CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Sergeants major and master gunnery sergeants from throughout 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing gathered for an E-9 symposium at Miller’s Landing aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Sept. 20.
The annual event gave the senior enlisted Marines a chance to discuss issues facing the Marine Corps and the Wing including the active duty force drawdown, hazing, sexual assault and suicide prevention, and personnel and equipment accountability.
“The Marines in this room are the top 1 percent responsible for the 99 percent,” said Sgt. Maj. Robert G. VonOostrom, II MEF sergeant major and guest speaker at the symposium. “The people in this room are going to be the ones that have to make the tough calls.”
Maj. Gen. Glenn M. Walters, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general, gave opening remarks at the symposium. Walters expressed the importance of the most senior members of the staff noncommissioned officer corps.
“When I was a young lieutenant the most valuable training I received on what it was to be a Marine and how to be a Marine was from the staff NCOs that worked for me,” said Walters.
Walters said it is superb leadership skills that steer the Corps today, and stressed its relevance to the current climate.
“Right now is a busy time,” Walters said. “There is important work that will be done today.”