Hey, Fellow Dads,
Yesterday, we celebrated the Marine Corps’ birthday—and if there’s a “Marine” in Marine Corps Birthday, it’s me!
Happy birthday to all my Marine Corps brothers near and far!
Today is Veterans Day, a moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the service and sacrifice of all veterans. To my fellow veteran dads: Thank you. Thank you for the time you’ve given, for the miles and moments missed, and for the love and loyalty you continue to show your families and your country.
My Personal Military Service and Fatherhood
My path from high school to the Marine Corps to fatherhood was a whirlwind. In June 2002, I graduated high school, and by that same week, I was standing on the yellow footprints at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. Within eight months, I found myself in Iraq, serving in Operation Enduring Freedom—and eleven months after that, I became a father. Those two years flew by, but the impact of my military service stayed with me in ways I didn’t fully understand until much later in life.
It’s only with time and perspective that I see the true gifts the Marine Corps gave me. Today, I want to share three of the biggest lessons I took from my time in the Marines—lessons that didn’t just shape me as a Marine but as a father, husband, and man.
1. Resilience: The Power of “Semper Gumby”
In the Marine Corps, we live by the motto Semper Fidelis—“Always Faithful.” But many Marines also know “Semper Gumby”—“Always Flexible.” Life throws us curveballs, and our ability to adapt is one of the most valuable skills we can have as dads.
As a dad, flexibility isn’t just about going with the flow—it’s about knowing when to change course for the good of our families. It’s about bouncing back from setbacks and showing our kids that strength comes from staying steady when things get tough. Resilience is a lesson I bring into fatherhood every day, reminding myself that my family doesn’t need a perfect dad; they need a dad who gets back up and keeps going, no matter the obstacles.
Actionable Insight: When life doesn’t go as planned (because it often doesn’t), remind yourself of “Semper Gumby.” Embrace the changes, and let your kids see how you handle challenges with resilience. Create moments where you can talk to your kids about why being flexible matters. When they see you bounce back, they learn how to do the same.
2. Discipline and Accountability: Lessons Learned Long After
Here’s the funny thing: While I was in the Marines, discipline didn’t feel like a choice—it was simply a way of life. It wasn’t until after I left the Corps that I realized how valuable that discipline was in “civilian” life. As a dad, I find myself returning to those lessons to create structure and consistency for my family, especially when life feels chaotic.
Discipline in family life means showing up, keeping our word, and following through. For our kids, consistency builds trust. They need to know they can count on us. And just like in the Corps, accountability isn’t something we can enforce on ourselves alone. Sometimes it means leaning on other dads, on our “brotherhood,” to stay strong and focused.
Actionable Insight: Start small. Try setting one discipline goal each week, like spending uninterrupted time with your kids every night or creating a family ritual. Use this consistency to model reliability and accountability for your kids. When you make mistakes, acknowledge them—our children learn as much from our apologies as they do from our successes.
3. Sacrifice: The Foundation of Love and Service
If there’s one thing I didn’t fully understand when I joined the Marines, it was the depth of sacrifice. Military service required giving up parts of myself—my time, my comfort, and sometimes even my sense of control. In fatherhood, sacrifice becomes a constant theme, though in different ways. It’s the late nights, the early mornings, and the times we give up our own comforts to make life better for our kids.
As dads, sacrifice is what we do. But it’s also important to balance this with self-care, to avoid burnout and be present for our families in the long run. Giving to our families doesn’t mean emptying ourselves completely; it means giving what’s needed while maintaining the strength to keep giving over time.
Actionable Insight: Reflect on what sacrifices feel most meaningful to you and which ones feel draining. Set aside time to recharge, whether it’s a hobby, exercise, or connecting with fellow dads. When we care for ourselves, we have more to give, and we model the balance our kids will one day need in their own lives.
The Power of Brotherhood
Just as in the Marines, we have a brotherhood here at the Good Dads Club. The power of this community is something I don’t take lightly. Knowing that we can rely on each other for support, advice, or simply to share our experiences, is invaluable. If you’re a veteran dad, lean into this brotherhood—lean on the dads who get it. We may not wear a uniform anymore, but we’re still in service to something greater than ourselves: our families.
Get Your Free #DadFirst Guide
A Message for Veteran Dads
Today, let’s honor the values we took from our time in the service and use them to shape our legacy as dads. It’s not about perfection but about resilience, discipline, and sacrifice—the same principles we lived by in the Marines. Take a moment today to acknowledge how far you’ve come, to honor the ways you serve your family, and to reach out to the other dads who continue this journey alongside you.
To all my veteran brothers, Semper Fi, and to every dad reading this: Here’s to resilience, to accountability, and to sacrifices made in the name of love.
🍻Cheers to being the fathers our children need, the husbands our partners deserve, and the men we can be proud of.
