thedrifter
09-20-09, 09:08 AM
School of Infantry Visits Parris Island
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island
Story by Lance Cpl. Isaac Lamberth
Date: 09.19.2009
Posted: 09.19.2009 04:14
MCRD PARRIS ISLAND, S.C.--Officers and senior ranking enlisted personnel from the School of Infantry East visited Parris Island last week in an effort to get an up-close look at recruit training.
Officials viewed recruits as they endured various events during the Crucible and Basic Warrior Training to grasp a better understanding of what recruits are being taught about Marine Corps values and basic infantry tactics.
"We came here to get a better understanding of what these recruits are being taught about our core values and tactics and find ways to improve upon that once they come to SOI," said Col. Tim Mundy, the commanding officer of the SOI East.
During the visit, SOI officials viewed various drill instructors mentor their recruits about the importance of displaying core values once leaving recruit training.
"We want to see what these drill instructors are teaching these recruits about what it means to have honor, courage and commitment," said Sgt. Maj. Miguel Rodriguez, the battalion sergeant major of Headquarters and Service Battalion, SOI East.
"We wanted to see if there are any trends recruits receive during training," added Rodriguez of Las Piedras, Puerto Rico. "We need to identify any trends early on so when they come to SOI, they have a solid foundation of what it is to be a Marine, and we want to build upon that."
Personnel from SOI closely scrutinized drill instructors during the Crucible as each team made their way to core value training stations.
"One of our big questions was, what is the drill instructor's focus?" Rodriguez said. "How much are the drill instructors telling these new Marines to stay away from bad people, or friends, when they go back home on leave?"
"Once a Marine leaves Parris Island, goes through SOI and completes their respective MOS (military occupational specialty) training, we want them to be thoroughly engrained in the Marine Corps' values," Rodriguez added.
In addition to viewing core value training, SOI officials viewed the tactical training recruits receive.
"We view a broad spectrum range of infantry related topics such as land navigation and marksmanship instruction," said Mundy of Raleigh, N.C.
"Some things work better on certain terrain and are easier to remember," Mundy said. "Some things work better at boot camp than they do at Marine Combat Training. Terrain can play a big factor into retaining the information. We want to know which things are working."
Once SOI officials complete their analysis of the training recruits receive, they will report their findings to Headquarters Marine Corps in Quantico, Va.
"When we leave here, we're going to go back to Camp Lejeune and talk about what we saw and learned here and send a report to Training and Education Command in Quantico about what's working and what's not," said Lt. Col. Michael Brown, the commanding officer of H&S Bn., SOI East.
"We're also in constant communication with the School of Infantry West and coordinate our training with them," added Brown. "We want to make sure everyone is on the same sheet of music and that everyone is teaching the same thing. It shouldn't matter where a Marine is trained, only the amount of instruction they are receiving. "
Ellie
Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island
Story by Lance Cpl. Isaac Lamberth
Date: 09.19.2009
Posted: 09.19.2009 04:14
MCRD PARRIS ISLAND, S.C.--Officers and senior ranking enlisted personnel from the School of Infantry East visited Parris Island last week in an effort to get an up-close look at recruit training.
Officials viewed recruits as they endured various events during the Crucible and Basic Warrior Training to grasp a better understanding of what recruits are being taught about Marine Corps values and basic infantry tactics.
"We came here to get a better understanding of what these recruits are being taught about our core values and tactics and find ways to improve upon that once they come to SOI," said Col. Tim Mundy, the commanding officer of the SOI East.
During the visit, SOI officials viewed various drill instructors mentor their recruits about the importance of displaying core values once leaving recruit training.
"We want to see what these drill instructors are teaching these recruits about what it means to have honor, courage and commitment," said Sgt. Maj. Miguel Rodriguez, the battalion sergeant major of Headquarters and Service Battalion, SOI East.
"We wanted to see if there are any trends recruits receive during training," added Rodriguez of Las Piedras, Puerto Rico. "We need to identify any trends early on so when they come to SOI, they have a solid foundation of what it is to be a Marine, and we want to build upon that."
Personnel from SOI closely scrutinized drill instructors during the Crucible as each team made their way to core value training stations.
"One of our big questions was, what is the drill instructor's focus?" Rodriguez said. "How much are the drill instructors telling these new Marines to stay away from bad people, or friends, when they go back home on leave?"
"Once a Marine leaves Parris Island, goes through SOI and completes their respective MOS (military occupational specialty) training, we want them to be thoroughly engrained in the Marine Corps' values," Rodriguez added.
In addition to viewing core value training, SOI officials viewed the tactical training recruits receive.
"We view a broad spectrum range of infantry related topics such as land navigation and marksmanship instruction," said Mundy of Raleigh, N.C.
"Some things work better on certain terrain and are easier to remember," Mundy said. "Some things work better at boot camp than they do at Marine Combat Training. Terrain can play a big factor into retaining the information. We want to know which things are working."
Once SOI officials complete their analysis of the training recruits receive, they will report their findings to Headquarters Marine Corps in Quantico, Va.
"When we leave here, we're going to go back to Camp Lejeune and talk about what we saw and learned here and send a report to Training and Education Command in Quantico about what's working and what's not," said Lt. Col. Michael Brown, the commanding officer of H&S Bn., SOI East.
"We're also in constant communication with the School of Infantry West and coordinate our training with them," added Brown. "We want to make sure everyone is on the same sheet of music and that everyone is teaching the same thing. It shouldn't matter where a Marine is trained, only the amount of instruction they are receiving. "
Ellie