For most people, earning a degree from Clemson University in mechanical engineering would be a pretty ambitious goal to reach, but Anthony “AJ” Garrett decided to add becoming a U.S. Marine in tandem with his degree to his docket.
“I made that decision because I felt I owed society a debt of service,” Garrett explains. “I have been truly blessed over the years by the people I have met and the communities I have become a part of, and I wanted to return that favor of gratitude and appreciation in the best way possible — by serving my country.”
Garrett grew up in Plum Branch, South Carolina, “A small country town in the middle of nowhere.” When he graduated as valedictorian from McCormick High School in 2021, there was really no question where he would go next.
“I chose Clemson University because it had always been my dream school, since I was a child,” he says. “I had an older cousin graduate from Clemson in 2018, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
Garrett says he chose to study mechanical engineering because he’d always been interested in understanding how machines work. He wanted to be part of a group that shared the same curiosity.
Garrett excelled at Clemson, just as he had in high school, and maximized his time at the University by participating in multiple extracurricular activities. He participated in the PEER (Programs for Educational Enrichment and Retention) program as a first-year student, which prepares students for success in STEM careers through mentoring, coaching, tutoring and structured academic support. He became a mentor for the program during his sophomore and junior years, and a tutor during his senior year. He also participated in the Cooperative Education (Co-Op) program, completing three rotations with Bosch Automotive in Anderson, South Carolina. In addition, he was a member of the Chi Zeta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Inc. and the National Society of Black Engineers.
His early exposure to engineering through the PEER program helped Garrett stand out in his field, and he was selected as a TransDigm Doug Peacock Scholar. TransDigm Group Incorporated was founded in 1993 and is a leading global producer, designer and supplier of highly engineered aerospace components that are used on nearly all commercial and military aircraft in service today. Named for TransDigm’s co-founder, the Doug Peacock Scholarship program provides financial support to students pursuing postsecondary education in the fields of engineering and business.
After graduating this past May, Garrett signed up for an eight-year contract with the Marines, trading in his trademark dreadlocks for a high and tight Marine crew cut. He attended Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, over the summer, and commissioned as a second lieutenant on August 1. For his first assignment, he will be stationed at Marine Corps Base Quantico, where he will help newly commissioned Marine Officers and Warrant Officers learn the foundational skills of warfighting in Echo Company, The Basic School (TBS). His long-term plan is to use his degree to become an aircraft maintenance officer.
“I plan to make a full career out of it,” he says. “The legacy I want to leave behind is bigger than me, and embarking on this journey is the first step to having a positive impact on my community.”
Garrett says one of the key things he’s learned during his remarkable journey is that the road to success is paved with the seemingly small, insignificant decisions you make each day.
“I’ve learned that we are given the opportunity each and every day to make a decision that will impact our life, or the life of others,” he says. “So, choose to make the decision that will not only set you up for success, but that will be something you can look back on and be proud of. If you want it, go get it!”
