Name: Heath “Alex” Burr
Age: 21
Center: Cleveland Job Corps
Region: Chicago
Hometown: Akron, OH
Career Area: Carpentry
JC Dates: September 2014 – June 2015
On August 19, 2016, Heath Burr, who likes to be known as Alex, celebrated a different kind of graduation on the same day that Cleveland Job Corps celebrated their Fall 2016 Commencement ceremony. On that day, Alex graduated from the United States Marine Corps basic training. His mother, Jessica Burr, accompanied him to his graduation. Alex came to Job Corps in the heart of Cleveland from a farm outside Akron, OH. After being laid off from his construction job, his life began spiraling downward. His grandmother heard about Job Corps on the radio and his friends and family encouraged him to attend. Alex decided to enroll in Job Corps to get a better mindset and get on track to pursue his dream of becoming a Marine.
Alex walked through the gates of the Cleveland Job Corps Center in September 2014. While at Job Corps, he enjoyed talking with and listening to student’s sto-ries and where they came from. He liked helping students get through hard times and overcome obstacles they encountered, which many times helped him as well. He believed that the structure, standard and set schedule he followed in the Job Corps program really helped him to prepare for the Marines and made the transi-tion into military life much easier. While he was at Job Corps one of his residen-tial advisors, who was also former military, showed him how to make his bed military style. He felt that gave him a foot up over the other recruits and he was able to teach his platoon how to make their beds. His Carpentry instructors at Job Corps always taught him how to perform his work to the highest standards. Any-thing he asked for, they helped him with. Alex says the most important thing that he got out of his trade was the work ethic they instilled in him, which will help him to build success the rest of his life.
Alex is ecstatic that he has launched into his career as a Private in the U.S. Ma-rine Corps, enrolling as a Utilities Maintenance Technician. In the military he will be learning about construction and he will be expanding on his carpentry and electrical skills. He said the drill instructors in the Marines push you harder and harder each day to test your character and stamina. He found the training instilled in him and the values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment, taught him that you must put your team members and your fellow soldiers before yourself. The final stage of his training was to go through the Crucible, which is a grueling three-day event where he had to do a variety of warrior and team exercises that emphasized working as a unit. Private Burr’s long term plan is to stay in the military for 20 years and eventually retire to start his own construction company. His advice to others is “If you want it you have to go for it, or you’re never going to get it. If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. Just stay positive.”
SUCCESS LASTS A LIFETIME…
HONOR, COURAGE, & COMMITMENT