thedrifter
05-17-07, 04:56 AM
Can I quote you on that?
By Lance Cpl. William A. Rooks, 2nd Marine Logistics Group
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (May 16, 2007) -- How many Marines normally man the gate? How long do they stay at the gate? How many Marines are in the compound?
While deployed, Marines could find themselves fielding questions such as these from reporters who do not always understand military protocol and procedures, and a seemingly harmless question could be information the enemy can use. So the question remains of how will these Marines answer these important questions still representing the organization they serve as safely as possible
The 2nd Marine Logistics Group Battle Skills Training School here uses Media Awareness instruction to help Marines answer these questions without compromising their comrades’ safety on the battlefield.
The media awareness training comes as part of the combined pre-deployment training Marines receive here. Through classroom instruction and practical application, the Marines learn how to interact with the media safely and effectively.
“It’s more important now than ever before for a Marine to be able to interact with the media,” said Master Sgt. Joel Z. Morgan, the director of the BSTS. “The media is prominent throughout the battlefield and in areas of conflict.”
Morgan explained it is imperative that everyone not only see the bad aspects of conflict, but they must also see the good aspects as well. He said that the success stories are abundant with what’s going on.
Most Marines come to the BSTS with no prior experience in dealing with the civilian media and do not know what to expect during an interview.
Marines first receive a media awareness class during the beginning of the training where they are instructed on what to do should media ever approach them while forward deployed.
Many people may believe that sitting in a classroom can only teach someone so much. That is where practical application comes in.
The practical application exercise occurs during the school’s final exercise. During the practical application, the Marines experience dealing with the media in a real life scenario.
“The first go-round was an interesting training event to watch because none of the Marines were briefed that it would happen,” Morgan said. “It completely blindsided them. It was interesting to watch them take what they learned in the classroom and try to apply it. Practical application of a training objective or scenario is a much better evaluation than just sitting in a classroom.”
The practical application was a big learning experience in itself, said Lance Cpl. Matthew D. Balady, a military working dog handler with Military Police Company, 2nd MLG. He explained that learning in a classroom doesn’t teach how to react to what a person will say and their emotions.
But at the end of the day, the Marines were more self-assured and were able to jump in front of the microphone and represent the Marine Corps.
“I’m more confident about what to say and how to say it,” said Cpl. Matthew D. Kinny, a military working dog handler with Security Battalion, Camp Pendleton. “More Units should definitely have media training. This training is something Marines need to know.”
Ellie
By Lance Cpl. William A. Rooks, 2nd Marine Logistics Group
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (May 16, 2007) -- How many Marines normally man the gate? How long do they stay at the gate? How many Marines are in the compound?
While deployed, Marines could find themselves fielding questions such as these from reporters who do not always understand military protocol and procedures, and a seemingly harmless question could be information the enemy can use. So the question remains of how will these Marines answer these important questions still representing the organization they serve as safely as possible
The 2nd Marine Logistics Group Battle Skills Training School here uses Media Awareness instruction to help Marines answer these questions without compromising their comrades’ safety on the battlefield.
The media awareness training comes as part of the combined pre-deployment training Marines receive here. Through classroom instruction and practical application, the Marines learn how to interact with the media safely and effectively.
“It’s more important now than ever before for a Marine to be able to interact with the media,” said Master Sgt. Joel Z. Morgan, the director of the BSTS. “The media is prominent throughout the battlefield and in areas of conflict.”
Morgan explained it is imperative that everyone not only see the bad aspects of conflict, but they must also see the good aspects as well. He said that the success stories are abundant with what’s going on.
Most Marines come to the BSTS with no prior experience in dealing with the civilian media and do not know what to expect during an interview.
Marines first receive a media awareness class during the beginning of the training where they are instructed on what to do should media ever approach them while forward deployed.
Many people may believe that sitting in a classroom can only teach someone so much. That is where practical application comes in.
The practical application exercise occurs during the school’s final exercise. During the practical application, the Marines experience dealing with the media in a real life scenario.
“The first go-round was an interesting training event to watch because none of the Marines were briefed that it would happen,” Morgan said. “It completely blindsided them. It was interesting to watch them take what they learned in the classroom and try to apply it. Practical application of a training objective or scenario is a much better evaluation than just sitting in a classroom.”
The practical application was a big learning experience in itself, said Lance Cpl. Matthew D. Balady, a military working dog handler with Military Police Company, 2nd MLG. He explained that learning in a classroom doesn’t teach how to react to what a person will say and their emotions.
But at the end of the day, the Marines were more self-assured and were able to jump in front of the microphone and represent the Marine Corps.
“I’m more confident about what to say and how to say it,” said Cpl. Matthew D. Kinny, a military working dog handler with Security Battalion, Camp Pendleton. “More Units should definitely have media training. This training is something Marines need to know.”
Ellie