thedrifter
02-08-06, 03:18 PM
Phoenix Leathernecks strengthen team with Warrior Night
8th Marine Corps District
Story by Cpl. Sam Valliere
MARINE CORPS RECRUITING STATION PHOENIX (Feb. 8, 2006) -- Marines with Recruiting Station Phoenix took to the mountains of Flagstaff, Ariz. recently for a day of camaraderie and esprit de corps.
They gathered at a small National Guard base for Warrior’s Night, a day intended to bring them back to their leatherneck roots.
“I held Warrior's Night to get back to the basics; to get out of the blue and red and get back into the green,” said Maj. T.J. Dodds, commanding officer, RS Phoenix.
The day began with “The Gauntlet,” a team building exercise that tested the Marines’ endurance in a higher altitude than most were used to.
The “team” concept started almost immediately with a formation run to the Gauntlet’s location.
“Marines paired up to go through numerous obstacles,” said Sgt. Maj. David Knutson, the station’s top enlisted Marine. “Doing it all at 7,700 feet above sea level made it pretty difficult, too.”
The obstacles included martial arts training, a sandbag toss and fireman carries, among others.
Following the two-mile Gauntlet, the Marines began the “Celtic Games,” which saw them organized into larger teams to compete in games like log throwing and "bull in the ring."
“We broke them out of their normal roles of recruiting substations and gave them a chance to work with Marines they usually don’t,” said Knutson.
The back-to-back exercise was key to a successful day, said Dodds.
“The most lucrative portion of our Warrior's Night was the physical fitness portion, specifically the Celtic Games,” said Dodds. “The competitive nature came out in all, and it was great to see their enthusiasm and warrior spirit.”
“It was Marine on Marine, bone on bone and grit on grit,” said Knutson, “which is the best statement on what recruiting is: a fight, month in month out.”
Knutson’s sentiments were echoed that evening when retired Marine colonel Mike Fallon took the floor to speak to the Marines before they were served massive cuts of steak with the traditional port wine.
Fallon, a Vietnam veteran, spoke about applying core combat ideas, such as determination and teamwork, to recruiting.
The speech was followed by food, revelry, toasts and fines.
“The evening saw us sit down and celebrate our successes,” said Knutson.
And Dodds hoped this event would only help those successes multiply by letting his Marines relax and brush up on the value of teamwork.
“The Marines were allowed to take a break from the recruiting world,” said Dodds. “They competed, built camaraderie, and the end result was a more cohesive RS Phoenix.”
Ellie
8th Marine Corps District
Story by Cpl. Sam Valliere
MARINE CORPS RECRUITING STATION PHOENIX (Feb. 8, 2006) -- Marines with Recruiting Station Phoenix took to the mountains of Flagstaff, Ariz. recently for a day of camaraderie and esprit de corps.
They gathered at a small National Guard base for Warrior’s Night, a day intended to bring them back to their leatherneck roots.
“I held Warrior's Night to get back to the basics; to get out of the blue and red and get back into the green,” said Maj. T.J. Dodds, commanding officer, RS Phoenix.
The day began with “The Gauntlet,” a team building exercise that tested the Marines’ endurance in a higher altitude than most were used to.
The “team” concept started almost immediately with a formation run to the Gauntlet’s location.
“Marines paired up to go through numerous obstacles,” said Sgt. Maj. David Knutson, the station’s top enlisted Marine. “Doing it all at 7,700 feet above sea level made it pretty difficult, too.”
The obstacles included martial arts training, a sandbag toss and fireman carries, among others.
Following the two-mile Gauntlet, the Marines began the “Celtic Games,” which saw them organized into larger teams to compete in games like log throwing and "bull in the ring."
“We broke them out of their normal roles of recruiting substations and gave them a chance to work with Marines they usually don’t,” said Knutson.
The back-to-back exercise was key to a successful day, said Dodds.
“The most lucrative portion of our Warrior's Night was the physical fitness portion, specifically the Celtic Games,” said Dodds. “The competitive nature came out in all, and it was great to see their enthusiasm and warrior spirit.”
“It was Marine on Marine, bone on bone and grit on grit,” said Knutson, “which is the best statement on what recruiting is: a fight, month in month out.”
Knutson’s sentiments were echoed that evening when retired Marine colonel Mike Fallon took the floor to speak to the Marines before they were served massive cuts of steak with the traditional port wine.
Fallon, a Vietnam veteran, spoke about applying core combat ideas, such as determination and teamwork, to recruiting.
The speech was followed by food, revelry, toasts and fines.
“The evening saw us sit down and celebrate our successes,” said Knutson.
And Dodds hoped this event would only help those successes multiply by letting his Marines relax and brush up on the value of teamwork.
“The Marines were allowed to take a break from the recruiting world,” said Dodds. “They competed, built camaraderie, and the end result was a more cohesive RS Phoenix.”
Ellie