Senior enlisted leaders prepared to give their Marines straight scoop
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification #: 20047292473
Story by Pfc. T. J. Kaemmerer



CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan — (July 22, 2004) -- Seventy-seven Marine Corps first sergeants and master sergeants from the Far East region attended the 11th Annual Regional E-8 Seminar here July 19-23.

The purpose of the five-day event was to brief senior enlisted staff noncommissioned officers from Okinawa, Korea and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni on Marine Corps policy and doctrine changes made in the past six months, explained Sgt. Maj. Michael F. Jones, the seminar’s host
and director of the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy.

Topics covered during the seminar included the new 24-month unaccompanied overseas tours, fitness reports, awards, the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, new Marine Corps field equipment and the relationship between the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force and the III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Jones brought in subject matter experts to brief the enlisted leaders about policy changes and other pertinent information, which will help them assist their commanding officers and lead their junior Marines.

According to Jones, the E-8’s, who are one promotion away from reaching the top enlisted rank in the Marine Corps, can pass the information they learned to nearly every Marine stationed on installations in the Far East.

The Marine Corps is always working on new ideas, and the senior leaders need to know what their Marines must do to smoothly work these ideas into action, Jones said.

Major Dave Ruiz, the infantry combat equipment program manager from Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, showed new combat equipment being used in Iraq and prototypes currently being tested for future use.

Ruiz talked about new Kevlar shorts and arm pads, under shirts, backpacks and interceptor body armor, which has an outer tactical vest made of a Kevlar weave that is capable of stopping a 9 mm bullet. A new Kevlar helmet saved 114 lives in Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to Ruiz.
“It was good to hear that the new Kevlar body armor is available in our supply system on Okinawa,” said Master Sgt. Floyd S. Woolbright, staff noncommissioned officer in charge of the Tactical Systems Operator’s Department, Marine Aerial Refueling Squadron-152. “The major told us that Marines here should not be going to Iraq without (the new Kevlar equipment),” the 17-year veteran explained.

After the briefs, focus groups discussed topics such as the new 24-month unaccompanied overseas tour, Jones explained. Their recommendations were forwarded to III MEF.

The biggest concern the master sergeants and first sergeants had was the recent exemption of infantry unit leaders from attending the SNCO Career Course. An April Marine administrative message directed that these Marines, in the 0369 military occupational specialty, would receive automatic career course credit upon completing the MOS-unique Infantry Unit Leader’s Course.

“Our master sergeants and first sergeants believe that (issue) confuses the intent of the 24th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Leonard F. Chapman, Jr., who, in 1970, laid the foundation for enlisted professional military education,” Jones said. “He realized that staff noncommissioned officers, in the past, never received training on how to be SNCOs.

“Our (E-8’s) believe that all enlisted leaders should attend residential PME regardless of assignment, billet or primary military occupational specialty,” Jones explained.

There is a danger in excluding infantry unit leaders, according to Master Sgt. Anthony M. Yallum, adjutant chief, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division.

“There is a team-building concept in the Marine Corps,” said Yallum, a 20-year veteran. “Professional military education is not MOS driven. We don’t want to start
compartmentalizing like the (U.S.) Army.”



CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan - Gunnery Sgt. Larnell G. Mills gives Marine first sergeants and master sergeants from the Far East region information about new Marine Corps Martial Arts Program policies. The MCMAP brief was one of many briefs 77 first sergeants and master sergeants from the Far East region received during the 11th Annual Regional E-8 Seminar here July 19-23. Mills is the operations chief with Division Schools, 3rd Marine Division. Photo by: Pfc. T. J. Kaemmerer
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...7?opendocument

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...7?opendocument


Ellie