This week on the Semper Try Podcast, I sit down with fellow Marine veteran Cliff Sosamon for Part 1 of a three-part conversation.

Cliff grew up in a small town in Illinois surrounded by military history. His dad served in the Air Force during Vietnam, and Cliff knew early on that college wasn't his path — he wanted to become a Marine.

He shipped to MCRD San Diego in October 1992, and that's where our conversation gets really interesting. Cliff went through Marine Corps boot camp before the Crucible existed, and just five years later, my experience earning the title Marine looked completely different.

We talk about the yellow footprints, becoming a squad leader, Edson Range, the hikes at Camp Pendleton, mess and maintenance week, and what those final weeks of boot camp looked like in 1992.

Back then, there was no Crucible followed by an Eagle, Globe and Anchor ceremony. Cliff remembers still being called a recruit while standing on the graduation parade deck in his Dress Blues. It wasn't until the final moments of graduation that he heard the words telling him he had earned the title Marine.

We also get into Cliff's military family, the flags hanging in his office, and the Congressional Veterans Commendation Award he received for continuing to serve the veteran community after leaving the Corps.

And this is only Part 1.

Semper Try Podcast — Because Trying Beats Quitting.