Steel sharpening at its finest

Photo By Lance Cpl. Kevin Ferguson | Sgt. Alberto Rodriquez (left) and Sgt. McKinsey Corbett (right), instructors with the Air Station's Corporal's School, unload office supplies from the back of a trailer, Jan. 13. The instructors moved Corporal's School's location from Mike Barracks into building 660 while they were between classes. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kevin T. Ferguson)  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC, UNITED STATES

02.19.2010

Courtesy Story

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

By Lance Cpl. Kevin T. Ferguson

Every Marine has heard the phrase, "steel sharpens steel." This simple phrase should bring to mind an image of an experienced non-commissioned officer showing the ropes to a junior Marine.

Across the Corps, NCOs set the bar and push their junior Marines to blow expectations out of the water. It is known that it takes a lot to fill the boots of these motivated Marines, but what does it take to be the Marine responsible for shaping an NCO?

Fightertown's Corporal's Course instructors know exactly what it takes.

"If a Marine has self-determination, self-will and drive and is able to speak in front of a group of Marines, then that Marine can teach others," said Sgt. Alberto Rodriquez, chief instructor with the Air Station's Corporal's Course.

In order to really teach Marines and be good at their job, instructors can expect to come into work early, give up personal time to meet the mission and work over holidays and weekends, Rodriquez added.

Instructors demand a lot of themselves and even more out of their students.

"The instructors are some hardcore motivators," said Cpl. Teiba Moss, a student of Corporal's Course's Class 26-10. "They take you out of your element, your comfort zone and make you apply the basic things every Marine should know, things you might not do in your daily military occupational specialty."

Instructors also expect every Marine to meet the standards to the smallest detail.

"You really need to believe in the basics of what it is to be a Marine," Rodriquez said. "For example, if I am in [Marine Corps issued] physical training gear, I am going to wear white socks."

Wearing white socks is a requirement while in PT gear, according to Marine Corps Order P1020.34G and can be easily overlooked.

A promotion to corporal pulls a Marine out of the junior ranks and puts them in a leadership role over their former peers. Corporal's School instructors have been tasked with teaching NCOs on how to work and lead simultaneously.

"Once you become a corporal, your mindset has to change," said Staff Sgt. Tyrell Williams, assistant staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge with the Air Station's Corporal's Course. "You are expected to be a working supervisor."

Whether they are pushing to get the most out of themselves, shaping the newest leaders of the Marine Corps or working over a holiday weekend, instructors for the Air Station's Corporal's Course know what it takes to "sharpen steel."

• Date Taken: 02.19.2010
• Date Posted: 02.19.2010 08:34
• Story ID: 45559
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC, US