thedrifter
08-22-06, 02:47 PM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C.(Aug. 22, 2006) -- Fingers wrap around the pistol grip of the M-16A2s carried by the night sentries. The nothingness of sand dunes has been replaced by the emptiness of darkness. Suddenly, something is moving – location, size, direction all unknown. Rockets disturb the peace of the night as the base camp takes enemy fire. Time moves slow, but still too fast to think. Marines fall back on reflexes, knowledge ingrained in their minds from their earliest days in the Corps.
They rest on the foundation of combat skills taught at the Marine Corps School of Infantry by instructors who have passed through the Marine Corps Combat Instructor Course.
“Regardless of your (military occupational specialty) you can be in a convoy when your convoy gets ambushed,” said Staff Sgt. Jeremy McMillan, a rifleman going through the course.
While the students at SOI are broken up into infantry (Infantry Training Battalion) and other MOS’s (Marine Combat Training), the instructors for both schools go through the same instructor course together.
During the seven week course, Marines from all corners of the Corps learn the fine details of teaching combat to fresh Marines.
What the course produces are finely tuned teaching machines who can mix real world experience with structured lesson plans and help mold the Corps’ future fighters.
Each training company inside MCT receives a mixture of both infantry and non-infantry instructors to teach students, said Gunnery Sgt. Jason Wolken, MCCIC senior instructor.
While non-combat arms Marines may not have the day-to-day training of the average rifleman, their experiences in the Marine Corps add another level for the students, said Sgt. Josh Stephens, Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 heavy equipment operator.
“My first deployment was a month into the fleet, and I found myself behind a crew served weapon,” he added.
Reinforcing the idea that every Marine is a rifleman is an important aspect of having a mixture of Marines teaching students, said Staff Sgt. Davohn-Lee Correa, MCCIC instructor.
Correa explained that instructors need to be able to break past the “it’s never going to happen to me” mentality.
Stephens, who spent his second deployment as a security element, putting his primary military specialty on hold, said he will have no problem explaining to Marines of any MOS how easily they can find themselves in a combat zone.
For non-combat arms Marines, their training here at the hands of the graduates of MCCIC could be their most extensive combat training before a deployment.
To make sure all the soon-to-be instructors are familiar with the material in the classroom and in field, they hit the ranges and make the hikes doing exactly what they will be expecting out of their Marines.
As the MCCIC students traveled from range to range, Correa bluntly explained the reality of dealing with students and live ammunition: “the grenade and fire and movement ranges are the most stressful day as an instructor.”
“It’s easy for a Marine to make a mistake that you can’t stop,” she added.
But hands-on experience with the weapon systems and equipment is the only way to provide these students with a key to success – confidence, said McMillan.
Another tool MCCIC offers their students is help dealing with all the “what ifs” and “whys” that frequently come up in a school environment.
“Not only do they teach you the knowledge, but how to teach it,” Stephens said.
In the end, the training companies get a myriad of diverse, knowledgeable instructors ready to help turn the next group of Marines into warriors.
Ellie
They rest on the foundation of combat skills taught at the Marine Corps School of Infantry by instructors who have passed through the Marine Corps Combat Instructor Course.
“Regardless of your (military occupational specialty) you can be in a convoy when your convoy gets ambushed,” said Staff Sgt. Jeremy McMillan, a rifleman going through the course.
While the students at SOI are broken up into infantry (Infantry Training Battalion) and other MOS’s (Marine Combat Training), the instructors for both schools go through the same instructor course together.
During the seven week course, Marines from all corners of the Corps learn the fine details of teaching combat to fresh Marines.
What the course produces are finely tuned teaching machines who can mix real world experience with structured lesson plans and help mold the Corps’ future fighters.
Each training company inside MCT receives a mixture of both infantry and non-infantry instructors to teach students, said Gunnery Sgt. Jason Wolken, MCCIC senior instructor.
While non-combat arms Marines may not have the day-to-day training of the average rifleman, their experiences in the Marine Corps add another level for the students, said Sgt. Josh Stephens, Marine Wing Support Squadron 272 heavy equipment operator.
“My first deployment was a month into the fleet, and I found myself behind a crew served weapon,” he added.
Reinforcing the idea that every Marine is a rifleman is an important aspect of having a mixture of Marines teaching students, said Staff Sgt. Davohn-Lee Correa, MCCIC instructor.
Correa explained that instructors need to be able to break past the “it’s never going to happen to me” mentality.
Stephens, who spent his second deployment as a security element, putting his primary military specialty on hold, said he will have no problem explaining to Marines of any MOS how easily they can find themselves in a combat zone.
For non-combat arms Marines, their training here at the hands of the graduates of MCCIC could be their most extensive combat training before a deployment.
To make sure all the soon-to-be instructors are familiar with the material in the classroom and in field, they hit the ranges and make the hikes doing exactly what they will be expecting out of their Marines.
As the MCCIC students traveled from range to range, Correa bluntly explained the reality of dealing with students and live ammunition: “the grenade and fire and movement ranges are the most stressful day as an instructor.”
“It’s easy for a Marine to make a mistake that you can’t stop,” she added.
But hands-on experience with the weapon systems and equipment is the only way to provide these students with a key to success – confidence, said McMillan.
Another tool MCCIC offers their students is help dealing with all the “what ifs” and “whys” that frequently come up in a school environment.
“Not only do they teach you the knowledge, but how to teach it,” Stephens said.
In the end, the training companies get a myriad of diverse, knowledgeable instructors ready to help turn the next group of Marines into warriors.
Ellie