by Cpl. Ryan Hageali

Going to a new school could be difficult for anyone, especially if that school is far from  home in a different hemisphere at the Drill Instructor School on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

Staff Sgt. Baterdene Uranbat was born in Mongolia in 1995. Uranbat said he grew up on a small farm. His mother a nurse and his father a carpenter, Uranbat learned hard work at a young age.

When thinking about what he wanted to do with his life, Uranbat was leaning towards going to a university or becoming an officer. Knowing how expensive it was for his two sisters to attend university he decided to join the Mongolian People’s Army in 2011.

“I applied and qualified to become an officer,” said Uranbat. “My mother tried earning the money and that was so difficult on her. I did not [want] to make her feel bad so I canceled it and I joined the army.”

While going through bootcamp Uranbat said because of how he grew up bootcamp was not as difficult for him as it was for others.

“Generally, the training is hard,” said Uranbat. “Because of how I grew up I already had discipline, in defense, patience. I learned a lot of things from my family, and it helped me out a lot.”

While he was serving as an Infantry Platoon Sergeant,Uranbat was selected to go to U.S. Marine Corps Drill Instructor School on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Through a rigorous selection process Uranbat was required to learn English and pass other difficult tests.

“I was so happy when I was selected because it was a great opportunity to study especially with the Marine Corps,” said Uranbat. “I am the third person to study at drill instructor school from my country and the last two are now Sergeant Majors.”

Uranbat came to the United States to attend Drill Instructor School in the summer of 2021. When he first arrived, he said that the beginning was the most difficult part to adjust to.

“At the beginning I would talk to myself [and say] ‘I have to have patience’ and I would do that all the time,” said Uranbat. “The first two weeks were the hardest because everything is different. The Marine teaching method is completely different then the Mongolian army method. Once I learned the Marine Corps method, I adapted to be a Marine drill instructor.”

There were a lot of adjustments Uranbat had to make. He said another challenge was the culture shock the Marine Corps famously gives.

“One of the instructors said to me, ‘pick up that ink stick’ and I didn’t understand,” said Uranbat. “Again, the instructor screamed at me and then all the instructors circled me and were screaming ‘pick up the ink stick.’ I stood up and didn’t say anything, then an instructor said, ‘pick up the pen’ and I understood and picked up the pen.”

Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Milone, an instructor at Drill Instructor School said foreign students usually have trouble with the language barrier but once they adjust to the Marine Corps way of doing things they learn quick.

“He is very disciplined and a perfectionist,” said Milone. “He really had to watch what the students were doing. He put in a lot of work in his off time to perfect his skills here. The two cultures are different, and he had to adjust and by the end he was very good.”

Uranbat would overcome every obstacle that came his way while going through drill instructor school. While observing training, Uranbat said he saw the dedication all drill instructors must give their recruits to be successful.

“Before I didn’t [realize] how drill instructors are hard workers,” said Uranbat. “The first time I interacted with the recruits I was so tired. I told myself ‘Drill instructors are such hard workers; they don’t have any time.’ That’s why I respect all drill instructors.”

Uranbat said he is excited to return to Mongolia with the knowledge he has received here.

“Marines are so disciplined, having attention to detail is what I want to bring back. Small details that are so efficient,” said Uranbat. “I am proud of myself, this is a rare opportunity to go to Marine Corps Drill Instructor School and its one of the biggest [honors] of my life.”