thedrifter
10-26-06, 06:56 AM
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Pentagon official visits reserve Marines
By Cpl. Sha’ahn Williams
Combat Correspondent
A group of reserve Marines from all over the country, who came to Quantico to attend the Reserve Combat Marksmanship Training Course, took a break from the two week program to attend a town hall-style meeting with Craig Duehring, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, Oct. 16 at Weapons Training Battalion.
While attending the course, the Marines were able to learn skills that would enable them to train other reserve Marines in marksmanship.
During the meeting, the Marines were able to raise issues and concerns they had seen or experienced in the reserves and discuss them with Duehring, a key decision maker, which is a rare opportunity for the Marines.
Some of the topics discussed at the meeting ranged from lifestyle issues and how to retain Marines in the reserves, to finding more funding for equipment and training.
Duehring assured the Marines that their concerns were of the utmost importance and Congress is working on improving things for them.
“Things are getting better,” he said. “You may not get everything you want, but we are working it out.”
Duehring’s visit was well received and many Marines were grateful he came to Quantico.
“This is one of the greatest things to see,” said Lance Cpl. Ricky Giden, a radio operator based in Long Beach, Calif.
“It is good to know that officials at the White House are trying to make it better for us,” he said. “I just like the fact that Mr. Duehring took the time to speak with us personally.”
For Duehring, traveling to speak with service members is a routine observed at least two to four times a month.
“He gets out of the office to find reserve units drilling or training to find out what they are feeling,” said Lt. Col. G. Meehan, Director of the Reserve Support Unit here.
“His talks help keep up morale, and the Marines enjoy seeing senior officials come down and engage with them,” he said.
In an effort to find out if current programs and policies are effective, Duehring feels it is absolutely essential that he travels to where Marines and other service members are.
The main idea that Duehring hopes the Marines will take with them when they return to their home stations is that government officials care about them.
“There are a lot of people whose faces and names they do not know, who are working hard as they can so they (reserve troops) can continue to fight to keep our country safe,” Duehring said.
“This visit is one way to show them.”
Ellie
Pentagon official visits reserve Marines
By Cpl. Sha’ahn Williams
Combat Correspondent
A group of reserve Marines from all over the country, who came to Quantico to attend the Reserve Combat Marksmanship Training Course, took a break from the two week program to attend a town hall-style meeting with Craig Duehring, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, Oct. 16 at Weapons Training Battalion.
While attending the course, the Marines were able to learn skills that would enable them to train other reserve Marines in marksmanship.
During the meeting, the Marines were able to raise issues and concerns they had seen or experienced in the reserves and discuss them with Duehring, a key decision maker, which is a rare opportunity for the Marines.
Some of the topics discussed at the meeting ranged from lifestyle issues and how to retain Marines in the reserves, to finding more funding for equipment and training.
Duehring assured the Marines that their concerns were of the utmost importance and Congress is working on improving things for them.
“Things are getting better,” he said. “You may not get everything you want, but we are working it out.”
Duehring’s visit was well received and many Marines were grateful he came to Quantico.
“This is one of the greatest things to see,” said Lance Cpl. Ricky Giden, a radio operator based in Long Beach, Calif.
“It is good to know that officials at the White House are trying to make it better for us,” he said. “I just like the fact that Mr. Duehring took the time to speak with us personally.”
For Duehring, traveling to speak with service members is a routine observed at least two to four times a month.
“He gets out of the office to find reserve units drilling or training to find out what they are feeling,” said Lt. Col. G. Meehan, Director of the Reserve Support Unit here.
“His talks help keep up morale, and the Marines enjoy seeing senior officials come down and engage with them,” he said.
In an effort to find out if current programs and policies are effective, Duehring feels it is absolutely essential that he travels to where Marines and other service members are.
The main idea that Duehring hopes the Marines will take with them when they return to their home stations is that government officials care about them.
“There are a lot of people whose faces and names they do not know, who are working hard as they can so they (reserve troops) can continue to fight to keep our country safe,” Duehring said.
“This visit is one way to show them.”
Ellie