RS NY poolees battle it out in Central Park

[thedrifter]

RS NY poolees battle it out in Central Park
Submitted by: 1st Marine Corps District
Story Identification #: 200467193136
Story by Staff Sgt. Amanda Rose Hay



MARINE CORPS RECRUITING STATION NEW YORK(June 7, 2004) -- War cries and loud chants filled the air as 450 poolees from Recruiting Station New York competed in the annual field meet May 29 in Central Park to determine who had the toughest poolees around.


The 14-recruiting substations from New York City and Long Island set the perimeter for the day-long battle which included pull-ups, crunches, push ups, fireman’s carry, tug-of-war, dizzy-izzy and a two-mile relay race.


Sergeant Major Fenton Reese, RS NY sergeant major, set the spirit of the day. “You are here to develop camaraderie, teamwork and espirt de corps,” said Reese. “As a Marine you will do whatever it takes to win; that’s what Marines do, we win. In order to do that, you will need guts, heart and courage. You will need each other and to work as a team. And today you will learn that only one thing is better than pain -- extreme pain.”


Upon conclusion of his remarks, he turned the RS over to Major J.J. Dill, RS NY commanding officer. Dill continued, “You are already part of a winning team; the team of RS New York. Once you graduate, you’ll be part of the country’s winning team; the world’s finest. In order to become one of us, you must give 110 percent at all times, especially today. Your team is counting on you. This is where it begins; you start earning it right here.”


The competition began with the pull-up challenge. The recruiters cranked up the motivation and the poolees sat up straight and held their heads high as they cheered on their teammates.
“The more support you get, the more you can give,” said Nicholas Maugery, 17-year-old poolee and native of West Islip, N.Y. “You’ll find it in you if you know others are depending on you and are behind you. That’s why it’s so important to encourage each other and build each other up no matter how strong or weak someone may be.”


“There’s morale in everyone here,” said Patrick Merone, 17-year-old poolee and native of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, N.Y. “We’re all competing, but we all know we’re here together and that’s what’s important. We believe in the same thing and chose to serve and protect our country together.”


At the conclusion of the day’s events, medals were handed out to the top RSS for each event. RSS Patchogue took home the first place Sergeant Major’s Cup for the third straight year. Finishing second was RSS Brooklyn and third was RSS Jamaica.
John Watkins, a 17-year-old poolee from RSS Patchogue, said winning this award wasn’t an option. “They’ve been preparing us for this event for a couple months now. Since Patchogue won for the past two years, we have a reputation to live up to; we were not going to be the ones to lose it.”


Although the spirit of the competition was alive and well throughout the day, according to several poolees, the most valuable lessons learned were simply seeing the Marines of the RS be Marines.


An additional highlight of the event being held during Fleet Week at Central Park was the former Marine presence.


One of the poolees, Michael Megara, who left for recruit training two days after the event said this was perfect send off to have the veterans show support. The 21-year-old poolee and native of Wading River, N.Y. said “It was an honor to have veterans come up to me and shake my hand. I really feel like I’m becoming part of something that’s bigger than myself and joining a family.”

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Poolee Vianney Ramirez, the guide of RSS Manhattan’s 60 poolees, leads the way for his team as they tough it out during the Tug of War. (pictured from front to back are Vianney Ramirez, Mark King, Tito Rodriguez, Anthony Rodriguez, Christian Ramos and Mario Cabellero) Ramirez, a 19-year-old graduate of Norman Thomas High School in Manhattan and freshman at Dowling College Oakdale, N.Y., joined the Delayed Entry Program in March to serve his country. About 450 poolees of Recruiting Station New York gathered to compete for bragging rights at the annual poolee field meet May 29 in Central Park. Photo by: SSgt. A.R. Hay


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Poolee Michael Megara, 21-year-old native of Wading River, N.Y, gave out a war cry as he did pull up for the RSS Patchogue team. Megara, who recent graduated college with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from State University of New York in Stony Brook, shipped to recruit training at Parris Island two days after the event. About 450 poolees of Recruiting Station New York gathered to compete for bragging rights at the annual poolee field meet May 29 in Central Park. Photo by: SSgt. A.R. Hay


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Poolee Zenon Jimenez, senior at Aviation High School in Queens, N.Y., represented RSS Ridgewood well as he kept going while others quit. Jimenez joined the Delayed Entry Program four days before the field meet. About 450 poolees of Recruiting Station New York gathered to compete for bragging rights at the annual poolee field meet May 29 in Central Park. Photo by: SSgt. A.R. Hay

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...6?opendocument


The Drifter's Wife


Ellie

[thedrifter]

RS NY SNCOICs come home to their roots
Submitted by: 1st Marine Corps District
Story Identification #: 200467164348
Story by Staff Sgt. Amanda Rose Hay



MARINE CORPS RECRUITING STATION NEW YORK(June 7, 2004) -- The last place a Marine on recruiting duty in New York City expects to be discussing his pool program is on an obstacle course while being attacked by sand fleas at Parris Island, S.C. However, for Recruiting Station New York Staff NonCommissioned-Officers-in Charge it was a reality for their mid-year planning conference in May.


The SNCOICs and command group recently took a weeklong trip to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot to reacquaint themselves with their “green side” and make them more proficient leaders at the Recruiting Sub-Station level.


The midyear planning conference is an annual occurrence to get all the key players at the RS on the same page. Overall, the purpose is to pin point strengths and weaknesses for each RSS by reviewing statistics and trends; state what needs to happen in regards to shipping, contracting and quality in order to maintain success.


