What Drive Crazy Mazzi To Be So Chill

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. - When a Maryland-native graduated from high school in 2005, he felt lost in the wide world that was placed in front of him. No plan. No guidance. No clue.

Jeffrey Scarmazzi or “Crazy” as he’s known by many, bounced from coast to coast for more than three years finding odd work until he finally made sense of that wide world in the Marine Corps.

From the outside, “Crazy” resembles nothing of the cookie-cutter image of a Marine. He doesn’t sport the high-and-tight haircut, he wears his dishwater blonde longer and relaxed on his head. When out of uniform, he’s not wearing tucked in polo shirts and jean shorts with sneakers, he wears button-ups and dress slacks with penny loafers. He doesn’t walk from place to place at a hard charging stride. He strolls leisurely around the barracks with a cane.

He’s stationed in Hawaii, working behind the video camera and already has one deployment under his belt. From November 2010 to June 2011, he was with 2^nd Battalion, 3^rd Marines who were deployed to Afghanistan.

Although he was deployed to document the combat activities in country, he was selected as a radio DJ on Camp Dwyer. Going by the name “DJ Mazzi” he remained in high spirits throughout the deployment.

“I was glad to see he was still motivated after the deployment.” Said Orlando Perez, a combat photographer who was deployed with Crazy to Afghanistan.

Crazy doesn’t fit the profile of the loud, over spoken marine. Instead he represents the few and proud as with a strong but cool demeanor. “I’ve never been a loudmouth,” He said. “I ‘do’ more than I ‘say’.”

He’s currently at the Defense Information School for additional training in his video profession and is leading by example to his junior marines. Crazy is able to share real information about what things the marines will do once they hit the fleet.

After hours or during the weekend you’ll find him outside with a book in his hand and a cigarette in his mouth, or playing harmonica in the stairwell of his 60 year old barracks where the acoustics are better. “I picked up the harmonica one day out of shear boredom, and fell in love.” He said as beads of sweat collect on his brow, as the summer heat in his home state of Maryland creeps near triple digits.

Crazy feels he’s found his plan for the future. He intends to leave the Marine Corps at the end of his five year contract, and pursue a career as a high school English teacher, with the harmonica in his hand.