MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Inspired by the Marine Corps and driven by ironclad determination, one Marine turned his hobby into a business.

Sgt. Michael E. Scott Jr., Aircraft Rescue, Firefighting and Recovery crew chief, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, opened his own music store Dec. 6.

After spending his first enlistment as an infantryman with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion 5th Marines at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Scott felt his time spent training with his unit gave him the desire to achieve his goal.

"My training gave me the determination to never quit and keep going," he said. "I used my own money from selling compact discs and doing disc jockey work to open the store."

Not only has Scott put his own time and money into the store opening, he has also had support from several musicians and friends.

"I owe most of the credit for my success to my two best friends back home," he said. "I cannot take all the credit for this without thanking them."

Prior to the store's opening, Scott sponsored a concert to help raise money and let people know how he stands in the community.

"I plan on keeping the local community and the schools involved," said Scott. "I am going to have car washes and have performances for the students to help them with fund raisers and dances."

In order for his store to be a success, Scott believes he must have the right customers and target the correct age group.

"My target audience is going to be between the ages of 15 and 24," he said. "You have to catch (the audience) while they are young. You have a better chance of influencing them with music at a younger age."

"I plan on having more than just music available in the future," he said. "Hopefully, I will have clothes, DVD's and maybe some athletic gear if the store is successful."

Scott added that his non-financial reasons for opening the store should help his business succeed in the long run because of his pure desire to follow a dream.

"This music store and business is not about the money," he said. "It is all about the love of the music and how it can impact somebody's life."