As the sixth anniversary of the war in Iraq passed last week, a 21-year-old North Bergen native was scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan along with the rest of his U.S. Marine combat troop.
“I’m a firm believer in serving one’s country.” – Akash Naik
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“I’m a firm believer in serving one’s country,” said Naik. “If I was born in India, I think I’d still have the same mind frame.”
Naik, a first generation American, said he didn’t want to later regret not becoming a Marine. He said that the thought of joining the military stayed with him for years before he made the leap on his own.
He signed the contracts before telling his family.
“I went and I took a leap,” said Naik. “My parents were not that supportive at first, but as soon as I graduated [boot camp] they jumped on board… once they saw the transformation of going through boot camp and coming back a Marine. They really appreciated it.”
Naik said he grew as a person in boot camp from being exposed to so many different people from across the country.
Harish Naik, Akash’s uncle, said that at first he wasn’t sure if his nephew was mature enough for such a monumental task.
“We came from India [and] always had riots over there, so we know exactly what it looks like,” said Harish. “It’s getting the news. It’s different if you’re in person in that place.”
Harish now stands behind his nephew though, and admits a much more mature man emerged from training.
‘It’s pretty nerve wracking’
Naik admitted in its current state, the Middle East was an uneasy place.
“It does affect me [but] I try to calm my parents down more than myself,” said Naik. “It’s pretty nerve wracking.”
He said that he knew Afghanistan wasn’t as “developed” as Iraq.
He said that his training put him somewhat at ease. After basic training, Naik went on to Parris Island, South Carolina, for combat training, where he learned more basic rifle techniques, how to enter homes, and security. Then he was taught specialized training, which for him was heavy machinery operating.
Before joining the Marines, Naik had never held a firearm. He said that he scored expert in the rifle firing test and could effectively shoot someone five football fields away.
“It’s a little weird to be proud of that, but lives depend on it,” said Naik.
He said that when he first got to boot camp, he questioned his decision to join the armed forces, but that now he had no regrets. One thing that will help him get through tough times will be letters, Naik said.
“Boot camp was hell,” said Naik. “It’s these guys who write letters that really get you through it.”
His sister, Pooja, said that sometimes she felt that her brother being deployed was a nightmare.
“I think I’m going to write him weekly because he’s not going to get them often anyway,” said Pooja, who will be attending Rutgers University this fall.
Interested in electronics
Naik said that he would have preferred his Marine specialty to be a combat engineer dealing with explosives, but that was not what the military needed at the time.
He said that at an early age he was always pulling his toys apart and putting them back together. In his teens, he built robotic models and took Russian for four years in high school.
He even studied magic for awhile during his late teens. He said that New Jersey native David Copperfield inspired him.
“There was one trick I did at my cousin’s wedding,” said Naik. “I took a little paper ball, unraveled it, formed it into a rose, and as the rose begins to lift off of my hand I sparked it on fire and it turns into a real rose.”
He said that this tour will not be his last, but that when he is done serving he would like to go back to college. He explained that he wanted to be a Marine because of their high standards.
“We hold the highest of all standards,” said Naik. “In the way we talk, act, speak because you know, actions speak louder than words.”
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.