Teachers get inside look at Marine Corps

Photo By Cpl. Alexandra Vazquez | Rida Jones, a school counselor at Comstock High School in Kalamazoo, Mich., climbs across a rope bridge with the help of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Aaron Lazelle, the operations officer at Recruiting Station Chicago, during the Educators Workshop at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, April 6. Educators Workshop is a week long event which gives teachers an opportunity to experience Marine Corps life.  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

04.22.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Alexandra Vazquez 

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Marine Corps basic training is an event not many experience outside the Marine Corps, but for one group of teachers, it was part of a week-long Educators Workshop at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, April 5 through 9.

Marines from the installations organized the Educators Workshop to give high school and college level teachers an inside look at Marine Corps life.

The installations hold the Educator's Workshop 12 times a year. They select up to 80 teachers who have little knowledge about the military from various recruiting stations across the country. Overall, approximately 960 teachers visit the San Diego area for the Educators Workshop each year.

This workshop brought more than 60 educators from Lansing, Mich., Twin Cities, Minn., and Chicago.

The educators began the week with a crash course in Marine Corps basic training. They experienced the "yellow footprints" where Marine recruits receive their reception into basic training.

They continued with several events at MCRD San Diego including lunch with recruits, a Combat Fitness Test demonstration, hands on Marine Corps Martial Art Program training and running a modified-bayonet-assault-course. Five drill instructors escorted the educators throughout the events.

"The Marines were all about teamwork," said Rida Jones, a school counselor at Comstock High School in Kalamazoo, Mich. "It was a really nice experience because they demonstrated how not to leave a man behind. They worked with me at my pace, and the encouragement they gave me made me want to give 110 percent."

The educators also visited MCAS Miramar's flight line during the week. They were able to look at a CH-53E "Super Stallion" and an F/A-18 "Hornet" up close and speak to pilots of the aircraft. They also got a chance to speak to several Marines who work aboard the air station.

In addition, the educators experienced parts of the "Crucible," or the final field exercise of Marine recruit training, including the Emblem Ceremony and the "Warrior's Breakfast."

On the final day, the teachers had the chance to ask Brig. Gen. Ronald Bailey, the commanding general of MCRD San Diego and Western Recruiting Region, any questions during the farewell brunch. Following the brunch, the educators experienced the most crucial part of Marine Corps basic training – graduation.

"It was a very good inside look at the Marine Corps from beginning to end," said Jones. "Meeting all the young Marines gave it that human touch. You learn that it's not just a job, it's a lifestyle."

Although many will never experience being a Marine, the teachers of the Educator's Workshop left with more knowledge about what it takes to become one.

• Date Taken: 04.22.2010
• Date Posted: 04.22.2010 11:48
• Story ID: 48523
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US