SSgt. Michael W. Nichols Bio

Joining the Marine Corps wasn't my idea. My older brother Larry D. Nichols Jr. (Boe) signed up in the delay entry program and just before his departure for bootcamp, his recruiter talked me into the great adventure via the "buddy program". I had just graduated from Lutcher High School in Lutcher, Louisiana and truly had no idea what I was going to do or what direction I was headed. Joining the Marine Corps didn't sound like a bad idea, steady income, travel opportunities, San Diego beach on the weekends, and besides I was given $1,000.00 to join the "buddy program." It was all good!

Shortly into bootcamp, around and about the third day, my brother Boe suffered a major back injury and was discharged from the Corps. I was given the chance to return home with him but he reminded me that this opportunity, this challenge to become a U.S. Marine was still a chance of a lifetime. I made the choice to change my life forever, not just for myself but for both of us. And, on May 5, 1995 I graduated from bootcamp earning the title of United States Marine.

I was off to MCT Training at Camp Pendleton and then MOS school for Motor Transportation. I was then assigned to my first duty station in Iwakuni Japan from 1995 to 1996. I was promoted from Private to PFC and then meritoriously promoted to LCPL. In 1996 I was stationed at AGSE 29 Palms, California. During 1996 through 1998, I was promoted to Cpl and then Sgt and re-enlisted for two more years, at which time I was reassigned to 1/7 at 29 Palms.

In late 2000, I received orders to report to MCRD San Diego to become a Marine Corps Drill Instructor. Once again I was facing the toughest training school in the world, this definitely was going to be a challenge of a lifetime.

Immediately after completing DI school, I received orders to report to 1st Battalion Charlie Company and picked up my first 1st Platoon 1046. Platoons 1079/1077, 1010, 1146, 1074 followed. My 6th platoon was 1109, an all Sergeant team which became the Company Honor Platoon. I was then promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSgt.) and Senior Drill Instructor.

During my first Senior Drill Instructor cycle Canaan Brumley, a movie director, was embedded with my platoon and filmed the world famous documentary "Ears, Open, Eyeballs, Click", which featured my Platoon 1141. "Ears, Open, Eyeballs, Click" is the only documentary that features Marine Corps bootcamp in the raw, up to date and with the most exclusive footage ever captured. This documentary received world recognition winning many international and national awards and continues to be one of the best selling documentaries of our times. It currently plays on the documentary channel on Direct TV weekly for the last several years.

Platoon 1075 was my last cycle as a Senior Drill Instructor at MCRD San Diego, California. In 2004, I received orders to Hawaii where I was the Protocol Chief for the MARFORPAC Commanding General (3 Star), until 2006 when I received orders to Camp Pendleton, California. Our newest mission was to prepare for deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Based in Al Asad Iraq, I completed 28 combat missions, 13 as a Platoon Sergeant and 15 as the Platoon Commander after my Lieutenant was severally injured in an IED attack.

On March 25, 2007 after twelve years of service, I was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps.

I returned to Louisiana to pursue a business partnership, owning and operating six convenience stores. In two short years we were able to open four additional stores, successfully building a thriving retail business in the heart of Louisiana pushing monthly sales around 2.5 million dollars. Growing both personally and professionally as an entrepreneur, I decided to return back to Southern California to pursue new opportunities.  Upon returning to Southern California, I launched Moto Entertainment LLC multimedia production company and returned to school to complete my Business Management Degree.