MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. - Headquarters Battalion on Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., is currently looking at more than paper when it comes to awarding Marines who go above and beyond the call of duty.
Such awards include Marine of the Quarter, Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter and meritorious promotions, explained Staff Sgt. Jeffery Worley, company gunnery sergeant.
Previously, Marines here went on paper boards to determine who was the most qualified, he said. On paper boards, senior enlisted advisors determine Marines’ qualifications by how they look on paper.
They look at how high the Marines’ physical fitness and combat fitness test scores are, their on and off-duty education on record, how high their rifle and pistol range scores are, what Marine Corps Martial Arts Program belt they are and any volunteer work they have done, Worley added.
As important as those things are, superiors don’t truly know who is most qualified for awards and promotions until those Marines are standing in front of them for an actual board, he explained. For a board, not only do the Marines need to look good on paper, they need to look good in uniform, they need to have the right attitude, bearing, confidence and knowledge of the Marine Corps.
Marines need to prepare as far in advance as they can for boards, said Sgt. Julio Acevedo, winner of the NCO of the Quarter board for 1st quarter, calendar year 2014.
“Most of the junior Marines here have never been on a board before,” explained Acevedo. “They need to be ready … even if they are not on one yet; they should prepare for when they will be,” he added.
“Go into the room knowing you already won,” Acevedo said. “The most challenging part is overcoming your nerves.”
Having confidence and bearing are the most important, he further explained.
“The battalion decided to go with traditional boards to give the Marines here more experience and to encourage them to get more involved with the Marine Corps by studying knowledge and preparing for it (the board),” said Worley. “ … It truly does show (the command) who is most qualified for the award.”
The battalion encourages more Marines to strive for self-improvement and to try and get on a board. Talk to your chain of command, identify and correct any deficiencies you may have and get yourself mentally and physically prepared to get on one.
| Date Taken: | 04.08.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 04.08.2014 14:24 |
| Story ID: | 124927 |
| Location: | ROCKLIN, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 37 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Boards aboard MCLB, by Cpl Samuel Ranney, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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