Marine Officer - Lt Michael Baliko

<span> <p> <img style="float: none;" src="http://assets2.marines.com/assetmgr/image/disp/inline/size/460x259/id/254342" alt="1stLt Michael Baliko <br /> Combat Engineer" /><h2>An Early Interest</h2>Baliko1Becoming :38<br /> <br /> Capt Michael Baliko:<br /> I knew I wanted to be a Marine when I was about 12 years old, talking to some family friends who had served in the military. Knew that the freedom that we have as Americans was something that was pretty precious to me growing up and wanted to give back.<br /> <br /> Specifically, it was Marine Corps leadership that called me into this career and made me interested at a young age. From everything I'd learned and read that Marines lead from the front out on the battlefield or, you know, in Iraq specifically, where we're operating currently in Afghanistan. You know, they're out there. They're exposed to the environment, they know what's going on, and in my opinion that is leadership in its purest form.<br /> <hr /><h2>The Role of a Combat Engineer</h2>Baliko2MOS 1:32<br /> <br /> Capt Michael Baliko:<br /> I´m a 1302 combat engineer officer. What that means is that I basically lead my Marines to blow things up well and to build `em as well. There's three different areas of being a combat engineer officer. You can be in the wing, which is in support of aircraft and ensuring that runways are prepared properly. There's also the engineer support battalion, which is what I do. It's called ESB and also CEB, which is combat engineer battalion, which works specifically with Infantry and Division.<br /> <br /> We use all types of demolition gear, so anything that helps us execute demolition missions. When I say that, you know, exploding things, blowing things up, blowing up obstacles, offensively striking the enemy if we have to. But primarily as engineer support battalion Marines, we're looking at mobility, so, freeing up that roadway if there are obstacles. We use demolitions to get rid of whatever obstacles or debris there are that impede the infantry or Marine forces from getting from Point A to Point B.<br /> <br /> As an Engineer Officer, you're always setting the next mission as the highest priority. You're looking forward to prepare and plan as much as you possibly can, and then you're also executing. This past deployment, I was the convoy commander, so I'd lead the entire convoy of logistical vehicles and tactical vehicles from Point A to Point B, wherever it may be in Iraq. And as soon as that piece is over, as soon as the convoy's over, once my Marines hit the deck and we're at that location, I then lead to the actual mission, the mission commander, and take that seat where I lead all my Marines in executing the mission that we've transited out there to execute.<br /> <hr /><h2>Learning from Experience</h2>Baliko3Being :55<br /> <br /> Capt Michael Baliko:<br /> I try to be very approachable as an officer. If I'm not approachable, my platoon commanders probably wouldn't come to me with problems they're having. But really my job is to make their life easier. If I can point them in the right direction, if I can give them lessons learned that I learned the hard way, that's my job as the company executive officer.<br /> <br /> Your training will help you become a good Marine Officer. I mean, if you have the basic intelligence level that you need to be able to understand some of the things, if you can get into these officer programs, then you do have what it takes. You just need to be open to learn.<br /> <br /> They're gonna prepare you there. The training that I've received in the Marine Corps as far as The Basic School and Basic Engineer Officer's Course at Courthouse Bay, those things prepared me very well. However, nothing can prepare you as well as when you're actually there on the deck and learning and growing. Sometimes you set your limitations too short and you can stretch further than you think and the Marine Corps definitely helped me to see that, and the deployment definitely helped me to see that. <br /> <br /> <hr /> </p> </span>

If I can point them in the right direction, if I can give them lessons learned that I learned the hard way so they don’t have to learn that way, that’s my job as the company executive officer.
—1stLt Michael Baliko

Commissioned: 2006
Commissioning Program: NROTC
Education: U.S. Naval Academy

At age 12, First Lieutenant Michael Baliko knew he wanted to be a Marine. Motivated by a love of freedom and desire to give back, he set himself the goal of becoming a Marine Officer. To prepare for success, he attended a military prep school and then the U.S. Naval Academy.

He succeeded in earning his commission in 2006, and today the pride of leading Marines is a constant reminder of why he joined. Their bravery and commitment continually inspire him.

As a Combat Engineer, Lt Baliko’s task is to manipulate the battlefield to allow missions to advance. Some days that involves building new structures, other days it means using demolition gear to open up roadways. He oversees the equipment and leads an entire convoy of logistical and tactical vehicles, and makes taking care of his Marines a top priority.

Marines. The Few. The Proud.

1stLt Michael Baliko
Combat Engineer

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Marines. The Few. The Proud.

1stLt Michael Baliko Combat Engineer

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1stLt Michael Baliko
Combat Engineer