thedrifter
10-15-08, 11:09 AM
Marines Gain Essential Skills at Sea
October 14, 2008
Navy News|by Cpl. Timothy Parish
USS PELELIU, At sea - Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit currently embarked aboard USS Peleliu (LHA 5) graduated from Corporals Course 1-09 with a knowledge of the fundamentals of Marine Corps leadership.
According to Staff Sgt. Warren B. Niccum, artillery liaison chief, India Battery, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, the Corporals Course is a two-week class focused on the fundamentals of being a non-commissioned officer (NCO).
"It gives them a chance to be with their peers and intermingle with Marines in other [Military Occupational Specialties] in the Marine Corps," said Niccum. "It allows the Marines to hone their leadership skills and to get a lot of instruction that they would not get otherwise."
Niccum, who served as the advisor to the course, said the Marines learned the basics of the sword manual, guideon handling, military justice, customs and courtesies as well as Marine Corps history.
Niccum said that the day-to-day functions and responsibilities learned during the course make corporals better suited to lead other Marines.
"Corporals and the NCO corps are the backbone of the Marine Corps," said Niccum. "They're the small unit leaders. They go out and they're responsible for their fire teams and their squads, and they go out and get the job done."
According to Cpl. Michael W. Heede, squad automatic weapon Gunner, Combat Engineer Detachment, BLT 2/5, the deployment cycle leaves little time to attend a formal Corporals Course. Heede said the course aboard Peleliu allows Marines to build on their leadership skills while underway.
"First, we received a whole lot of great knowledge like basic leadership traits and advanced tactics of war fighting," said Heede. "We also got general knowledge on how to keep track of finances and military justice."
Heede said that the training he received was invaluable.
"It's important to take part in Corporals Course because it teaches the building blocks and fundamentals of being a leader," said Heede. "It is imperative, and I think every corporal should go."
Cpl. Terrance M. Nesbitt, radio operator, Command Element, said that for some corporals who have advanced through the junior ranks faster than their peers, the learning curve can be steep. He said the Corporals Course allows those Marines to gain a better understanding of how to lead.
"Now days, people are getting promoted fast, and they sometimes haven't been in long and don't have the same experience as some other corporals," said Nesbitt. "Going to corporals course gives Marines the knowledge to lead Marines."
Nesbitt also said that the Corporals Course gives junior NCOs a broader view of how the Marine Corps operates.
"Being a corporal is the first step in being an NCO," said Nesbitt. "Corporals Course is one step to learning more than just your MOS by learning about the whole Marine Corps."
The Camp Pendleton, Calif., based 15th MEU is comprised of approximately 2,200 Marines and Sailors and is a forward deployed force of readiness capable of conducting numerous operations, such as non-combatant evacuation operations, humanitarian assistance operations and a wide range of amphibious missions. The 15th MEU is currently deployed aboard Peleliu (LHA 5), USS Dubuque (LPD 8) and USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52).
Ellie
October 14, 2008
Navy News|by Cpl. Timothy Parish
USS PELELIU, At sea - Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit currently embarked aboard USS Peleliu (LHA 5) graduated from Corporals Course 1-09 with a knowledge of the fundamentals of Marine Corps leadership.
According to Staff Sgt. Warren B. Niccum, artillery liaison chief, India Battery, Battalion Landing Team 2/5, the Corporals Course is a two-week class focused on the fundamentals of being a non-commissioned officer (NCO).
"It gives them a chance to be with their peers and intermingle with Marines in other [Military Occupational Specialties] in the Marine Corps," said Niccum. "It allows the Marines to hone their leadership skills and to get a lot of instruction that they would not get otherwise."
Niccum, who served as the advisor to the course, said the Marines learned the basics of the sword manual, guideon handling, military justice, customs and courtesies as well as Marine Corps history.
Niccum said that the day-to-day functions and responsibilities learned during the course make corporals better suited to lead other Marines.
"Corporals and the NCO corps are the backbone of the Marine Corps," said Niccum. "They're the small unit leaders. They go out and they're responsible for their fire teams and their squads, and they go out and get the job done."
According to Cpl. Michael W. Heede, squad automatic weapon Gunner, Combat Engineer Detachment, BLT 2/5, the deployment cycle leaves little time to attend a formal Corporals Course. Heede said the course aboard Peleliu allows Marines to build on their leadership skills while underway.
"First, we received a whole lot of great knowledge like basic leadership traits and advanced tactics of war fighting," said Heede. "We also got general knowledge on how to keep track of finances and military justice."
Heede said that the training he received was invaluable.
"It's important to take part in Corporals Course because it teaches the building blocks and fundamentals of being a leader," said Heede. "It is imperative, and I think every corporal should go."
Cpl. Terrance M. Nesbitt, radio operator, Command Element, said that for some corporals who have advanced through the junior ranks faster than their peers, the learning curve can be steep. He said the Corporals Course allows those Marines to gain a better understanding of how to lead.
"Now days, people are getting promoted fast, and they sometimes haven't been in long and don't have the same experience as some other corporals," said Nesbitt. "Going to corporals course gives Marines the knowledge to lead Marines."
Nesbitt also said that the Corporals Course gives junior NCOs a broader view of how the Marine Corps operates.
"Being a corporal is the first step in being an NCO," said Nesbitt. "Corporals Course is one step to learning more than just your MOS by learning about the whole Marine Corps."
The Camp Pendleton, Calif., based 15th MEU is comprised of approximately 2,200 Marines and Sailors and is a forward deployed force of readiness capable of conducting numerous operations, such as non-combatant evacuation operations, humanitarian assistance operations and a wide range of amphibious missions. The 15th MEU is currently deployed aboard Peleliu (LHA 5), USS Dubuque (LPD 8) and USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52).
Ellie