Wheeling, W. Va. - On the lacrosse field, Wheeling University Men's Lacrosse player Adam Zdanowicz is a force to be reckoned with on the defensive side of the ball. However, when he leaves the field, he is called to serve as part of a much bigger force as a member of the Marine Corps reserves. He has always had a want to serve his country, and he is getting that opportunity as a Radio Operator (0621) attached to the Combat Logistics Battalion (CLB) 453 out of Aurora, Colorado.
"I have always wanted to serve and defend my country. My Dad and Grandmother are both immigrants and I realize how lucky I am to live in a free country. Serving in the Marine Corps is my way of giving back. The Corps is not for everyone – it takes an extreme amount of dedication, perseverance, and devotion – but what you get in return is so valuable – a skill set, confidence, and discipline to name a few things. One of the Marine Corps recruiting slogans back in the 1970s was "The few, the proud, the Marines". I would encourage anyone who is thinking about serving their country to visit the different branches recruitment offices – determine which branch is the best fit."
The call to serve for the Zdanowicz family has run deep, with both his Aunt and his Grandfather having served before him. Growing up around the military lifestyle helped Zdanowicz gain an appreciation for the service and influenced him answering the call to serve himself.
"My Aunt and my Grandpa were both in the Army so those were two of my biggest influences on serving," said Zdanowicz. "My Aunt retired from the United States Secret Service after 25 years - she worked alongside many Marines throughout her career and has even flown on Marine I. My visits to my aunt included White House Tours, Presidential Rallies, Air Force I arrivals etc. When I saw a Marine standing in front of the White House as a young boy, I just knew I wanted to wear that uniform."
The influence would lead him to a Marine Corps recruiters office during the summer of 2020 when COVID was running rampant. He learned about the opportunity with the Marine Corps reserves and while he didn't make a final decision, it was fresh in his mind as he made the trip to Wheeling in the Fall of 2021. After playing his first season with the Wheeling Men's Lacrosse team in the spring of 2022, Zdanowicz decided to answer the call to serve and get his career started.
"When I went to Wheeling for my first year, it was still in the back of my mind- saying hey I still want to do this," said Zdanowicz. "I attended boot camp during the summer between my freshman year and sophomore year, and then I returned to Wheeling in the spring of 2023 and continued to go back and forth between Denver and Wheeling to fulfill my weekend drill commitment."
With the responsibility of serving in the Marine Corps, Zdanowicz also had to balance the load of being both a student and a student-athlete. Over the course of his four years with the Wheeling Men's Lacrosse program, Zdanowicz finished with 80 career caused turnovers and 152 ground balls on the defensive side, while also finishing with seven assists and seven points on the offensive end. In the classroom, Zdanowicz kept the honors going, earning a spot on the President's List during the Fall 2023 semester.
As a Radio Operator for the Marine Corps Reserve, Zdanowicz's job is based around making sure Marines have clear communication on the battle field. He works with the CLB 453, the 4th Marine Logistics Group of the Marine Corps Reserve Forces in Aurora, Colorado. They work tirelessly both in the office and in the field to ensure that all communications systems are working properly to ensure everyone's safety.
"During Drill, my team practices setting up radios and ensuring positive communications – it's training for what my team would do in the field. It's like practice for your sport – practice is necessary so you can perform during a game. Very similar – but much more intense in the Marine Corps with greater consequences if you fail."
With today being Armed Forces Day, we celebrate Zdanowicz and all of the other members of each of the six branches of the Military, the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force. It is a day to thank them for their service and for allowing all of us to do what we love. However, for Zdanowicz, it is more about those who came before him and paved the way to his success.
"It is really for the ones who came before me. said Zdanowicz. "Marines don't really like to boast that much so I think really for us its just another opportunity to remember the ones who came before us and paid that ultimate sacrifice. They really led the way into making the Marine Corps what it is today."
To anyone looking to serve, Zdanowicz highly encourages it, despite the challenges that come with the territory. He says that the things the Marines have taught him have helped pave a pathway to success, and he believes that it an help others who are looking to serve their country.
"Joining the military is one of the best decisions of my 22 years. The Marine Corps doesn't just teach you how to be a Marine, it teaches you how to be an adult. You learn life skills that will set you up for success for years down the road. You also lean skills that you wouldn't necessarily learn in college. I encourage everyone to explore a career in the military – you may just have what it takes to make a difference."
