thedrifter
05-04-09, 06:56 AM
Teaching Corps Values
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ROBIN BERES TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST
Published: May 3, 2009
Type_webhead_here PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. Hilton Head Island is famous for its 12-mile stretch of beautiful sand beaches. The barrier island, located just off the coast of South Carolina's Low Country, is an upscale vacation spot where the well-heeled go to rest and re cuperate.
Few people realize that little more than a stone's throw away from the trendy shops and fabulous golf courses of this resort is another, smaller island. The views of water and beaches are every bit as beautiful as on Hilton Head, but there is precious little rest or recuperating done here.
To the contrary, the majority of men and women who come to this island will work harder and endure more stress than ever before in their young lives. They will freely agree to a 13-week regimen of sweat and grueling physical and mental challenges -- and every one of them does it for one reason only: to earn the title of United States Marine.
Recently, I attended a Marine Educators' Workshop held on Parris Island, S.C. For more than 20 years, Marine Corps recruiters have provided teachers, guidance counselors, and others involved in the education of America's youth an opportunity to witness firsthand what happens during the incredible transition from young civilian to Marine. This educational workshop helps to debunk stereotypes and misconceptions about recruit training that many civilians may hold.
In all, 36 educators from Richmond and surrounding areas joined a similar number of men and women from the Detroit region for four days at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island. The journey began on a Tuesday with a 6:35 a.m. flight out of RIC.
Upon arrival in Savannah, Ga., we were met by two ramrod-straight Marines wearing the unmistakable Smokey the Bear hat -- the cover worn by that most feared and respected breed of all mankind: the Marine drill instructor.
Staff Sgt. Shawn Maichle and Sgt. Maria Arellano were our escorts for the duration of our stay. Maj. William Nash was our escort officer. These three Marines did a superb job of herding around all 75 mostly-clueless attendees during our stay.
The drill sergeants valiantly struggled to teach this group the basics of marching and to keep us in line. Herding cats may have been easier. We were treated to occasional displays of a drill instructor (DI) in action.
The schedule was busy and our days began at 0530. (That's 5:30 a.m.). On the first full morning, we were greeted with an abbreviated version of what a recruit arriving on the island experiences -- complete with some very motivated DIs encouraging us to move faster. We stood on the legendary yellow footprints and were run through a mock receiving process.
After our initial welcome aboard -- DI style -- we were pleasantly greeted by base officials and briefed on what to expect over the next several days. We were also given some insight into the workings of Marine recruiting.
With the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, one might assume that recruiting enough quality men and women would pose a serious challenge for the Corps. One would be wrong. In typical Marine fashion, the Devil Dogs decided that the only way to meet the challenge of a Corps stretched too thin was to grow the overall number of personnel from 189,000 to 202,000 -- and they began their recruiting assault in earnest.
As is the usual outcome for the Marines on an offensive attack, the plan worked. The 3,150 Marine recruiters nationwide were so successful that today, total force numbers stand at a little more than 203,000.
And because the Corps is a bit overcrowded, they have the right to pick and choose who enlists. The Marine Corps is no longer the place to send a troubled adolescent on the edge of self-destruction. They don't need him and they don't want him.
Today's Marine applicant must submit four written character references. Ninety-eight percent of today's recruits hold high school diplomas. Sixty-three percent of Marine recruits score in the top three categories of the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery test -- the Department of Defense average is 60 percent.
A Marine applicant can have no serious history of drug use or serious police involvement. He must be financially stable.
In this age of couch potatoes, incoming recruits are required to pass height and weight requirements and an initial strength test. The No.1 reason applicants are rejected today is obesity.
Finally, but perhaps most important, applicants must have the moral fiber necessary to become a Marine. Always, the Marine Corps' core values of honor, courage, and commitment are impressed on the recruits -- even before their first day of training. Throughout boot camp, during every event they participate in and in every lesson they are taught, these core values are intertwined. In all, a recruit will receive more than 40 lessons on core values.
And with that impressive briefing, we began our exposure to recruit training at Parris Island.
We learned to fire M16A2s and were shown a demonstration of the martial arts program and the obstacle course that recruits must complete. We toured the combat water survival facility and watched young recruits learning to swim with rifles and full backpacks.
We toured a squad bay (barracks) and, in a tiny peek at what recruits go through, we were ordered to stand on the line, heel to line, at attention, as we were dressed down thoroughly by our DIs. We were shown the "pit" -- a sandy area outside of every barracks where special "instructional training" is given to recruits deemed to be unmotivated, moving too slowly, or needing an attitude adjustment. Instructional training consists of a variety of exercises that may include push-ups, crunches, and mountain climbers.
As the tour progressed, and explanations were given about why things are done the way they are, it was obvious from early on that above all else, the safety, welfare, and ultimate success of every recruit is the top concern of every DI on the base. Drill instructors are an incredible group of Marines. The qualifications they must meet and the training they receive are worth a column unto itself.
For a generation of young adults who have grown up being told how special they are, learning how to deal with tough challenges and failure is crucial. There is no room in the Marine Corps for a "me, me, me" mentality. They must learning to think and act as a member of a team. Throughout basic training, they may no longer to refer to themselves as "I" but rather as "this recruit."
