Photo By Master Gunnery Sgt. Stephen Traynham | MARADMIN 391/07 announced the requirement for all gunnery sergeants, regardless of...... read more read more
Subscribe
BEAUFORT, S.C. - Training Marines can be a difficult and painful task. There are many intricate details which go into any training plan. Communication, supplies, manpower, and most importantly time; are just a few considerations which go into making a solid training plan.
Now, let’s say the Marines being trained are a mixed bunch. Some are grumpy and disgruntled, while others are motivated and hungry. Some are a little older edging toward the monumental 20-year mark in their career, while others are young lions just passing the ‘do I go or do I stay’ mark in their career. They all have an opinion on every topic and will fight tooth and nail to be heard. Welcome to Advance Course 6-12, Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
MARADMIN 391/07 announced the requirement for all gunnery sergeants, regardless of promotion preference for master sergeant or first sergeant, to attend the resident advance course at one of the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academies to be fully considered Professional Military Education complete. This message made Advance Course 6-12 unique as it was the last class prior to the first sergeant/ master sergeant promotion board convening.
The expectation was for every seat to be filled in this class, according to Master Sgt. Damon P. Sonnier, advance course staff noncommissioned officer in charge, but this wasn’t the case. He attributed the seats being empty to two reasons.
“A majority of gunnery sergeants have completed their required [Professional Military Education],” stated Sonnier. “It has been mandatory for four years now, and I believe we may have caught up.”
His second reason deals directly with promotions.
“With the increased time in grade required to earn gunnery sergeant or master sergeant/ first sergeant in most [military occupational specialties], Marines may view attending the advanced course as insignificant,” explained Sonnier. “Some Marines plan to serve 20 years and transition to the civilian sector.”
There are also a few myths about SNCOA which may have aided in some Marines not considering the challenge. The biggest of these myths is SNCOA is a mask for a Physical Training Academy.
“The SNCOA is sometimes confused as being a PT Academy due to the flexibility in our schedule,” said Sonnier. “Since we do not deploy or conduct training exercises like WTI, we have the opportunity to incorporate PT in our schedule. I am not stating that units do not conduct PT, but with most busy units the responsibility is placed on the individual Marine.
“When Marines get to the Academy and find themselves in a progressive PT program they may view it as a significant change compared to what they normally do,” Sonnier explained. “The idea is to demonstrate different types of physical training sessions and how to properly conduct a PT program. It may also kick-start the Marines to introduce a program upon their return back to their commands.”
Another problem plaguing the SNCOA is Marines shrink in height, gain a few pounds, lose some upper body strength or get a little slower in between the time their screening checklist is signed and they check in.
“Marines checking into the course out of height and weight standards or unable to pass the physical fitness test are issues we see here,” said Sonnier. “This sounds like a simple task but every class, every deck we have PFT failures or Marines out of height and weight standards. The best thing commands can do to better prepare their Marines for the Academy is accurately fill out the Command Screening Checklist. A current height and weight should be conducted; not the one the Marine performed four months ago. If they have to be taped for body fat, it needs to be conducted per the order. The PFT we conduct at the Academy is no different than the ones conducted in the fleet. We read the order verbatim; demonstrate proper form, and supervise the execution.”
Just as these may be reasons for the lack of attendance, there are a multitude of reasons Marines attended the course. Some gunnery sergeants were conscious this was the last class prior to the promotion board convening, and knew they needed the class to be considered PME complete. For others, the timing of the board wasn’t a factor, but the time away from work was.
“It can be hard as a gunnery sergeant to step away from the office, especially for weeks at a time,” said Gunnery Sgt. Roxane L. Branz, supply chief, Marine Corps Engineer School, Camp Lejeune, N.C. , and graduate of Advance Course 6-12. “ I wasn’t able to attend the two previous classes since my shop was in the middle of personnel turnovers, and I needed to be there for that. The timing was never going to be perfect, so I just went. It was what I needed to do for my career progression.”
Career progression is the intended end state for graduates of advance course. Aside from the motivating, re-energizing physical training, the course supplies students the tools to advise senior and junior Marines in matters of personal administration, stress management, the performance evaluation system, and financial planning. They will also be able to evaluate and develop the unit’s physical readiness program, conduct briefs, and coordinate a unit’s training requirements. The course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to request close air support, develop a casualty evacuation plan, function as a staff member of a battalion operations center, and effectively apply the fundamentals of war fighting tactics in offensive and defensive operations at the company and battalion levels.
Just as important but seldom mentioned is the peer-to-peer learning which occurs.
“The biggest take away from the course is interacting with your peer group,” said Sonnier. “In my experience, students in any environment, learn more from each other than from one person standing in front of the class. Students are able to network and discuss how their units conduct certain events. What methods work and which ones do not. Students are able to compare themselves to their peers to have a better understand¬ing of where they ‘fit-in’ as leaders. The course allows Marines to take a step back from their units and focus on themselves for a short period of time and get re-energized.”
“I see myself as being able to go head-to-head with the best of the best,” Branz said. “I am stronger mentally and a lot more confident in my performance as a Marine after being surrounded by my peers. The course helped me put into perspective where I stand as a leader—a gunnery sergeant of Marines.”
For more information on advance course or Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy visit www.mcu.usmc.mil/en¬listedPME/default.aspx.
| Date Taken: | 11.01.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.01.2012 16:10 |
| Story ID: | 97137 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 196 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Training the Gunny, by MGySgt Stephen Traynham, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT