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    Faces of MCIPAC [Image 1 of 5]

    Faces of MCIPAC

    OKINAWA, JAPAN

    02.25.2020

    Photo by Cpl. Kameron Herndon 

    Marine Corps Installations Pacific

    Faces of MCIPAC

    After three weeks of drill, inspections, motivation and mentorship, Corporals course class 536-20 graduated on February 27th, 2020. While the curriculum is centered around the Marine Corps, the class had a few attendees from the U.S. Air Force and Japanese Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF).

    We sat down with Senior Airman Adam Amara, Cpl. Cheyenne Hiatt, JGSDF Sgt. Mitsutaka Akazawa, and Sgt. John Vasquez to hear about their experience during the course.

    “The biggest thing I took from corporals course is it’s not about the classes or the curriculum they teach you,” said Cpl. Cheyenne Hiatt in a voice uncharacteristically hoarse from a few weeks of shouting. “It's about learning from your peers and being able to take what they have to say and bringing it back to your unit, it gives you a different perspective.”

    Standing in his dress blues prior to attending the corporals course mess night, Senior Airman Adam Amara shared with us a few words. “It’s quite humbling to be in this course, it definitely changed my perspective on what it takes to be in the armed forces as a whole.” Amara, a Special Missions Aviator out of Kadena Air Force Base, is one of a small number of Airmen in the class.

    “With the JGSDF, there’s obviously a language barrier, but they’re very smart individuals,” spoke class instructor Sgt. John Vasquez. “Some of them are even outperforming the Marines and airmen and that not only motivates me, but the other instructors as well.”

    “I heard every Marine is a rifleman so I already had a respect for the Marine Corps,” proudly states JGSDF Sgt. Mitsutaka Akazawa. “This course has a different culture and education style, but I think it is a once in a lifetime experience.”

    (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Kameron Herndon)

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    IMAGE INFO

    Date Taken: 02.25.2020
    Date Posted: 02.28.2020 07:52
    Photo ID: 6118441
    VIRIN: 200225-M-XD069-1032
    Resolution: 5766x3844
    Size: 3.6 MB
    Location: OKINAWA, JP

    Web Views: 139
    Downloads: 12

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