CAPTAIN KRICKET HARPER
All students graduate with a diploma, but Kricket Harper earned more than a degree at the U.S. Naval Academy. Hear how her education and training armed her with the knowledge, mindset and character to lead Marines in the fight for our nation.
CH-53K KING STALLION PILOT
Q: WHAT WAS YOUR EARLIEST EXPOSURE TO THE MARINE CORPS?
I didn’t know a lot about the military at first. Most of my limited knowledge came from movies, actually. But I knew that it was definitely a difficult thing to do and I had always been someone who thirsts for challenge. During lunch one day, I happened to meet some military recruiters from a different branch, and so I talked to them about whether it would be the right fit. After some time, I made the decision to join the Naval Academy. It was there that I met Marines. It was clear there was just something different about them and the way they operated. And the way they treated each other. I found that my mindset matched up better with these Marines than anyone else. It helped me identify how my values aligned with theirs.
Q: WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BECOME A MARINE?
I felt like I wanted to do something bigger and find a way to give back to the community that raised me and offered me so many opportunities. Also being in sports all my life, I was drawn to the unity that comes from being a part of a team who all have the same goal. Who bond through hardship and work ethic to achieve something important. That inspired me to look into the Marine Corps—it seemed like an easy fit for me personally.
"Since becoming a Marine, I’ve grown into myself. I’ve gotten better at reading people’s emotions and tailoring my leadership style to that. Being a Marine Officer has made me a more empathetic leader and better listener, which is not what I initially expected I’d become. You think of a Marine leader as someone hard-nosed and very strict, but all the leaders I’ve had have molded me into a better communicator."
-CAPTAIN KRICKET HARPER
DID AN EDUCATOR HELP YOU DECIDE?
I talked it over with my high school volleyball coach. She was the type of person who didn’t take any slack from anyone, she wouldn’t accept excuses and she pushed us to be better. So when I told her I was considering the Marine Corps, she went out of her way to encourage me. She thought I would be a good fit for it because of my leadership style on the team. My councilors and teachers were also encouraging and helped me do the necessary research to make such a monumental decision.
Q: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT TEACHERS LEARN ABOUT THE MARINE CORPS PATH?
Many students don’t have a lot of exposure to the Marine Corps, so there needs to be some way for them to learn about the decision they’re considering. You don’t know what you don’t know and if you’ve never heard of the Marine Corps, you’re not going to be armed with the information you need. That's why it’s important high school teachers educate themselves about all the opportunities their students have, because when you do, you can be someone they can turn to for advice. It helps students make the most informed decision. It’s an important one.
