The Former Marine

Shortly after receiving his tattoos, Derek Rogan was assigned to his first MARSOC team. Alpha Team was among the most experienced in the force, comprised of operators who had already served countless missions in hostile territory. Derek, despite being the youngest, was determined to prove that he deserved his place there.

On his first day of induction, he walked into the operations room, where the Alpha members were gathered. The team leader, Captain Rawlings, stood at the front, watching Derek intently as he entered.

"So you're the Rogan guy," Rawlings said with a smirk. "I heard you were the best in your SERE cycle. Let's see if you can keep that up around here."

Derek stood firm, his eyes fixed on the captain. "I'll do my best, sir."

Rawlings chuckled and shook his head. "Your best, huh? Well, we'll find out."

Around him, the other operators on the team looked at Derek with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. Among them was Miller, one of the oldest, who had been injured on a mission in Africa months earlier. His gaze was colder, almost challenging.

"Don't expect being the best in training to mean much here, rookie," Miller muttered, but the comment was loud enough for everyone to hear.

Derek kept his cool, knowing that words meant nothing at this point. He would have to prove himself in the field.

The next few weeks were intense. Alpha Team was preparing for an infiltration mission in the Middle East, and the pre-mission training was meticulous. Derek absorbed every detail of tactical operations, weapons handling, and survival techniques with the same dedication that had propelled him to the top during SERE.

During a simulated urban combat session, Derek got his first chance to show off his skills. The team was divided into two groups: defenders and attackers. Derek was assigned to the raiding party, leading a small unit that was to take over a building held by the "defenders," which included Miller.

The exercise began, and Derek quickly assessed his surroundings. They were in a simulated urban area, full of narrow alleys and tall buildings. The direct approach was suicidal—Miller and the other defenders were positioned with long-range rifles, ready to pick off anyone who charged head-on.

"We're going to go around the side," Derek told his four-man group. "We need to flank them and catch them off guard."

The other operators followed without question. Derek led them down an alley, watching every corner carefully. When they got close to the building, he signaled for two of the men to climb onto an adjacent building and provide cover while he and the last operator breached the building from below.

Using smoke grenades and coordinated movement, Derek and his team managed to penetrate the defenses and take the building, disarming the "enemies" with precision. When the simulation ended, Miller looked at Derek with restrained respect. He said nothing, but the look of disdain had disappeared.

After training, Captain Rawlings called Derek aside for a private chat. "Good work today, Rogan. I saw what you did with the flanking. It took courage and tactical foresight. It seems that what they said about you is true."

Derek remained modest, but was pleased to hear the praise. "I only did what I thought was necessary, sir."

"You went above and beyond. You're showing initiative, and that's something I expect from all my men. Keep it up, and you'll go far."

Derek thanked him and left the office with a sense of pride. He knew he was beginning to earn the trust of his team, and that meant more to him than any formal commendation.

The mission to the Middle East finally arrived. Alpha Team was deployed into the desert under cover of night, with the objective of neutralizing an insurgent group that was threatening allied forces in the region. The plan was simple: infiltrate an enemy base hidden in a mountain range and gather vital information before returning to extraction.

Derek, now fully integrated into the team, felt the weight of responsibility, but also the thrill of his first real operation. They moved silently across the dunes, moving like shadows in the darkness. The radio was nearly silent, except for sporadic communications between Rawlings and the command post.

As they approached the base, Derek was assigned to lead the initial infiltration. He and two other operators snuck in via a side route, using the rocks and darkness to approach undetected.

"Contact ahead," one of the operators murmured over the radio. "Guards on the perimeter. Two, maybe three."

Derek assessed the situation quickly. They couldn't risk a head-on approach, but a narrow path along the side of the rocks looked promising. He signaled for the others to follow his lead, moving carefully.

When they reached the designated point, Derek took out one of the guards with silent precision, while the other operators neutralized the remaining two. The area was clear.

"Derek, status?" Rawlings's voice came over the radio.

"Perimeter secure, Captain. Ready to move in."

The operation continued, and Derek displayed a coolness under pressure that surprised even the most experienced operators. His ability to adapt quickly to changes on the battlefield and make decisions under stress was remarkable.

After several hours into the mission, Alpha Team had accomplished their objectives and extracted the necessary information. When they returned to the friendly base, exhausted but victorious, Rawlings gathered everyone together for a brief speech.

"Good mission, guys. We accomplished our objectives with no casualties and returned with information that will be crucial to the next phase of the operation. I want to highlight Rogan's work today. His leadership during the infiltration and his ability to eliminate the initial threats were critical to the success of the mission. Keep it up, Rogan. You're excelling."

The other operators, including Miller, looked at Derek with newfound respect. He had gone from rookie to trusted operator in a matter of weeks.

Later that night, as he rested alone in his barracks, Derek reflected on the path he had taken to this point. He was now part of something bigger, and it wasn't just about the missions or the combat. It was about the trust he had earned from his teammates, knowing that when push came to shove, they would trust him with their lives.

He still felt the absence of his family, but looking at the tattoos on his arms, he knew he had found a new home a home where he stood out as one of the best, and where he was respected as such.

With a slight smile on his face, Derek knew that at MARSOC, he had found his true place in the world.