Major J.J. Dill, commanding officer of RS NY, had a few other “takeaways” in mind when he chose the recruit depot to hold the conference. The unique location and its assets allowed the SNCOICs to pick up several tools they couldn’t get elsewhere. Normally held on the strip of Atlantic City, NJ in a more rest-and-relaxation environment, this provided more of an upfront, hands-on, “prepare-your-pool” type of environment.


It gives them the focus to accomplish mission successfully by preparing pool mentally and physically, Dill said. End state is thorough understanding of where they are halfway through the year and where they need to go.


Aside from the classroom briefs, the bulk of the schedule was filled with training including an obstacle course, formation run, Moment of Truth brief with recruits, getting classes on waivers, tattoos and the Recruit Liaison Section process, visiting recruits at Medical Rehabilitation Platoon/Physical Conditioning Platoon, firing on the rifle range, Crucible events, morning colors ceremony and observing a graduation ceremony.


For Staff Sgt. Jeff Hess, who recently became the SNCOIC of West Bronx, the most beneficial “takeaway” was the Moment of Truth brief. Hess said sitting through the actual brief reemphasized the importance of screening thoroughly at the recruiter’s level to avoid problems later at Parris Island.


The physical training was out of the ordinary for those who have been on recruiting duty for a while. For some SNCOICs, they haven’t been to a base in more than 10 years, let alone do an obstacle.


Sergeant Maj. Fenton Reese, RS NY sergeant major, emphasized the importance of the staying in shape while on recruiting and being able to set the example. “We must never forget where we come from. In order to think strong, you need to be strong.”


Dill added that the purpose of holding the conference at Parris Island was to allow the RS NY SNCOICs to revisit their roots, give them a chance to see how training has changed and give them the opportunity to experience the “Crucible,” which did not exist when they were recruits.


Gunnery Sgt. Michael Mack, RSS Flatbush SNCOIC, along with four other Marines executed the “weaver,” a Crucible event requiring the movement of an ammunition can over a wooden obstacle. “Seeing the video and then actually going through it yourself are two totally different things,” Mack said. “You realize how hard it is when you’re trying to do it yourself.”


Mack had to laugh and restate the obvious to the corporal instructor at Weapons and Field Training Battalion who gave the debrief and pointed out the misuse of d-rings. A few of the SNCOICs had the d-rings attached to their belts. “It’s been a while,” he laughed. “Our d-rings say 1800 Marines.”


Gunnery Sgt. Ruben Pena, assistant recruiter instructor for RS NY, yelled down to his fellow Marines while looking like a human pretzel caught in the weaver, “I think we should go home and hug all our poolees.”


Mixing up the schedule and giving them a break from the heat and the bugs, the Marines retreated to a classroom for their FY “warning order” from the commanding officer. The CO broke it down by RSS so each SNCOIC would know where to focus their efforts to combat weaknesses and exploit strengths. The briefs left no stone unturned. In response to having their stats exposed in front of their peers, Master Sgt. Clarke, said “No one is embarrassed; that’s how we do business here in New York. We learn from each other – work as a team.”


Staff Sgt. Douglas Gerhardt, RSS Smithtown SNCOIC, agreed. “It allows us to develop as leaders and discuss what works and what doesn’t. Ultimately, it helps us determine where we need to be to come across the finish line together.”


The culminating event for the trip was observing a graduation ceremony. Staff Sgt. Stephen Eagar, RSS Patchogue SNCOIC, said, “Not only did it remind me of when I graduated, but it’s a chance to see the result of all your hard work and time.” Eagar also got a chance to see two of his poolees graduate that day. “Seeing this takes you back and refreshes your memory of what it’s all about.”


Aside from the training aspect, it helped build rapport and communication amongst all.
Since the nightlife and entertainment off base was not quite what recruiters from NY are accustomed to, there was lots of quality time to spend together. “It was good because you get to know the Marines who are out here in the fight with you,” said Staff Sgt. Larry Owens, RSS Brooklyn SNCOIC.


The SNCOICs of RSNY are a combination of Marines who are fulfilling their three-year tour and those who are providing stability as career recruiters. Their experience in the Corps, time in service and military occupational specialty all vary. Combine the mix of the energy and leadership of newest SNCOIC with the devotion and wisdom of a seasoned career recruiter- and there’s a winning team. Regardless of their differences, they depend on each other and make it happen.


Clarke said, “Teamwork has always been our biggest strength and our results and successful history speaks for itself.” Recruiting Station NY has been ranked number one in Eastern Recruiting Region for the past nine out of ten years. “We always come through for each other. Doing things like this can only make us stronger.”

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Staff Sgt. Marcos Rodriguez, SNCOIC of RSS East Bronx, tries to maintain balance while handing off ammunition can to Major J.J. Dill, RS NY commanding officer, while executing a Crucible event called the weaver. Gunnery Sgt. Myung Yoo, SNCOIC of RSS Ridgewood and Gunnery Sgt. Michael Mack, SNCOIC of RSS Flatbush, assist on either end to accomplish the task.

The Staff Non Commissioned Officers In Charge and command group of Recruiting Station New York went to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C. May 11-14 for a mid-year planning conference to reacquaint themselves with their roots.
Photo by: SSgt. A.R. Hay

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...9?opendocument


The Drifter's Wife


Ellie