Photo By Cpl. Angel Serna | Marines with Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, fire artillery rounds...... read more read more
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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - The quiet ambience on the hillside was disturbed by the explosive sound of artillery rounds being fired. Dirt filled the air and M777A2 Howitzers were shot until they had enough gunpowder residue to paint them black.
Corporal Charles A. Butcher, a section chief for Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, was instructing a section of junior Marines to properly operate a Howitzer during a battalion fire exercise here, March 17 to March 21.
Although he is new to the battery, Butcher, a native of Longview, Texas, takes pride in his job and understands that leading Marines is a learning process. Butcher’s motivation to lead started when he wanted to give his life a purpose and do something worthwhile.
Butcher joined the Marine Corps in August of 2009. He said there wasn’t much going on for him and he didn’t have a plan for his future. He enlisted right out of high school.
After showing up at a recruiting office, he was informed he had multiple options for combat support jobs, but he wasn’t willing to walk out without the job he wanted.
“I could choose between tanks, artillery or being a gunner for a helicopter, but I was determined to get artillery,” Butcher said. “That’s what I really wanted.”
After just two years, Butcher’s command decided he was experienced enough to earn the title of section chief. It increased the love he had for his job. He’s had fun and made memories during his four years in artillery.
“One of my favorite memories was when I was in Korea,” said Butcher. “That was my second time shooting as a chief and I had the opportunity to teach the Republic of Korea, or ROK, Marines how to operate a Howitzer.”
A challenging obstacle Butcher faced while deployed to Korea was the Language Barrier. After he overcame the language barrier, Butcher passed his knowledge to the ROK Marines.
Having the opportunity to take care of Marines became very fulfilling for Butcher. It took him some time to develop his leadership style, but he never shied away from the added responsibility.
“When I first started my job as a chief, I would do things slow because it made me nervous at times,” Butcher said. “I didn’t want anything happening to any of my Marines.”
Butcher said he has a more caring and relaxed leadership style than other noncommissioned officers.
“I don’t like yelling at all because I feel it’s ineffective,” Butcher said. “If a Marine messed up I would sit them down and talk one on one, do hands on training and calmly teach them what’s going on.”
A gunner from Butcher’s battery, Lance Cpl. Maciej Korzec, a native of Bayonne, N. J., agrees with Butcher’s laidback leadership style.
“I’ve only known Cpl. Butcher for about two months because he’s a new chief to the battery,” said Korzec, during the battalion fire exercise. “So far he’s teaching us what he learned in 29 Palms about artillery, and we try to teach him a few things as well. He learns a lot with us. Since he’s a pretty relaxed guy, he listens to what we have to say.”
During the battalion fire exercise the battalion fired M7005, illumination, smoke, and white phosphorus rounds to ensure all the Marines are ready for a deployed environment.
Butcher’s leadership was on display during each fire mission. In-between fire missions, he was relaxed and approachable, but when missions came it was time for business. He went from his relaxed state to yelling orders and issuing commands to the firing line.
Butcher plans to continue bettering himself as a leader while he positively impacts the Marines in his charge.
“It’s about the training and learning experiences we have and what we take from it all,” Butcher said.
Even though he’s new to the unit, the Marines are alert and ready to learn as Butcher continues to learn how to be a better section chief.
| Date Taken: | 03.26.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 03.26.2014 23:51 |
| Story ID: | 122710 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Hometown: | LONGVIEW, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 194 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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