CAMP AL QAIM, Iraq -- "When a Marine reenlists, your officers are pretty lenient when it comes to where you want to have the ceremony," explained SSgt. Benjamin Ricard, the battalion training chief for 3rd Battalion, 2d Marine Regiment.The Cartersville, Ga., native reenlisted here in a way he thought would impress his two sons at home.Ricard reenlisted on top of a tank."The tank symbolizes strength and America in Iraq. My kids are into trucks, trains and tanks, so they'll think it's the coolest thing in the world. Plus, how many people do you know can say they did that," explained the graduate of Bay Shore High School, Bradenton, Fla.Ricard originally joined the Marine Corps after high school because he wanted the Corps to make him a man.But now after his second reenlistment, he's realized that the Marine Corps has grown on him."I'm not ready to give it up yet, I love it too much. It has its good days and bad days, but I think it's grown on me," he said.This is Ricard's first deployment to Iraq and he's anticipating what might occur."I'm looking forward to the experience and ensuring all my Marines come home safe. I like being a part of Marine Corps history and to know they're going to write about us someday for doing something great here," explained the former School of Infantry instructor.At the beginning of his new enlistment, Ricard set himself goals to accomplish."I want to spend more time with my family when we return home. My new wife, Mutsuko, and my two little boys Logan-Ryan and Nikolai are the most important people in my life. That's why I waited to reenlist on my son's birthday. It meant a lot to me to do that," he explained, smile stretched from ear to ear.Ricard looks back on his career thus far and can see how the Corps has helped him in his life."I look around now that I'm older at other people my age who think about what they didn't do or could have done. But I don't do that in the Marine Corps. It's what sets us a part from everybody else," he explained.When Ricard was questioned about his plans to stay in the Marine Corps and continue this path in the future, he responded with full confidence and belief in his answer."They're will have to throw me out, they're will have to tell me my time is up and that I'm done. But the way I see it, this reenlistment on the tank only gives me something to top the next time around," he explained.