michael Alexander Francis is 21 and from Ohio in USA, He is currently serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq as an Armourer and knows all there is to know about weapons. Having lost his childhood best friend in Iraq and been separated from his family for years ought to be tough. Michael shares with The Cut readers his experience so far. What was your reason for going Iraq? My reason for going is because I’m in the Marine Corps and they make you go. You don’t have a choice. What did you expect from going into the Marine Corps? I expected to become more respectful, to go to war and get a chance to help my brothers in arms in Iraq fight the war on terrorism. What were your first impressions of being part of Marine Corp and travelling to Iraq? Going to Iraq my first time, I was scared and very nervous, but confident. Going to the marine corps in general, well, I felt the same way: scared, nervous, but confident. How long did it take you to settle? It took me about a month to settle out here in Iraq and the Marine Corps. I’m still not settled in. I don’t think anyone gets settled in. What’s your daily routine? I wake up around 7 in the morning, then come to work. I work on weapons and do paperwork all day. Then around 7 or 8 at night I go run or work out at the gym. Then I hygiene (take a shower, brush teeth - all that stuff) then either come back to work or use the computer, work some more. I really don’t have a set time when I go to bed, I just do when I feel tired. What sort of things have you witnessed in Iraq? I’ve seen a lot, but mostly last year. I lost three of my close friends last year, two friends to bombs on the side of the road and one to incoming, which are missiles or artillery shot at the base we were at. I have seen starving and dying children begging for food and water, I’ve seen kids fight over a piece of candy, air strikes. We were in a part of Fallujah last year and there were 24 homemade explosive devices within 100 yards, with 300 pound or less bombs. We also received sniper fire from a building. Marines rushed the building but could not get close enough to find the sniper so we called a jet to drop a 500 bomb on the building. Living in Iraq, what kinds of things are always on your mind? I always think about going home to my friends and family. The hardest part about being out here is just being away from everyone you love for so long. I was married last year and had to get a divorce when I got back home. I think about how the world is changing and I’m not at home to know what’s going on. What is your opinion on the war and George Bush? My honest opinion is that I don’t think we should be here. This is a civil war and all we are doing is protecting the civilians that live here and dying in the process. However, I do think George Bush is a good president and is doing a good job. Do you miss your family back home? Yes I miss my family a lot, they support me one hundred percent and I keep in contact with them at least once every two days. Has your experience made you look differently at life? Yes I look at life differently now, I try not to take life for granted. People don’t know how good they have it back home. What plans do you have for the future? I think I might stay in the Marine Corps for another four years because college is free and it’s a good job to have in your background when you apply for other jobs. Then I’m planning to go to Seattle or Washington to become a stuntman. Then maybe one day Hollywood.		Issue Two Aug 2008 Reggie Yates Interview Road To 2012 : Olympics Special Road To Carnival Fashion Freedom At A Price Red Hot Interview Nash Money Sneakers Micachu Interview Natty Interview Life In The Marine Corps Parents Meet The Teenagers Young Londoners Meet The Cast Of Adulthood Cyko Logic Interview Fred Butler : Prop Stylist Interview Immortal Technique Review Made In Queens Victor Timofeev : Artist Interview Ricky Powell Interview Twizzle Interview Flywear Feature Top Girl Film Feature Queen Of Nations Not Without My Sister Sky's The Limit Career's Advice Issue One March 2008 Bashy Interview The Cool Kids Lady Lykes Grimes New School Rowdy Superstar Interview The Sound Of Reason Slash Interview Hoxton Vs Hampstead Fashion Young Designers Lucinda Chua Interview Will Kay Interview The Brothers Size Chris Lambert Duane Henry Drug Trafficking Feature Does My Bum Look Big in This Life After Prison Whats Upsetting Our Children MP Julia Goldsworthy Autechre Live In London Hardcore Is More Than Music Media Box Paddington Development Trust The Cut On Myspace