thedrifter
01-28-09, 06:21 AM
Local educators arrive at Parris Island, prepare for boot camp
Comments | Recommend
January 27, 2009 09:05:00 PM
By JONAS HOGG / News Herald Writer
Editor's note: News Herald military writer Jonas Hogg is filing reports this week from Parris Island, S.C., as the latest crop of Marine recruits undergoes training and a group of educators attends the Marine Educators Workshop. For photos, videos and blog entries on the trip, go to newsherald.com.
PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. — It was an unlikely group to be heading off to the Marine Corps: young elementary school teachers, middle-age school organizers, a school resource officer, and representatives from the University of Florida and Florida State University, trading friendly barbs.
They came to see family, to get a taste of adventure, to see what Corps training was all about.
Bravely volunteering is easier when boot camp will last only a little longer than three days and the barracks is a Holiday Inn.
"My son just graduated from Marine boot camp, and I wanted to know and experience part of what he experienced," said Shelly Zigler, a Panama City resident who works as a substitute teacher in Wewawhitchka.
The bus full of educators is no coincidence. The gaggle of teachers, with a few community representatives, as well, was rolling to the Marine Recruit Depot for the Marine Educators Workshop. The workshop is intended as a an up-close look into the life of a recruit, an all-expenses-paid trip through the Marine Corps portal, with the hope they will return to their communities and share their experiences.
The Marines on the trip insist the event is not intended to polish up the public for a recruiting push. Rather, they said, it is meant to be an opportunity to connect with the public, who likely receive most of their knowledge from the not-entirely accurate light of movies and TV.
"It isn't to sell the Marine Corps; it's to dispel the myths about it," said Sgt. John Lawson, marketing and public affairs for the Marines.
The group arrived at Parris Island early Tuesday evening. The official exercises begin today. The group is scheduled to arrive at the training camp and be greeted by a cadre of drill instructors.
"We'll be back on the bus tomorrow (Wednesday), but it'll be a Marine Corps bus, so it won't be as nice," said Capt. Jason Ehret, an executive officer at the Jacksonville recruiting station.
Upon arrival Tuesday night, the group got a brief look at the three drill instructors who will offer them a little taste of Marine boot camp.
But after a long day on the road, it was back to the Holiday Inn barracks. The participants were reminded to be in the lobby at 6:15 a.m. sharp, and one of the drill instructors pointed out that they do not want to be late.
Ellie
Comments | Recommend
January 27, 2009 09:05:00 PM
By JONAS HOGG / News Herald Writer
Editor's note: News Herald military writer Jonas Hogg is filing reports this week from Parris Island, S.C., as the latest crop of Marine recruits undergoes training and a group of educators attends the Marine Educators Workshop. For photos, videos and blog entries on the trip, go to newsherald.com.
PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. — It was an unlikely group to be heading off to the Marine Corps: young elementary school teachers, middle-age school organizers, a school resource officer, and representatives from the University of Florida and Florida State University, trading friendly barbs.
They came to see family, to get a taste of adventure, to see what Corps training was all about.
Bravely volunteering is easier when boot camp will last only a little longer than three days and the barracks is a Holiday Inn.
"My son just graduated from Marine boot camp, and I wanted to know and experience part of what he experienced," said Shelly Zigler, a Panama City resident who works as a substitute teacher in Wewawhitchka.
The bus full of educators is no coincidence. The gaggle of teachers, with a few community representatives, as well, was rolling to the Marine Recruit Depot for the Marine Educators Workshop. The workshop is intended as a an up-close look into the life of a recruit, an all-expenses-paid trip through the Marine Corps portal, with the hope they will return to their communities and share their experiences.
The Marines on the trip insist the event is not intended to polish up the public for a recruiting push. Rather, they said, it is meant to be an opportunity to connect with the public, who likely receive most of their knowledge from the not-entirely accurate light of movies and TV.
"It isn't to sell the Marine Corps; it's to dispel the myths about it," said Sgt. John Lawson, marketing and public affairs for the Marines.
The group arrived at Parris Island early Tuesday evening. The official exercises begin today. The group is scheduled to arrive at the training camp and be greeted by a cadre of drill instructors.
"We'll be back on the bus tomorrow (Wednesday), but it'll be a Marine Corps bus, so it won't be as nice," said Capt. Jason Ehret, an executive officer at the Jacksonville recruiting station.
Upon arrival Tuesday night, the group got a brief look at the three drill instructors who will offer them a little taste of Marine boot camp.
But after a long day on the road, it was back to the Holiday Inn barracks. The participants were reminded to be in the lobby at 6:15 a.m. sharp, and one of the drill instructors pointed out that they do not want to be late.
Ellie