Photo By Cpl. Samuel Ranney | (Left to right) Kenny Phillips, the branch head of quality control on PPB, MDMC, poses...... read more read more
BARSTOW Calif. - Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow’s work force is made up of more than U.S. Marines - - there are hundreds if not thousands of civilians working side by side; and they can be found using anything from military time and the rank structure, to an ‘oorah!’ as they greet one another passing by.
This is because they are Civilian Marines. Although some may have never worn the uniform, they have been working with the Marine Corps for decades and are quite familiar with the military lifestyle.
Kenny Phillips, the branch head of quality control at Production Plant Barstow, Marine Depot Maintenance Command, is a prime example. He has been working with, training, and ensuring the mission readiness of Marines longer than most have served in the Corps.
“I’m going on 28 years with the Marine Corps,” Phillips said.
The Southern California native started as a steam cleaner and worked his way up to where he is today.
The Marine Corps has taken Phillips all over the country, including Alaska and Hawaii.
While Phillips was an inspector with Fleet Support Division, he traveled with the West Coast technical assistance team to every unit west of the Mississippi River. He was the only civilian among the team of Marines, he said. They inspected every unit together, from New Orleans to Alaska.
It was a great experience to be the only civilian among the Marines, Phillips stated. “I got to work side by side with this nation’s most loyal warriors.”
Their mission was to keep every unit combat ready and mission capable, he added. Phillips and his team inspected everything from vehicles and weapons systems to reconnaissance units’ scuba diving gear.
Not only did he and the troops work together, they spent countless off-duty hours during their voyages building camaraderie and memories.
“The most memorable trips were the ones to (reconnaissance) units in Alaska,” he said. “They have an amazing amount of assault gear to inspect for mission readiness, and on the off hours we would fish for salmon and halibut.”
Working with the Marines firsthand, Phillips realized how critical mission readiness was. He also realized how critical his own role was … ensuring the quality of gear used to save Marines’ lives.
“I stayed with the Marine Corps because of patriotism and a sense of pride in knowing the Marine Corps is our nation’s fighting force and the first to fight,” he said. “There are countless families that have someone in their lives who will depend on the gear we put out; I continued to strive for more control and authority on the quality of products that come out of here to keep them safe.”
“Being a Civilian Marine is more than the regular 9-to-5,” Phillips explained. “What makes this job special is that what we do here could save lives; it’s personal.”
Marines are the most disciplined, hardest working and focused men and women in the world, Phillips said. Their safety is second to none.
Not only do the responsibilities of a Civilian Marine exceed those of the average job, the opportunities do too. Aside from the traveling, Phillips explained he has received thousands of hours of specialized training in a variety of fields.
“I’ve been trained in everything from management and inspection training to specialized weapons systems training, things the average 9-to-5 job would have never offered me,” he said.
Phillips then passed down the training the Marine Corps provided him to train Marines under his command.
“I’ve trained numerous Marines on inspection techniques, engineering techniques, gear, technical manuals and other aspects,” he explained.
Phillips knows the work he does day-in and day-out, with the military assets entrusted to him, reaches far beyond the vast Mojave Desert.
“While watching the Military Channel, I would sometimes see
my (initials written in) chalk marks as the inspector on the vehicles shown on TV,” he said. “It was an amazing feeling to see the vehicles I approved out there protecting the nation and the lives of Marines.”
Phillips has seen his approved vehicles on television in Somalia, Iraq, and in Afghanistan. He’s also seen his chalk marks on vehicles returning to the U.S. after being damaged overseas in combat. He’s seen the entire cycle of some vehicles - - approving a vehicle to be sent out to protect Marines, then receiving the same vehicle, damaged, after it had served its purpose, overseeing the rebuilding of it, re-inspecting it, and re-approving it to be sent out once again.
Phillips’ advancements as a Civilian Marine and his increasing responsibilities, are comparable to those of an active duty Marine climbing the rank ladder.
“I started out at the lowest level, much like a (private first class),” he explained.
Since then, Phillips has worked in multiple shops at PPB. Following that, he worked his way up from being a mechanic, inspector, an inspector supervisor, a site manager for 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force, ran major production lines, became a production branch head and is now the quality division head at Barstow. Today, he has a lot more responsibilities and a lot more people, civilians and Marines, working under his charge, much like an officer, he added.
“I’ve come this far in my career using experience, dedication, pride and drive to advance,” Phillips said proudly. “Every job and challenge I’ve had while working with the Marine Corps has meant something and been important to me.”
Although not a Marine, Phillips and others like him have devoted their careers and many years of their lives to the Marine Corps and to the well-being of Marines in forward deployed environments and those in garrison, earning the title: Civilian Marine.
| Date Taken: | 06.27.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.27.2013 13:50 |
| Story ID: | 109379 |
| Location: | BARSTOW, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 65 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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