Former Marine, Eric Wilterdink talks about his time in the Marine Corps and how he has made a successful career for himself now that he is out of the Corps.
Transcript
I have no idea how many tattoos I have. This bulldog-rose mashup the day that I got out. And I have an eagle, globe and anchor that goes across the top of my entire back. My name is Eric Wilterdink, I was a videographer in the Marine Corp for eight and a half years. And then I got out and now I tattoo in Frederick, Maryland at Black Label Tattoo.
So I was in art school, I wasn’t having the best time. I remember I had a really bad critique on some art that I thought was totally wack. Walked outside and went to go meet some friends and ran into a Marine recruiter. And I was like, “Okay, let me just get outta here and do that.”
I’ve always gotten tattooed, I got tattooed on my 18th birthday. I’ve always been interested. And I remember I’d go home and get tattooed while I was on leave. And I talked to my dad and stuff, I think I can do this, I think this is a thing that I could get into.
The hardest part of the transition, for me, the most difficult thing was making sure I was busy tattooing.
When you go to get out, if you don’t have something in particular in mind, and especially if you’re not really driven on it. If you’re even wishy washy on something, have a goal and stay focused on it. I solely want to be responsible for my successes and my failures. I don’t have anybody in my charge anymore, it’s not like being a sergeant. It’s just me and my work and either I do nice work or I don’t. And you know what I mean, whatever comes to me from that. And I really enjoy that. As much as it’s fun to lead and mentor, and all that stuff, it’s also nice to just go make it for yourself.