This feature was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and Marines. Vox Media editorial staff was not involved in the creation or production of this content.

The life of Joseph Geeter is nothing short of inspirational. Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Geeter's life took an unexpected turn when his best friend joined the Marine Corps and showed up on his doorstep in uniform. From then on, his mind was made up.

The core values of the Marine Corps — honor, courage, and commitment — guided Geeter through his 25 years of service and continue to shape his life today. After serving around the world with tours in Japan, Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines, Geeter is leading the charge in preserving the legacy of Montford Point, where the first African Americans received recruit training for the United States Marines Corps.

For Geeter and countless Marines just like him, the convictions he accrued during his service have benefitted him and his community long after active duty. "The core values of honor, courage, and commitment really resonate with me today," Geeter said. "They're not just Marine-core values, I think they're life-core values."