New York Female Poolees Are Taken To New Heights
Submitted by: 1st Marine Corps District
Story Identification Number: 20045712543
Story by Staff Sgt. Amanda Hay



Garden City, N.Y.(May 7, 2004) -- The Armory Track and Field Center in Manhattan recently hosted Recruiting Station New York’s quarterly female delayed entry program pool function providing a unique environment for nurturing the mind, body and spirit of 40 future Marines.

The poolees from Recruiting Station New York studied pictures of women athletes from the past as Shelly Glover, published author, running trainer and consultant, described the barriers these female athletes overcame nearly a century ago just for the right to run and compete alongside their male counterparts. Their images are displayed in the National Track Hall of Fame located in The Armory.

Glover provided a detailed and thorough class on proper training and nutrition. She stressed to the young women that they must take their training seriously in order to uphold and honor the legacy of the female athletes who preceded them.

“Do not let all that women have done before you, go in vain,” Glover said. “You must stay committed to your decision and take personal responsibility for preparing yourself. I believe in you, but more importantly, you must believe in yourself.”

Her nutrition class focused on diet, stretching, and a progressive approach to running and preparing for the rigors of recruit training. Female recruits, while making up smallest percentage of recruits on Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), Parris Island, S.C., have the highest attrition rate mainly due to lower leg injuries and stress fractures, according to Major J. J. Dill, RS NY commanding officer.

Recruiting Station New York has tackled the problem of female MRCD attrition
by focusing on the proper nutritional, physical and mental preparation of each female poolee prior to shipping. The success of New York’s program has resulted in only one female being discharged from MCRD so far this Fiscal Year out of the 38 who have shipped.

Having a quarterly pool function exclusively for females in an environment such as The Armory, coupled with the experience and knowledge of Glover, allowed the poolees of RS NY to establish a foundation of physical preparedness upon which their future success will be built. However, physical training was not the only objective for that day… mental preparation for recruit training was also an objective

“The female mentoring day is an important piece in the training and development of young women who are preparing for recruit training,” Dill said “We not only want to ensure their physical training is progressing, but we want to provide them with positive role models that they can emulate and use for motivation when they need it most.”

After Glover’s class, Staff Sergeant Tama Richardson, a Drill Instructor from 4th Recruit Training Battalion, Parris Island, S.C., gave the poolees a glimpse of what their life will be like for the 12 weeks they spend as recruits on Parris Island. Her participation in the training took away some of the poolees’ fears and anxieties of what their drill instructors will be like, but at the same time she let them know that Drill Instructors are all business.

Richardson gave basic instruction on how to properly address Marines, stand at attention, move with a sense of urgency, and sound off. She put the future Marines through an Initial Strength Test that gauges their physical preparedness for recruit training.
The last event of the day, and perhaps one of the most important, was a group discussion involving current and former females Marines and the young poolees. The female mentoring session provides a venue for Marines to discuss with pooless the challenges they have overcome and the growth they have experienced as United States Marines.

Participating in this event were Marines from the RS, Capt. Christine Rabaja, 1st Marine Corps District Quality Control Officer, and Clarice Joynes, a former Marine who is now the Director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs.

Joynes spoke of her experience at Parris Island 23 years ago and how the Marine Corps has come a long way. She emphasized the point that regardless of jobs available to females in the Corps, the demands of becoming a Marine have not changed. “The honor, courage and commitment have not changed. It requires sacrifice, but it will give you the confidence, pride and self-reliance you will use for the rest of your life.” As first female in her billet for the Mayor of New York City, she attributed her success and foundation to the Marine Corps.

Providing closing remarks, Capt. Rabaja, who was deployed in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, evidenced all Glover spoke of earlier regarding opportunities for, and the accomplishments of, women. As she spoke of challenges and fears she had to overcome, the female poolees’ eyes widened with wonder, excitement and anticipation.

By the end of the day, there were no posed questions left unanswered. The event tied together all aspects affecting their decisions to join. The females left more confident and self-assured regarding the commitment they’ve made to the Marine Corps and their country.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image...file/fahlo.jpg

Poolee Lyn Lopes, a 17-year-old senior at Lehman High School, Bronx, N.Y., focuses on her flexed-arm hang. According to Lopes, who ships to recruit training in July, she joined the Marines to better herself and gain strength mentally and physically. The Recruiting Station New York female pool function was recently held at the Armory Track and Field Center in Manhattan to build the 40 young women mentally and physically. Photo by: Staff Sgt. Amanda Hay


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image.../talkinglo.jpg

Staff Sergeant Tama Richardson, a Drill Instructor from 4th Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, S.C., answers questions from poolees about recruit training. The Recruiting Station New York female pool function was recently held at the Armory Track and Field Center in Manhattan to build the 40 young women mentally and physically.

Photo by: Staff Sgt. Amanda Hay

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...A?opendocument

The Drifter's Wife