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It’s not quite a summer camp for adults, but for 11 Marines who returned to their military roots, it was a nice start to their summer.
Austere living conditions and early wake-up calls are nothing new for the Marines who spent two weeks at Camp Talega in mid-June. Mobilization Command, based in Kansas City, Mo., hosted a course designed specifically for Marines in the Individual Ready Reserve who wanted to refresh their swimming, marksmanship and martial arts skills.
The Marines, with various backgrounds, came from across the nation to spend two weeks at Camp Pendleton’s northern-most camp. While there, they occupied their mornings at the pistol and rifle range and their afternoons improving hand-to-hand combat skills in order to attain their next belt level in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.
The Mobilization Readiness Training Course was the first of its kind and was held from June 8-18. These dates were requested by most of the Marines because it didn’t conflict with their college classes or summer vacations.
“These guys have been out of uniform for about two years, so they are ready to get back into it,” said training chief Staff Sgt. Joe Saunders. MOBCOM is striving to create more training opportunities year-round and they’re tailoring it to fit the busy schedules of IRR Marines, he added.
The Marines completed their requirement for the rifle and pistol range, swim qualification and gas chamber training. They also increased their belt levels in the Marine Corps’ Martial Arts Program. Although there are no plans to mobilize any IRR Marines, periodic training provides Marines an on-going system of sustaining key skills. It might even spur renewed interest in participating in the reserves on a steady basis.
A native of Uvalde, Texas, 26-year-old Cpl. Bryan McArthur, said the two-week course has made him realize how much he missed the Marines and now might consider joining a reserve unit near his home. “This course has showed me that the Marine Corps has more to offer. I never knew that much about the reserves, but I might consider doing more training like this in the future,” McArthur said. The attendees have no further commitment, other than remaining ready for their initial eight-year contract.
Since leaving active duty, most of the Marines haven’t participated in any of the reserve programs but are considering it because they’ve missed the military connections, base privileges and esprit de corps. “The extra pay is helpful, too” said several of the Marines.
“I didn’t know I could spend my summers attending training like this or teaching courses,” said 26-year old Sgt. Alexander Holder. A college student from Austin, Texas, Holder has been balancing his college studies with teaching MCMAP periodically for MOBCOM. He also attended the NCO Academy at Marine Forces Reserves in New Orleans and explained how it helped him learn more about what programs and opportunities exist for Marines in the IRR. Find a course for you: http://mobcom.mfr.usmc.mil/IRRJobs/MCMAP.asp
| Date Taken: | 07.03.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.03.2010 15:39 |
| Story ID: | 52341 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 240 |
| Downloads: | 176 |
This work, Marines put back on uniform and update skills at Camp Pendleton, by LCDR Amy Forsythe, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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