Photo By Staff Sgt. Leslie Keopka | Seven Marines graduated the U.S. Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructor’s...... read more read more
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CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti -- Seven Marines graduated the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructor’s course July 2, 2014, while deployed to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
The guest speakers for the ceremony were U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Wayne Grigsby, Jr., CJTF-HOA commanding general and U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bonnie Skinner, CJTF-HOA senior enlisted advisor.
“Whether fighting with a rifle, weapons of opportunity or unarmed combat, this is what every Marine is required to execute,” Skinner said. “The graduates here today possess maturity, moral character and physical skills. That makes them lethal warriors.”
The course was three weeks long, six days-a-week and over 120 hours worth of lessons and practical exercises. The course was taught by MCMAP instructor trainer U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Lawanda Ruiz, Martial Arts Center of Excellence graduate, with the help of instructors U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Patrick Brown and U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Giovanni Mayer.
MCMAP is a combination of mental, physical and character discipline. Marines must have a balance of honor, courage, commitment, professional military education, determination, and physical and mental strength.
The students completed a series of practical examinations and finished the course with a field training exercise where they had to use all their newly acquired skills to work together to accomplish the mission.
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Pedro Flores, 6 COM Battalion satellite communications operator earned the honor graduate and winner of the motivation awards; he learned more than just tactical movements during this course.
“I grew physically from all the fitness sessions; I grew morally because I know regardless of rank, I will tactfully correct someone higher than me; I grew mentally because now I know sometimes your mind becomes so tired it tells you to quit,” Flores said. “You have to keep pushing yourself; your body is capable of going through a lot of hardships, but your mind has to continue to push through it.”
Marines participating in the course did so in conjunction with fulfilling their normal work duties.
“To the graduates of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructor’s course, I want to say thank you,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Wayne Grigsby. “Now, you are a better leader. You are more competent in your craft and you are outstanding teammates to each other. I could not be more proud of you.”
The new instructors will go on to train others in MCMAP and move them up the belt levels. Training is open to all branches of service.
| Date Taken: | 07.02.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.03.2014 03:48 |
| Story ID: | 135211 |
| Location: | CAMP LEMONNIER, DJ |
| Web Views: | 163 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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