The culmination of training for Marines is the Crucible. (Webster's dictionary defines crucible as a heat-resistant container wherein several metals are fused together to create an even stronger substance.) This event tests a recruit's moral, physical, and mental development. In the span of 54 hours, he will cover more than 33 miles on foot and will survive on less than eight hours of sleep.
Working as teams, recruits encounter eight major events and pass through 28 stations that require absolute teamwork and trust -- and challenge everything they have learned. And when the recruits overcome this, they know that they have earned the title of U.S. Marine.
Upon completion of the Crucible, in a emotional ceremony closed to all others, the drill instructors present these newest Marines with their eagle, globe, and anchor insignia. The final step for a Marine before leaving Parris Island is graduation -- an event that brings a burst of pride to everyone who views it.
On a sunny Friday morning, our group watched as onto the parade field marched 500-plus new Marines -- not one of them out of step. The pride felt by the graduates was palpable. During the ceremony, one could see the variety of emotions the families in the stands were experiencing. For some, tears ran unabashedly.
When the platoons were dismissed, family members ran to find their Marine. Moisture glistened in the eyes of parents, spouses, and girlfriends as they greeted their new hero. Younger brothers stared with awe at a dashing new version of an older sibling. Pride and respect were evident, and perhaps, too, a bit of melancholy, as parents realized that the child they said goodbye to 13 weeks earlier was gone, replaced now by a United States Marine -- part of something far bigger than the individual.
This moving event completed our visit to Parris Island as well. On the journey home, every educator spoke of how inspiring and impressive the visit had proved. Skip King, an educator from the Rivendell Program, an alternative school in Montgomery County, Va., said that the trip was not what he expected. The level of support for recruits, as well as the molding and training, surprised King, who remarked, "The attitude between drill instructors and recruits is completely different from popular perception."
Julie Emerson, a U.S. history teacher at Patrick Henry High School in Ashland, said, "It gave me a better appreciation for the role they [the military] play -- it's not just a job, it's an honor."
As we Americans enjoy the blessed freedom of a summer vacation -- whether it's lying on the beach with a cool drink and a good book, or hiking in the mountains, please take just a moment to remember the young men and women who are right now struggling for the right to wear the eagle, globe, and anchor. It is sacrifices like theirs -- and the generations of Marines that have preceded them -- that enable us to enjoy our bountiful lives.
Contact Robin Beres at (804) 649-6305 or mberes@timesdispatch.com .
Ellie
http://media.timesdispatch.com/timesdispatch/gfx.php?max_width=300&imgfile=images/uploads/20090503_commentary.jpg
ROBIN BERES TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST
Published: May 3, 2009
Type_webhead_here PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. Hilton Head Island is famous for its 12-mile stretch of beautiful sand beaches. The barrier island, located just off the coast of South Carolina's Low Country, is an upscale vacation spot where the well-heeled go to rest and re cuperate.
Few people realize that little more than a stone's throw away from the trendy shops and fabulous golf courses of this resort is another, smaller island. The views of water and beaches are every bit as beautiful as on Hilton Head, but there is precious little rest or recuperating done here.
To the contrary, the majority of men and women who come to this island will work harder and endure more stress than ever before in their young lives. They will freely agree to a 13-week regimen of sweat and grueling physical and mental challenges -- and every one of them does it for one reason only: to earn the title of United States Marine.
Recently, I attended a Marine Educators' Workshop held on Parris Island, S.C. For more than 20 years, Marine Corps recruiters have provided teachers, guidance counselors, and others involved in the education of America's youth an opportunity to witness firsthand what happens during the incredible transition from young civilian to Marine. This educational workshop helps to debunk stereotypes and misconceptions about recruit training that many civilians may hold.
In all, 36 educators from Richmond and surrounding areas joined a similar number of men and women from the Detroit region for four days at Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island. The journey began on a Tuesday with a 6:35 a.m. flight out of RIC.
Upon arrival in Savannah, Ga., we were met by two ramrod-straight Marines wearing the unmistakable Smokey the Bear hat -- the cover worn by that most feared and respected breed of all mankind: the Marine drill instructor.
Staff Sgt. Shawn Maichle and Sgt. Maria Arellano were our escorts for the duration of our stay. Maj. William Nash was our escort officer. These three Marines did a superb job of herding around all 75 mostly-clueless attendees during our stay.
The drill sergeants valiantly struggled to teach this group the basics of marching and to keep us in line. Herding cats may have been easier. We were treated to occasional displays of a drill instructor (DI) in action.
The schedule was busy and our days began at 0530. (That's 5:30 a.m.). On the first full morning, we were greeted with an abbreviated version of what a recruit arriving on the island experiences -- complete with some very motivated DIs encouraging us to move faster. We stood on the legendary yellow footprints and were run through a mock receiving process.
After our initial welcome aboard -- DI style -- we were pleasantly greeted by base officials and briefed on what to expect over the next several days. We were also given some insight into the workings of Marine recruiting.
