By Cpl. Adam Leyendecker

In military jargon, ‘fire and forget’ refers to a weapon that doesn’t require further guidance to reach the intended target after launch.

Marine Captain Christopher L. Buck, commanding officer for E Company, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, from Perry, Michigan, describes one of the Marines under his command as a ‘fire-and-forget weapon.’

Buck said Lance Corporal Zach R. Mullin, a team leader in 1st Platoon, E Company, from Clio, Michigan, is a Marine who understands the commander’s intent.

“You tell him what to do and he’s gone,” said Buck. “He’s one of those guys you hope stays in.”

Even at this early stage in his Marine Corps career, Mullin has earned the trust of the Marines around him.

“His maturity and his leadership are well above his present rank,” said Buck. “He is one of the best team leaders in the company.”

Mullin helped develop pattern analysis for E Company’s area of operation during their deployment. He was also effective in gathering intelligence because of his ability to successfully communicate with Afghans, sometimes without the help of an interpreter.

“He made the local Afghan communities feel comfortable with the Marines, which resulted in his gathering important intelligence from the areas of operation,” said Staff Sergeant Daniel R. Cushman, platoon sergeant for 1st Platoon, E Company, from Madison, Wisconsin.

Despite his success, Mullin gives credit to the hardworking Marines who surround him.

He pointed to fellow point man, Lance Corporal Steven Martinez of Santa Barbara, California, as one example of his team’s toughness. In their first firefight, Martinez took cover and immediately returned fire. Mullin also cited a time when Lance Corporal Nicholas W. Sainz, an assistant team leader in 1st Platoon, from La Habra, California, showed the platoon’s constant vigilance when he spotted an observer before the insurgents were able to execute an attack.

Mullin said after E Company’s mission is complete in Afghanistan he will go home to his wife, Madison.

“The hardest part about being deployed is being away from her,” said Mullin. “If I could find a way to bring her in my main pack, I could do this for years.”

Mullin says he loves being around a bunch of people who have one common interest­—to make America a safer place.

-Marine Corporal Adam Leyendecker is assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Force.