One year after Jill Duggar Dillard confirmed that her husband, Derick, had left his job as a prosecuting attorney/assistant district attorney in Oklahoma to take a “sabbatical period,” the former Counting On stars have announced Derick’s next career move.
In a post to their website on Thursday, Jill and Derick revealed that Derick has joined the Marine Corps. and will be shipping out to Quantico, Virginia, soon to attend Marine Corps Officer Candidate School (OSC).
In a photo posted to social media, Derick is shown being sworn in as his three sons watch. (He was sworn in wearing a T-shirt, jeans and socks, natch.)
View this post on Instagram
“Lord willing he will commission as an officer at the end of OCS and then go on to a couple of other trainings before getting his assignment as a Marine Corps JAG officer!” the Dillards wrote.
According to the Marines Corps website, a candidate’s “mind, body, and character are put to the test to evaluate your capabilities as both a fighter and an officer. No candidate at OCS will earn the officer commission they seek without demonstrating they can meet the standard found in our motto, Ductus Exemplo, Latin for ‘Lead by example.'”
Jill and Derick wrote that Derick has wanted to become a military JAG officer for a long time. (In case you’re wondering what that is, a JAG— or Judge Advocate General– is “a commissioned officer and qualified attorney who provides legal services, advice, and counsel to Marine Corps commands and personnel.”)
The Dillards revealed that Derick was recruited last year for OSC.
“[He] received a recruiting letter last year from the Marine Corps, but the timing just wasn’t right for our family, and then by the time we were ready, we weren’t sure the opportunity would still be available,” they wrote. “After starting the process in early March, we have been surprised how quickly things have come together and the doors that have continued to open, so much so that we can’t deny God is leading us in this direction.”
After Derick’s 10 weeks of training at OSC, Jill and their three sons will move to Virginia to join him, and later Rhode Island for his additional training.
“We’d appreciate your prayers for health and strength for Derick as he prepares for and trains at OCS, and for the rest of us as we survive without him for a bit and prepare for new family transitions!” they added.
Jill stated in the comments of her post on Instagram that “Derick will commission as a Second Lieutenant upon completion of OCS. Then it would be off to The Basic School, then Naval Justice School.”
As The Ashley previously reported, Derick graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 2021 and was sworn in as a licensed lawyer in both Arkansas and Oklahoma the following year, which is also when he became an assistant district attorney. Before that, he and Jill worked as missionaries in El Salvador, and before that Derick worked as an accountant for Walmart.
Derick is the first member (or member adjacent) of the Duggar Family to serve in the military.
None of Jill’s family have commented on Jill and Derick’s post.
RELATED STORY: Jinger Duggar’s Husband Jeremy Vuolo Says Joe Duggar’s Arrest Has Made Him Hug His Kids Tighter & Try to Be a Better Father
(Photos: Instagram; TLC)
6 Responses
Nothing wrong with this. He’s proactive with work and providing. Hope they’re a happy family.
Did…not have all this Duggar news on my bingo card this year.
Well, maybe what will come of it is Jill and Derrick actually experiencing the world and having more empathy since they’ll be out of the headships orbit for sure.
Well, if Jill could not cope with her husband being away for a normal workday, how is she going to deal with him being gone for ten weeks? He won’t be available for her to speak with, let alone to rush home when she has a difficult day with three kids.
I just don’t think this is going to work for them, unless she gets another available adult to help her.
A Duggar separation that was due to a different kind of justice system. How refreshing.
And it’s OCS, not OSC. Thrice in one article is a bit much.
Well at least he has 2 careers and wants to do something with his life besides flipping poorly remodeled houses
Or touching kids inappropriately.