QUANTICO, Va. - The National Museum of the Marine Corps started out as an idea that became a reality. From the structure to its contents, it holds the Corps’ history for all to enjoy. The museum however might have stayed as an idea, had it not been for the countless hours of work that lawyers put in to secure the land it now rests on.
Twenty-two law Interns from the Department of the Navy Office of General Council and the Department of Defense Office of General Counsel’s toured Marine Corps Base Quantico on Thursday as part of their summer law intern program.
The tour started with the interns making a stop at the Officer Candidate School to learn about some of the training that goes in to making Marine officers, specifically the leadership reaction course.
“This course evaluates the candidates on three things,” said Maj. Jennifer Parker, the company commander for Charlie Company. “Communication, decisiveness, and command presence.”
As lawyers these are all traits these interns should have, Parker said.
The interns were also taken to The National Museum of the Marine Corps to learn about how the actions of lawyers have had a positive impact on the Corps.
“Lawyers had to spend hundreds of hours doing research and lobbying to acquire the land that the museum is built on,” said Julius Rothlein, the counsel for Marine Corps Base Quantico.
After the museum, the intern’s final stop was a visit to the indoor simulated marksman training facility, where they fired simulated weapons.
“I was impressed at how realistic the simulator was,” Eli Corin, an intern with the DoN OGC. “It was a lot more cool than the arcade.”
While in the internship program interns go on multiple field trips, showing them the end result of their hard work.
“It’s nice to get the exposure,” said Chris Ting, an intern with the DoD OGC. “We deal with policies, it’s nice to see the finished product.”
The DoN and DoD use the internship program to recruit young lawyers into federal service.
“The purpose of the visit to the base is to give the interns a look at the type of activities that take place on military installations.” said Steven E. Lee, a paralegal for the Counsel for Marine Corps Base Quantico. “They need to be informed of what happens here in order to make an informed decision about working for the government.”
Correspondent emmanuel.ramos1@usmc.mil