With the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, one might assume that recruiting enough quality men and women would pose a serious challenge for the Corps. One would be wrong. In typical Marine fashion, the Devil Dogs decided that the only way to meet the challenge of a Corps stretched too thin was to grow the overall number of personnel from 189,000 to 202,000 -- and they began their recruiting assault in earnest.
As is the usual outcome for the Marines on an offensive attack, the plan worked. The 3,150 Marine recruiters nationwide were so successful that today, total force numbers stand at a little more than 203,000.
And because the Corps is a bit overcrowded, they have the right to pick and choose who enlists. The Marine Corps is no longer the place to send a troubled adolescent on the edge of self-destruction. They don't need him and they don't want him.
Today's Marine applicant must submit four written character references. Ninety-eight percent of today's recruits hold high school diplomas. Sixty-three percent of Marine recruits score in the top three categories of the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery test -- the Department of Defense average is 60 percent.
A Marine applicant can have no serious history of drug use or serious police involvement. He must be financially stable.
In this age of couch potatoes, incoming recruits are required to pass height and weight requirements and an initial strength test. The No.1 reason applicants are rejected today is obesity.
Finally, but perhaps most important, applicants must have the moral fiber necessary to become a Marine. Always, the Marine Corps' core values of honor, courage, and commitment are impressed on the recruits -- even before their first day of training. Throughout boot camp, during every event they participate in and in every lesson they are taught, these core values are intertwined. In all, a recruit will receive more than 40 lessons on core values.
And with that impressive briefing, we began our exposure to recruit training at Parris Island.
We learned to fire M16A2s and were shown a demonstration of the martial arts program and the obstacle course that recruits must complete. We toured the combat water survival facility and watched young recruits learning to swim with rifles and full backpacks.
We toured a squad bay (barracks) and, in a tiny peek at what recruits go through, we were ordered to stand on the line, heel to line, at attention, as we were dressed down thoroughly by our DIs. We were shown the "pit" -- a sandy area outside of every barracks where special "instructional training" is given to recruits deemed to be unmotivated, moving too slowly, or needing an attitude adjustment. Instructional training consists of a variety of exercises that may include push-ups, crunches, and mountain climbers.
As the tour progressed, and explanations were given about why things are done the way they are, it was obvious from early on that above all else, the safety, welfare, and ultimate success of every recruit is the top concern of every DI on the base. Drill instructors are an incredible group of Marines. The qualifications they must meet and the training they receive are worth a column unto itself.
For a generation of young adults who have grown up being told how special they are, learning how to deal with tough challenges and failure is crucial. There is no room in the Marine Corps for a "me, me, me" mentality. They must learning to think and act as a member of a team. Throughout basic training, they may no longer to refer to themselves as "I" but rather as "this recruit."
The culmination of training for Marines is the Crucible. (Webster's dictionary defines crucible as a heat-resistant container wherein several metals are fused together to create an even stronger substance.) This event tests a recruit's moral, physical, and mental development. In the span of 54 hours, he will cover more than 33 miles on foot and will survive on less than eight hours of sleep.
Working as teams, recruits encounter eight major events and pass through 28 stations that require absolute teamwork and trust -- and challenge everything they have learned. And when the recruits overcome this, they know that they have earned the title of U.S. Marine.
Upon completion of the Crucible, in a emotional ceremony closed to all others, the drill instructors present these newest Marines with their eagle, globe, and anchor insignia. The final step for a Marine before leaving Parris Island is graduation -- an event that brings a burst of pride to everyone who views it.
On a sunny Friday morning, our group watched as onto the parade field marched 500-plus new Marines -- not one of them out of step. The pride felt by the graduates was palpable. During the ceremony, one could see the variety of emotions the families in the stands were experiencing. For some, tears ran unabashedly.
When the platoons were dismissed, family members ran to find their Marine. Moisture glistened in the eyes of parents, spouses, and girlfriends as they greeted their new hero. Younger brothers stared with awe at a dashing new version of an older sibling. Pride and respect were evident, and perhaps, too, a bit of melancholy, as parents realized that the child they said goodbye to 13 weeks earlier was gone, replaced now by a United States Marine -- part of something far bigger than the individual.
This moving event completed our visit to Parris Island as well. On the journey home, every educator spoke of how inspiring and impressive the visit had proved. Skip King, an educator from the Rivendell Program, an alternative school in Montgomery County, Va., said that the trip was not what he expected. The level of support for recruits, as well as the molding and training, surprised King, who remarked, "The attitude between drill instructors and recruits is completely different from popular perception."
Julie Emerson, a U.S. history teacher at Patrick Henry High School in Ashland, said, "It gave me a better appreciation for the role they [the military] play -- it's not just a job, it's an honor."
As we Americans enjoy the blessed freedom of a summer vacation -- whether it's lying on the beach with a cool drink and a good book, or hiking in the mountains, please take just a moment to remember the young men and women who are right now struggling for the right to wear the eagle, globe, and anchor. It is sacrifices like theirs -- and the generations of Marines that have preceded them -- that enable us to enjoy our bountiful lives.
Contact Robin Beres at (804) 649-6305 or mberes@timesdispatch.com .
Ellie