CAMP PENDLETON -- The Marine Corps is made up of many different people from many different places and many different cultures. Some people join to escape where they came from, hoping to forget their past. Some come from rich cultures and communities they are proud of, but by human nature lose touch with that part of themselves. And then, there are those who come from a long line of heritage and make it a priority to carry on their traditions.
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Nizhoni Milton, a data analyst with Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, serves as a keeper of tradition for the Marine Corps, her Native American culture, and her family. A second-generation Marine and a member of the Navajo Nation, Milton was born at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, where both her parents served as Marines. In 2019, Milton followed in her parents’ footsteps, enlisting in the Marine Corps. However, her decision was not solely motivated by her parent’s Marine Corps service.
“The Navajo Code Talkers were the reason that I joined the Marine Corps, and it is also the reason my mom joined,” explained Milton.
The Code Talkers, Native Americans who used their tribal languages to send secret communications during World War II, became a symbol of courage and resilience, especially for Milton.
“I know I want to be fluent in Navajo one day,” said Milton.
Although raised outside the reservation in Crown Point, New Mexico, she remains connected to her ‘Water Flows Together’ clan. She is actively learning the language to preserve her cultural identity and even uses tuition assistance to take Native American classes.
One of the many things she’s learned is that Native Americans serve in the armed forces at the highest rate per capita compared to other ethnicities.
“For us, for me and my family, at least, it is a sense of duty, because this is our land,” explained Milton. “We were the first people on this land, and we all want to protect it. I think that is why most Natives join.”
Joining the military was not a cultural shock for Milton. The discipline, early mornings, and the readiness to act at a moment’s notice resonated with her upbringing.
“In the morning we have to wake up before the sun to greet it,” said Milton.
However, she has faced a unique challenge in staying connected to her culture while serving.
“It definitely is hard to be active in the culture, it is easier if you’re on the reservation,” Milton explained.
Nonetheless, she continues to remain as involved as she can. In 2022, she went on a sponsored trip to Window Rock, Arizona, where a select detachment of Marines celebrated Navajo Code Talker Day. The event allowed Milton to connect with five other Navajos from across the country. She was also privileged to talk and meet with Peter MacDonald, one of the only three surviving World War II Navajo Code Talkers.
“Don’t forget your roots,” emphasized Milton. "You can be a Marine and be Navajo in the same world. It is easy to forget your values and where you come from.”