Bryce Carter

Melbourne, Florida. Competitive swimmer through high school — distance freestyle, good enough for a mid-major offer he turned down. Spent his last two summers as an ocean lifeguard on Brevard County beaches. Enlisted in June 2016, largely because a recruiter said the word "reconnaissance" and I'd already been in the water my whole life.

My service arc

• 2016 — MCRD San Diego, SOI-West.
• 2016–2017 — RTAP, then Basic Reconnaissance Course, Camp Pendleton. Graduated 0321.
• 2017–2021 — 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, Camp Pendleton. Combatant Diver Course (Panama City, FL) → secondary MOS 8563. Army Basic Airborne Course, Fort Benning. Swimmer/scout, then Assistant Team Leader. Corporal 2018, Sergeant 2020.
• 2019–2020 — One MEU deployment, 15th MEU, WESTPAC/INDOPACOM. Amphibious reconnaissance, hydrographic surveys, VBSS training with partner navies. No combat deployments — the float is the only one he ever went on.
• 2021 — Reenlisted. Declined the recruiting B-billet that would have made him competitive for Staff Sergeant, and took orders to the Basic Reconnaissance Course cadre instead.
• 2021–2024 — Instructor, BRC/RTAP, Camp Pendleton. Ran the surf passage and hydro blocks. Put roughly 400 students through the water.
• June 2024 — EAS as a Sergeant, 8 years, no regrets about the promotion he never chased.

Awards
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), Good Conduct Medal (2), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy Parachutist Insignia, Combatant Diver Insignia.