SAN DIEGO - Marines pride themselves in being prepared for any situation that may come their way by training and developing their leadership skills.
Recruits of Company G, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, received a class on Combat Leadership aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego June 19 detailing the unique elements of combat environments.
“It gives recruits the mindset of leading Marines in a combat setting,” said Staff Sgt. Ricky Broadway, drill instructor, Platoon 2150, Co. G, 2nd RTBn. “They’re at the point where their mentality is to go in and do what they’ve learned.”
The company was given a slideshow presentation with casualty statistics from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Recruits followed along in their knowledge books highlighting information that may be on their practical examination.
Knowledge books contain Marine Corps history and information recruits must know which are kept with them to study during their down time. Recruits need to retain the knowledge for their practical exam that will test them on various topics that have been taught throughout recruit training.
“The better we are at understanding the fundamentals, the better we are as a whole unit,” said Capt. Michael Standafer, lead series commander, Co. G, 2nd RTBn and class instructor. “We’re making recruits aware of the potential stresses that can occur in a combat environment.”
Marines are expected to be combat ready at all times and the class helps them understand what to expect, according to Standafer.
Standafer uses his own experiences from being deployed to help recruits better understand the class.
“When they hear of real life combat knowledge, it allows the information to sink in a little more,” said Standafer. “It gives it a real life feel, instead of just words on a slide.”
Company G will get to put this class to the test when they arrive to the Crucible aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton July 10. The Crucible is a 54-hour training exercise where recruits will need to work together while deprived of food and sleep.
“We’re setting them up for success,” said Braodway. “This is the basis of what they will use at (Marine Combat Training) and once they hit the fleet.”
Not only will this information help recruits graduate from recruit training, but it will also allow them to be more prepared for future operations in a combat environment after they earn the title of a United States Marine.