22nd MEU completes corporals course aboard Gunston Hall

Photo By Sgt. Austin Hazard | U.S. Marines sing the Marines’ Hymn during a corporals course graduation ceremony aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44). The 22nd MEU is deployed with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout U.S. Central Command and the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Austin Hazard/Released)  

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY, USCENTCOM, AT SEA

09.11.2014

Story by Sgt. Austin Hazard 

22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit

AT SEA - U.S. Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) graduated from an at-sea corporals course aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) Sept. 11, 2014.

For 15 days, students took lessons on tactics and leadership, as well as several other military skill sets.

“The purpose of this course is to make them better leaders and provide them with the information and tools they need to set themselves and their Marines up for success,” said U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Everson Kaaihue, Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 22nd MEU, Headquarters and Support Company wire chief and native of Honolulu. “One thing they all have in common is the need for leadership skills; they’re all corporals, they’re all leaders.”

Cpl. Will Demarest, BLT 1/6 assault amphibious vehicle crewman, was recognized as the course’s honor graduate and received a certificate of commendation for the achievement.

“I thought it was really rewarding,” said Demarest, native of Glen Mills, Pa. “I picked up corporal during the course, so it was really helpful. It helped give me a new perspective on the Marine Corps, especially leadership.”

The course totaled 100 hours of training, including land navigation, public speaking and drill.

“I really enjoyed doing sword and guidon manual,” said Cpl. Korey Bryant, Combat Logistics Battalion 22 assault amphibious recovery vehicle crewman and native of Bladenboro, N.C. “Learning to drill with a sword is very motivating, since we’re the only branch that does that.”

The 22nd MEU is deployed with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force throughout U.S. Central Command and the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

• Date Taken: 09.11.2014
• Date Posted: 09.23.2014 08:18
• Story ID: 142968
• Location: U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY, USCENTCOM, AT SEA
• Hometown: BLADENBORO, NC, US
• Hometown: GLEN MILLS, PA, US
• Hometown: HONOLULU, HI, US