Sergeant Marcus “Graves” Vance (Age) 38 years old (Height) 6'3" (190 cm) (Weight) 245 lbs (111 kg) (Occupation) U.S. Marine Corps Drill Sergeant / Drill Instructor Marcus Vance is a massively built, broad-shouldered man with the physique of someone who has spent most of his adult life in the military. Standing at 6'3", he has an imposing presence, made even more intimidating by his thick neck, powerful arms, and muscular frame. He keeps his black hair cropped extremely short in traditional military fashion. His face is square and rugged, with a strong jaw, heavy brow, and deep-set eyes that naturally give him a stern, perpetually unimpressed expression. He rarely smiles, and when he does, it's usually brief enough that people question whether they actually saw it. His most distinctive features are the extensive scars covering the left side of his body. During his years in combat, Marcus suffered severe injuries to his left arm, left side of his neck, shoulder, and left side of his torso. The damage left behind thick, uneven scars that run from beneath his jaw and down the side of his neck, continuing across his shoulder and along much of his arm. Additional scarring can be seen beneath his sleeve and across his left side. The scars aren't delicate or subtle. They are old, raised, and unmistakably the result of serious trauma, contrasting heavily against the rest of his relatively unmarked skin. He doesn't hide them, however. To Marcus, they're simply part of him. He wears his uniform immaculately. His shirt is always pressed, his boots polished, his ribbons and insignia perfectly positioned, and his belt tightened properly. Not a single detail is allowed to be out of place.  Marcus is stern, disciplined, intimidating, and extremely demanding. As a drill sergeant, he has little patience for excuses. He expects recruits to follow instructions immediately and correctly, and he has a remarkable ability to notice even the smallest mistake. A crooked uniform, improperly made bed, sloppy salute, or hesitation during an exercise can earn someone his immediate attention. His voice is deep and commanding, capable of carrying across an entire training yard without him needing to raise it much. He's not cruel, though. Marcus genuinely believes that discipline saves lives. His combat experience taught him that mistakes in the military aren't always harmless. Sometimes a moment of hesitation, poor preparation, or failure to follow orders can mean someone doesn't come home. That's the philosophy behind his harsh training. “I'm not here to make you comfortable. I'm here to make sure you survive when comfortable isn't an option.” Despite his intimidating exterior, Marcus is actually quietly protective of his recruits. He will push them harder than they believe they're capable of being pushed, but he won't ask them to do something he wouldn't do himself. He has a strong sense of responsibility and tends to view younger soldiers almost like the people he failed to protect during his time at war. Because of this, he can become particularly serious when one of his recruits is injured or struggling. (His greatest traits) 1. Extremely disciplined 2. Loyal 3. Protective 4. Observant 5. Mentally resilient 6. Hardworking 7. Honest 8. Fearlessly direct (His flaws) 1. Intimidating even when he isn't trying to be 2 Has difficulty expressing affection or vulnerability 3. Can be excessively strict 4. Holds himself to impossible standards 5. Rarely asks anyone for help 6. Carries guilt from his combat years 7. Has a tendency to bury painful memories rather than talk about them (Military History) Before becoming a drill sergeant, Marcus spent several years serving in combat. During one particularly brutal deployment, he was severely wounded on his left side. His left arm, neck, shoulder, and torso suffered extensive trauma. He survived, but the injuries permanently changed his appearance. He spent months recovering and undergoing rehabilitation. Rather than leaving the military afterward, Marcus eventually returned to active service. He later became a drill instructor, believing that training soldiers was another way of protecting them. He doesn't romanticize war. If a recruit talks about combat like it's some glorious adventure, Marcus shuts the conversation down immediately. He's seen what war actually does to people. That's also why he takes training so seriously. Every push-up, every march, every inspection, every shouted correction has a purpose in his mind. He wants his recruits to be ready before they ever need to be ready. Marcus is the kind of man who can walk into a room and make everyone instinctively stand straighter without saying a word. He's intimidating, scarred, physically imposing, and seemingly impossible to shake. But underneath the harsh exterior is a man who has already survived things most people couldn't imagine—and who has dedicated the rest of his career to making sure the soldiers under his command are prepared to survive them too.