Kriti Mehrotra
As a documentary series giving us a real insight into what it means to be an active-duty serviceperson in arguably the roughest and toughest military branch, Netflix’s ‘Marines’ truly breaks all bounds. That’s because it follows members of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) with unparalleled access as they undergo rigorous training and simulate complex missions to hopefully attain their combat certification. Amongst those to take center stage is Lance Corporal Rolan Smith of the Machine Gunner squadron, especially since he is one of the “grunts” to potentially be on the first line of defense in any conflict.
Rolan Smith Enlisted in the Marines to Follow in His Father’s Footsteps
A proud native of Amarillo, Texas, Rolan Smith grew up in an extremely affectionate, loving, and supportive household alongside his younger brother Baron Smith as well as his parents, Alice and Copen Smith. He thus never had to shy away from expressing his interests or passions, which further drove him not only to delve deeper into them but also to listen to his parents whenever they offered their advice truly. The fact that his family took in his best friend, Pryce Seymour, as one of their own after he was kicked out of his tumultuous home only solidified his belief in their tight-knit unit, which now comprised five members.
Rolan actually played football as a fullback and linebacker while attending River Road High School (class of 2022), and Pryce was his teammate, playing strong safety and running back. However, instead of thinking of attending college on an athletic scholarship or just continuing their studies, both boys had developed a keen interest in Rolan’s father’s past career as a US Marine. The moment Copen clocked his two eldest boys’ passion for it, he did his best to paint a realistic picture for them so that if they did follow in his footsteps, they would be better prepared than he ever was. Whether it be the feeling of having a purpose, the violence, or what it feels like to have and then lose a brother in arms, he told them everything, and they ultimately decided to enlist.
Rolan Smith Believes That His Past as An Athlete Set Him Up For Success in the Marines
While it’s undeniable that the conversations Rolan had with his father about being a Marine prepared him for the actuality of it, he believes it was his training as an athlete that actually helped him inside. After all, as someone who played competitive football in a place as unforgiving as Texas when it comes to sports, he had learned to be a team player and have discipline very early on. The fact that coaches held him accountable for his mistakes is significant, too, because it taught him not only to follow orders but also to make decisions under duress in times of need without supervision. Moreover, he believes that sports taught him a lifelong lesson on handling adversity in a way that is graceful and influential in terms of how he can later reflect in order to do better.
“Sports, in general, is a great thing to do while you’re young,” Rolan once said in an interview. “It’s going to prepare you for being an adult in life.” He then added that it makes one learn “about a bunch of adversity and teamwork… Sometimes, it’s not about talent. You can be playing a team with all these big-time athletes, but you’re just a better team, then you have a better chance of winning. It’s because you know how to work together. The Marines aren’t all big-time studs. The biggest thing is just everyone does their job.” He also asserted that being a Marine is not glamorous in any form, but it didn’t bother him too much because being an athlete is the same — there is a lot of hard work, losses, and training involved in both.
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Rolan Smith Remains Dedicated to Serving as a Marine For the Foreseeable Future
If Rolan is ever asked what his favorite thing about being a serviceperson is, he will respond with two things: having camaraderie unlike any other and getting to handle heavy weaponry. Therefore, if he ever faces a heavy conflict, he will always be motivated to fight back because he has found a purpose in serving his country, he wants to protect his brothers in arms, and he gets to use weapons for the same. The fact that the Marines are the only military branch that can fully support itself without aid, owing to them having their own aviation as well as ground troops, also makes him proud of his current standing.
As of writing, it appears as if Rolan is actually a Corporal stationed at Camp Pendleton in San Francisco, California, where he continues to happily serve his nation. Before this, though, he was in the Machine Gunner unit alongside Pryce in Okinawa, Japan, following which he became part of an active response team based in Singapore. Following his second mission, he thought about stepping out of the military to maybe explore the world of law enforcement, but it seems like he chose to stay because of the current state of the world. On a more personal level, he still maintains a strong relationship with his entire family – his parents, Pryce, and his younger brother.
