He's a marine? That totally explains the confidence. I'd lend more credence to the military background being the source of his attitude rather than his hometown. My brother went to West Point (only for a year, but the first year is the one with "BEAST", the boot camp), and they really do a number on you. It was intense, another guy I knew who went there made it halfway through the summer and came back with a host of mental issues. (Bragging time, my brother didn't quit, he had a blood disorder that they had to discharge him for. He made it through the tough part though lol). Anyhow, their words were that they take the soldiers and tear them down mentally before building them back up. And it turns out that wasn't a joke. They have like 5 suicide attempts a year, but if you make it you have quite the reason to be confident. I imagine the marines are even crazier.