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.

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, MD. – The weight room of The Marine Detachment on Fort Meade withworkout equipment stuffed into a dark and dank basement, and where light from outside peers through broken glass. This is home to dedication, filled by the few striving to be better.

The silhouette of a Marine dedicated to bettering himself daily casts onto marked walls with chipped paint. The shadow of Marines Pfc. Stephen Stewart improving himself.

Stewart strives to stand out from other Marines with a toned but not overly-bulky frame. A buzzed haircut kept tight to the head, and a perfectly pressed uniform, he always aims for the next goal.

With a full schedule of physical training, school and other activities the Marines on Fort Meade have limited time during the week to do the things that they are interested in. For Stewart, that extra time is spent in the gym.

“PT is always the constant.” Stewart said. “From high school to boot camp to now, it’s never changed.”

Stewart wrestled in high school, so physical training was always at the top of his priorities list. The same goes for today in the Marine Corps, where physical fitness is a top priority.

Stewart shipped off to boot camp in August, 2010. He was scheduled to graduate In November, but due to a fractured leg, he spent more than five months on the Recruit Depot in San Diego. While injured, Stewart was down, but not out. Spending his free time in the gym working on his physical strength, he focused on the muscle groups not affected by the injury.

With the set-back due to the fractured leg that happened nearly a year ago, Stewart feels behind the curve when it comes to physical fitness, so he continues additional PT on his own several days a week.

“I still feel imbalanced.” Stewart said. “I spent many months on my upper body that my legs still feel week.” He uses equipment like the squat rack and leg press in the gym to strengthen his lower body.

“Well rounded strength is a huge focus in The Marine Corps.” Stewart said. “Having that balance is what I’m looking for, because of all the different types of training that we do.” Marines are tested on several aspects of physical fitness that include the Combat Fitness Test that Marines prepare for in the second half of the year. The CFT is a whole body workout that includes running, ammo can lifts, and maneuver drills, all of which are timed.

“I’m not into the vanity muscles or looking good on the beach, I just want to be in shape for my career.” Stewart said. “Others care about how they look, I care about how I feel.”

Clips from some movies put to the Inception sountrack

Video was shot back in February with my Nikon D7000 at full 1080p/24fps. First chance to really go out and use the camera, most was filmed with a 50mm f/1.4.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

]]> http://kevilution.com/2011/08/07/ready-fight/feed/ 0 http://kevilution.com/2011/08/02/at-dinfos-here-today-2/ http://kevilution.com/2011/08/02/at-dinfos-here-today-2/#comments Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:08:58 +0000 Kevin Jones http://kevilution.com/?p=41 Some video I shot while at The Defense Information School