Orlando Martin joined active- duty military service in the U.S. Navy in December of 1976. After completing basic training in San Diego, California, his first duty assignment in 1977 was overseas in the Philippines. He returned stateside in 1980, and continued his military career. Among his most memorable assignments during his service was a three –year tenure as a Drill Instructor at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. One of his recruit companies graduated as Color Company ahead of the other divisional companies. The company achieved higher compiled drill and inspection scores than any other company in its graduating group. He was awarded the Navy / Marine Corp Achievement Medal for his commendable effort. Mr. Martin qualified as a rifle expert during his military service, and was consequently awarded the Expert Rifle Medal. He retired honorably from active duty in 1996, after twenty years of continuous service. He is an active member of the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA), and the National Rifle Association (NRA).

During his long military career Mr. Martin served in a variety of assignments. In 1988 he was assigned to the USS San Jose (AFS-7), in the island of Guam. Onboard the San Jose he participated in Operation Desert Shield, precursor to Desert Storm, and the ensuing liberation of Kuwait.

Mr. Martin also served onboard the nuclear –powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73), in Norfolk, Virginia. Onboard the Washington he was assigned as the supervisor for the Flight Deck Electrical Shop. In his position, he routinely supervised and coordinated scheduled maintenance and repair functions on the flight deck of the vessel. It was from his assignment at the Washington where he ultimately retired from military service.

Upon his retirement from active duty in 1996, Mr. Martin attended the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), for a period of over two years. It was during his time at UIC that he discovered his passion for writing. He has previously authored a poetry book titled, “In the Realm of Poetry,” published by Watermark Press, as well as written a number of short stories for which he has claimed copyright in the Library of Congress. Since the beginning of his military service Mr. Martin has always been extremely passionate about firearms. Besides being a rifle expert he is also an avid firearm collector, and has engaged in the practice for over thirty years. He has made himself well versed in ballistics over the years, and considers his expertise and main interest in firearms to be long- range sniper, and combat assault rifles.