JGSDF sergeants major learn Marine leadership

Photo By Lance Cpl. Kasey Peacock | Sergeants major of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force listen to Marine non-commissioned officers speak about leadership techniques during a presentation hosted by Sgt. Maj. Patrick L. Kimble at the Ocean Breeze here Dec. 13. The presentation was given to the JGSDF to improve their understanding of our chain of command and leadership styles. Kimble is sergeant major of Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler and Marine Corps Installations Pacific.  

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

12.13.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Kasey Peacock 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP FOSTER, Japan - Sergeants major with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force attended a presentation at the Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster Dec. 13 hosted by Sgt. Maj. Patrick L. Kimble, sergeant major of Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler and Marine Corps Installations Pacific, pertaining Marine Corps chain of command and leadership techniques.

The presentation began with an explanation of the chain of command structure, focusing on the role non-commissioned officers and staff non-commissioned officers play, with examples from Master Gunnery Sgt. Juan D. Valdivia, staff non-commissioned officer in charge of the Installation Personnel Administration Center on Camp Foster and Master Gunnery Sgt. David R. Misfeldt, Provost Sergeant in charge of Military Police, MCIPAC.

“Our goal was to explain to them the roll that each individual rank plays in making those units run smoothly,” said Kimble. “We showed the JGSDF sergeants major how IPAC and PMO works because of the large amount of Marines assigned to those units.”

To better explain the chain of command and leadership techniques to the JGSDF sergeants major, non-commissioned officers with PMO and IPAC explained their roles as leaders and answered questions they had. Afterwards, the senior non-commissioned officers explained their roles as leaders and how they lead their non-commissioned officers.

“The biggest thing I wanted to get across to the JGSDF as a sergeant is my role as a mentor,” said Sgt. Zachary M. Leclair, a military policeman with Headquarters and Services Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. “As mentors, we try to get our junior Marines involved in group activities including physical fitness and unit trips to build camaraderie and boost morale.”

The JGSDF were most interested in our non-commissioned officer and senior non-commissioned officer courses and how they worked, Kimble said.

Courses such as corporals course and sergeants course are designed to better prepare the Marine for the next rank. During these courses they teach leadership techniques, physical fitness and Marine Corps values.

“We learned a lot about what each rank is responsible for in Marine Corps rank structure,” said JGSDF Sgt. Maj. Takeshi Harada, sergeant major of 12th Brigade. “We plan to summarize what we learned today and try to implement the best ideas to help our soldiers become better leaders.”

While this presentation was intended for the JGSDF to learn our leadership techniques and rank structure, it is important that we understand other countries military techniques as well, said Kimble.

• Date Taken: 12.13.2011
• Date Posted: 12.19.2011 02:11
• Story ID: 81556
• Location: CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP