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QUANTICO, Va. - Marines of Marine Corps Recruiting Command welcomed 150 of the most exceptional candidates from across the country to a week-long camp designed to impress upon students the importance of leadership, ethics, higher education, lifelong learning and community service.
Zoe Marie Wockenfuss, a Pittsburgh native, earned the opportunity to develop her leadership skills at the Summer Leadership & Character Development Academy in Quantico, Va., from July 20-26, 2014.
The SLCDA exposes college-bound high school students to Marine Corps character and leadership-based fundamentals in order to increase the awareness of the value of leadership, ethics, education and community service that prepares them for future success.
Before she applied to the academy, Wockenfuss had no idea that it even existed. Cadets in her high school Junior Reserve Training Officer Corps program introduced her to the SDLCA. Some cadets, who attended the year prior, had only good experiences to share with her; she decided to apply for the program.
Wockenfuss, who applied four months in advance, said the application process was lengthy and that some of the different aspects of the application process that were reviewed were leadership positions held, grade point average and physical fitness. She was one of the nearly 150 high school students from around the country selected by Marine Corps Recruiting Command to attend the third annual SLCDA.
Zoe had been to several leadership academies such as the State Police Youth Week hosted by the PA American Legion in June of 2013, but none like the Marine Corps’.
“The Marine Corps is a bit more challenging than the other branches of the military,” said 17-year-old Wockenfuss. “It (the academy) was more ‘on your face’ and we were challenged. It put a different perspective on the other leadership academies I have attended.”
One of the missions of the Marine Corps is to develop quality citizens. In order to do so, it places great emphasis on developing leaders and their leadership skills. Former Marines talked to the students about their experiences.
According to Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent, 16th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, you have to know your subordinates; their strengths and weaknesses. In order to be a good leader, you have to employ them properly.
For Wockenfuss, another aspect of leadership she learned at the academy was confidence.
“The most important aspect of leadership is confidence without arrogance,” said Wockenfuss. “You have to be confident so your subordinates will know that you know what you are doing. It also helps to step up to different challenges and for people to follow you.”
Wockenfuss is scheduled to be the commanding officer of her JROTC program at Central Valley High School in Monaca, Pa. She said she will also encourage some of her fellow cadets to attend next year’s academy.
Currently, Wockenfuss is applying for the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship with the hopes of attending Citadel Military College to study criminal justice, earn a commission and become a Marine Corps officer.
“I want to be a Marine for a sense of belonging,” said Wockenfuss. “I want to be challenged every day. I want to get that self-direction and self-discipline and that can only come from the Marine Corps.”
| Date Taken: | 08.18.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.19.2014 12:06 |
| Story ID: | 139791 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VA, US |
| Hometown: | PITTSBURGH, PA, US |
| Web Views: | 72 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Local JROTC cadet attends national leadership academy, by Sgt Pedro Cardenas, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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