So, what do you say?

I'm beyond excited that you're here, so let's talk about why you should stay...

We should get to know one another.

My name is Aaron Courts. I am a native Texan and grew up in Southeast Texas. I enlisted in the Marine Corps before my senior year at Vidor High School and was trained as an ammunition technician in the Corps. I would meet my future wife during my first enlistment, a Marine veteran herself, and marry her some 10 years later.

I became a Warrant Officer around that time and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 in 2021. I have had countless adventures while on active duty and deployed to, or served in, multiple locations across the United States, Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific. While in uniform, I was a company commander, explosives safety officer and explosives safety program manager for most of the Marine Corps installations on the East Coast, and the officer-in-charge of ammunition supply facilities in Okinawa, Japan, and Camp Pendleton, California.

My wife's passion for canine detection led her to become an explosives detection canine handler in Seattle. I followed her there after my retirement and was licensed as a Residential Mortgage Loan Officer in Texas, Virginia, and Washington before she was promoted to a canine training instructor and relocated to the TSA National Canine Training Center aboard Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Tx.

We have four children: one a college grad, one in college in Louisiana, and two in grade school, itching to fly from the nest. I enjoy learning, music, film, reading and writing, outdoors, marksmanship, woodworking, a nice bourbon, and spending time with my family now that I am retired from active uniformed service.

1. Why I write and why you should read.

Because I have something to say, and I’ll let you know what that is, just as soon as I figure it out…

Seriously though, I write because to not write would be denying a necessary function of my existence. It may sound dramatic, but that’s because IT IS. The words are coming out one way or another. After years of carrying notebooks around, filling countless pages with thoughts and ideas, I find myself with the time and energy to answer the fifth calling of my life— to write.

You should read it because it will be refreshing, and though some of my insights will be familiar, others will (hopefully) add a new facet to your understanding of the world; you may look through the porthole I offer and see what I see. I would love to have a conversation with each of you, every single day, but that isn’t practical. This is the next best thing.

I would podcast, or YouTube, or post videos online, but for the fact that one, it’s not my style, and two, there is power in written word! I invite conversation, debate, argument, discourse— all of the things we seem to have abandoned of late— all the things that make The Great Experiment, Great!

My Substack is not a place for me to wax, but rather an invitation to engage in thought and discussion. Through my writings, I hope to extend the invitation to you.

2. What can you expect to read?

I’m an eclectic person with a sense of adventure, wide array of tastes and few absolute turn offs. I enjoy writing about my experiences, current happenings, and various other interests that peak on any given day. You will get to read both fiction and non-fiction. You will not be berated with ideology here, though you may be asked hard questions.

3. I’m gonna write, I promise!

I am a fulltime student working to complete my undergraduate and graduate degrees in creative writing, so that takes up some time. I commute to and from my girls’ schools, with a mando dog walk as soon as we return, so that takes up some more time. I am a husband, absolutely infatuated with an amazing wife, and a father of some pretty amazing kids, so they take up even more time.

You will not receive daily emails about the latest story “Aaron has written,” but that’s another reason why you should subscribe. That’s two reasons actually.

1. I will not be a mental chore or an inbox caltrop.

2. When I do write, you’re not going to want to miss it!

4. Semper Fidelis.

I do not want to create a pay-per-view mass subscription sort of thing here, however, if you feel convicted to show a degree of support monetarily, that is welcome (and does, in fact, help). Your pledge will be received with utmost gratitude and humble appreciation. Tangibly, it will also come with exclusive access to some of the happenings behind the curtain: working manuscripts of my novel(s), outlines and research material for the upcoming projects, and maybe more personal writings not available for mass consumption. Free subscribers will always have access to all public posts and archive access for at least a year post-publication.

Semper Fidelis is the Marine Corps’ motto and means Always Faithful, but to a Marine it means so much more. I welcome you into a written world of fidelity.

I am human, so I may will make mistakes, but I will acknowledge them.

I am human, so I may will be subjective on occasion, though I try very hard to remain objective, in all things. I will endeavor to recalibrate my understanding when that happens.

I am human, but I am more than just a human— I am a thinking, writing, ever-growing man and Marine. That is the sort of person I want to know and speak with, and I have my fingers crossed that you do too.

5. Crossing my fingers…

Don’t be alarmed, I am not the sort of crazy person that crosses his fingers when he makes a promise.

I am crossing my fingers that you will want to take part in this journey, that you will want to engage in discussion, and that you have enjoyed “meeting” and want to read more.

You are invited to subscribe and share and comment or reach out, anytime!

Semper Fidelis,

J. Aaron Courts

CWO4, USMC, Ret.

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