thedrifter
10-30-03, 06:38 AM
Submitted by: 9th Marine Corps District
Story Identification Number: 2003102912615
Story by Sgt. Jeff Janowic
9TH MARINE CORPS DISTRICT(October 1, 2003) -- About 100 poolees and their recruiters recently descended on a town in Northern Michigan where they stayed in squad bays for two nights and learned more about what it takes to be a Marine.
While at the Alpena Air National Guard base, the poolees were put through a mini-boot camp as they performed an initial strength test and a knowledge test. Along with a field meet, these events were geared to make accurate assessments of where they are and where they need to be.
This event was held to give them a better understanding of where they are in the process of getting ready for boot camp and to build some camaraderie among the poolees of the recruiting sub stations, said Sgt. Maj. Barry L. Casciotti, 43, Recruiting Station Lansing.
It also gives the recruiters a little bit of understanding too, said Casciotti, who is a native of Johnstown, Pa. It was definitely a good thing. They found out a few things they didn't know; they got to see where their poolees stand physically and knowledge-wise. It gave them an opportunity to get those poolees together where they had an opportunity to demonstrate a lot of motivation or lack thereof. It also developed their leadership abilities by helping cheer their teammates on and encourage them.
The poolees gained much from the weekend.
I liked it, said Poolee Dan J. Martin, 20, Gaylord, Mich., native. It helped us get a picture of what Marine boot camp will be like. It's great to pull together; almost every event set up was focused on team effort. This whole event has given me a better picture of how the Marine Corps operates.
Recruiters got the chance to see how their poolees matched up with poolees from other stations. Beyond comparing poolees with one another, however, was the opportunity to introduce new people to the Marine Corps.
One of the benefits is contracts bringing in visitors. Overall, it helps with the proficiency of the recruiters, said Sgt. Benjamin L. Miller, recruiter, RSS West Branch.
We get to meet new contacts and are able to visit with other recruiters and their poolees to find out what they are doing to be successful, said Miller, 27, who hails from Arlington, Texas.
Poolees see how the Marine Corps works and the recruiters are able to partake in an atmosphere they had to leave for recruiting duty.
This gets us back to the real Marine side, said Miller. We get to have the classes, motivation runs and fire watch. The classes are the same as those taught in boot camp.
Involvement of the poolees was brought to a higher level due to the all-hands function.
The commitment level is high when someone first comes into the Delayed Entry Program (DEP), but it drops after a while, said Miller. This helps to keep them interested.
Recruiting Station Lansing held two separate all-hands events for the poolees in its DEP. The first was accomplished in the northern part of the state in Alpena, while the second one involved about 180 poolees from the southern part, in Fort Custer. Both events lasted three days and were beneficial to the recruiters of Michigan.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/1E2E2E68A4AD822A85256DCE005DF4EB?opendocument
Story Identification Number: 2003102912615
Story by Sgt. Jeff Janowic
9TH MARINE CORPS DISTRICT(October 1, 2003) -- About 100 poolees and their recruiters recently descended on a town in Northern Michigan where they stayed in squad bays for two nights and learned more about what it takes to be a Marine.
While at the Alpena Air National Guard base, the poolees were put through a mini-boot camp as they performed an initial strength test and a knowledge test. Along with a field meet, these events were geared to make accurate assessments of where they are and where they need to be.
This event was held to give them a better understanding of where they are in the process of getting ready for boot camp and to build some camaraderie among the poolees of the recruiting sub stations, said Sgt. Maj. Barry L. Casciotti, 43, Recruiting Station Lansing.
It also gives the recruiters a little bit of understanding too, said Casciotti, who is a native of Johnstown, Pa. It was definitely a good thing. They found out a few things they didn't know; they got to see where their poolees stand physically and knowledge-wise. It gave them an opportunity to get those poolees together where they had an opportunity to demonstrate a lot of motivation or lack thereof. It also developed their leadership abilities by helping cheer their teammates on and encourage them.
The poolees gained much from the weekend.
I liked it, said Poolee Dan J. Martin, 20, Gaylord, Mich., native. It helped us get a picture of what Marine boot camp will be like. It's great to pull together; almost every event set up was focused on team effort. This whole event has given me a better picture of how the Marine Corps operates.
Recruiters got the chance to see how their poolees matched up with poolees from other stations. Beyond comparing poolees with one another, however, was the opportunity to introduce new people to the Marine Corps.
One of the benefits is contracts bringing in visitors. Overall, it helps with the proficiency of the recruiters, said Sgt. Benjamin L. Miller, recruiter, RSS West Branch.
We get to meet new contacts and are able to visit with other recruiters and their poolees to find out what they are doing to be successful, said Miller, 27, who hails from Arlington, Texas.
Poolees see how the Marine Corps works and the recruiters are able to partake in an atmosphere they had to leave for recruiting duty.
This gets us back to the real Marine side, said Miller. We get to have the classes, motivation runs and fire watch. The classes are the same as those taught in boot camp.
Involvement of the poolees was brought to a higher level due to the all-hands function.
The commitment level is high when someone first comes into the Delayed Entry Program (DEP), but it drops after a while, said Miller. This helps to keep them interested.
Recruiting Station Lansing held two separate all-hands events for the poolees in its DEP. The first was accomplished in the northern part of the state in Alpena, while the second one involved about 180 poolees from the southern part, in Fort Custer. Both events lasted three days and were beneficial to the recruiters of Michigan.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/1E2E2E68A4AD822A85256DCE005DF4EB?opendocument