Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community member Caleb Dash is joining the U.S. Marine Corps.

Dash reported to Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California, on July 7 for 13 weeks of basic training. He’ll come home for 10 days before being sent to Marine Combat Training (MCT) school and Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) school at a location to be determined.

After training and school, he will be serving as a reservist and stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona as a private first class (PFC). His MOS is 1391, which he says is a bulk fuel specialist.

“I’ve always wanted to join the military and serve,” Dash said, reminiscing about playing soldier with his cousins.

“…But when the time came in high school, I found love and I kind of gave up wanting to join the military, just simply wanting to be with my girlfriend and settling down someday.”

But after five years of dating, Dash and his girlfriend separated.

“I was heartbroken but decided, ‘You know, maybe I should go back to looking into the military,’ and I just said, ‘Screw it, what do I have to lose?’”

Dash said that he is focusing on himself, healing and growing as a person.

“Even though the pain hurts, the Marines say, ‘pain is just weakness leaving the body,’” Dash said.

“I feel like ever since enlisting, working out and going to church have all helped, and that’s what Marines do…they deal with some of the hardest challenges and come out on top!”

The Salt River Veterans Representatives brought Dash’s family and friends together for a military send-off gathering on the evening of June 27 at the Round House Café.

The family who came out to say “see you later” included his uncle, Pacer Reina; grandfather, Eugene Dash; uncle, Nicholas Ramos; grandmother, Marilyn Wood; aunt, Angela Webster; and sister, Monica Webster.

Reina and other family members sat down at some chairs during the gathering and performed traditional gourd songs for Dash.