Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON -- "The military is a useful tool to experience the world," said Maj. Jose D. Bustos, operations officer, Supported Activities Supply System Management Unit, Supply Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group.  "It has the potential to expose the young American Indian to different cultures and experiences."

A Sandia American Indian, 39-year old Bustos remembers his days as a child on the reservation in New Mexico vividly.  Bustos was 10 years old when his father retired from the Air Force and moved to the reservation in 1972 with his Hispanic mother.  For the next eight years, there would be many memorable moments for him.

While growing up at the reservation an average day at play consisted of "picking up my rifle and hunting," Bustos said. 

When it was time for celebrations or ceremonies, Bustos participated in a supportive capacity.

"I've never participated in any of the ceremonies, but I always supported the events."

Bustos remembers spending most of the day looking for materials to be used in the ceremonies and often ended up doing what came naturally to him.

"Whenever I went to gather materials, I would always take my rifle just in case," Bustos said jokingly.  "My father taught me to love the outdoors through hunting and fishing."

One moment that brings a smile to his face is when he would visit his grandmother and help make "Tewa" pottery.

"My grandmother would make me climb the cliffs to gather rocks to make the pottery.  After spending a whole day of gathering the rocks, I would have to make the oven to bake the ground up rocks," Bustos said.  "After it was all done, we would load it up into the station wagon and sell the pottery in the mall.

"Lord help me if I broke any of the pottery," Bustos said.  "In the end, I did all the work and she would make all the money.

"I'd get a cheeseburger out of the whole deal," Bustos said as he smiled.
Another moment Bustos remembers is the Fiesta Day festival on the reservation. 

"We would all pay respect to the patron saint and then perform a ritual to celebrate," Bustos said.  "It's a dual belief system on the reservation."

Bustos explained the dual belief culminated from the time when the reservation was under Spanish control and Catholicism was the dominant religion.  Bustos continued by explaining that it is not uncommon to come across several older Sandians who can speak English, Spanish and the native language of Tiwa as well as have names that are Hispanic in nature.

"It's a peaceful life on the reservation," Bustos said.

At the age of 18, Bustos decided to move on and joined the Marine Corps. 

"For most, when you live on the reservation your whole life, it's hard to leave," Bustos said.  "I saw other opportunities outside of the reservation and I pursued it.

"I've always viewed the Marines as being a tough hard bunch," Bustos said.  "I like to be challenged, so I joined."

After spending some time in the enlisted ranks, Bustos applied for the Broadened Oppurtunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) program in 1985.  Upon completion in 1986, he was accepted into the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) and attended the University of New Mexico.  Bustos received his commission as a second lieutenant in 1989.

Bustos continued with his education and received a masters in business administration in 1995 and graduated law school May 2000.  He is currently preparing to take the California Bar exam.

With his immediate plans in practicing law, Bustos is leaning towards practicing American Indian law.

"Reservations were created as a result of treaties with tribes, so they can exert their rights," Bustos said.  "Such things as regaining land from disputes, gambling issues or adoptions by non-Indians are some of the many challenges in this type of law.

"It's a very challenging form of law," Bustos said adamantly.  "There are many untested waters to establish legal precedence."

The experiences and opportunities established outside of the reservation are very important for the American Indian because "it can be used to interact outside of reservations with local governments," Bustos said.

However, Bustos may eventually become involved with the reservation, he has no immediate plans to move there with his family.

"I've exposed my family to the culture, but the whole lifestyle is different from what my family has been accustomed to," Bustos said.  "I'm very proud of my American Indian heritage because of my father's influence and where I lived.
"I can speak Spanish and also understand the Indian way," Bustos said as he smiled.  "I can also salsa with the best of them."
He hopes to one day use his experiences to bring exposure to the reservation and perhaps take on a leadership role.