Building Leaders

Photo By Staff Sgt. Tony Simmons | U.S. Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, practice guide on techniques during Corporals Course in the U.S. Central Command area of operation, Feb. 2, 2015. In the Commandant’s guidance released in January 2015, he explained the importance of Marines maintaining the same high standards of Marine Corps leadership whether stationed in garrison or forward-deployed in combat. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tony Simmons/Released)  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

02.02.2015

Story by Cpl. Tony Simmons 

Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION-- U.S. Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command, are not only working to complete the mission, they’re also working on building leadership skills while forward-deployed in the U.S. Central Command area of operation.

The Marine Corps has opportunities for junior Marines and junior noncommissioned officers to develop leadership skills that contribute positively to mission accomplishment, troop welfare and career advancement.

Special Purpose MAGTF-CR-CC Marines have participated in several Corporals Courses and are preparing for a new addition to the leadership line-up.

Marine Administrative Message 524/14 announced that Lance Corporal Seminar would be required for promotion in order to set Marines up for success early in their career. It was established by the Marine Corps University at the direction of the Commandant of the Marine Corps and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps.

“Lance Corporal Seminar reinforces basic values and the institutional mindset that lance corporals learned as recruits in order to make them better equipped and stronger leaders after the course,” said Staff Sgt. Carson D. Clover, a Lance Corporal Seminar chief and current operations chief for the Aviation Combat Element, SPMAGTF-CR-CC.

Through constant training and real-world use, Marines can hone their leadership skills and set an example for their peers and junior Marines to follow.

“Ethics and leadership are something we all do no matter what your rank,” said 1st Sgt. Jason A. Politte, a Lance Corporal Seminar Director and company first sergeant for Headquarters Company, Command Element, SPMAGTF-CR-CC. “Putting our [non-commissioned officers] in front of the lance corporals will be a motivating factor, a lot of these sergeants are even teaching in Corporals Course right now.”

Special Purpose MAGTF-CR-CC is currently conducting a 3-week Corporals course to build junior NCOs.

Corporals Course consists of sword manual, land navigation, close-order drill, and studying Marine Corps ethics, morals and leadership. The course is led by sergeants.

“The courses will be good not only for junior Marines, but for sergeants to learn how to engage your Marines in a new way and develop us as leaders,” said Sgt. Ryan P. Callahan, a Lance Corporal Seminar instructor and motor-transport maintenance chief with SPMAGTF-CR-CC.

In the Commandant’s guidance released in January 2015, he explained the importance of Marines maintaining the same high standards of Marine Corps leadership whether stationed in garrison or forward-deployed in combat.

Keeping that guidance in mind, SPMAGTF-CR-CC Marines continue to conduct themselves as leaders with initiative, intellect, aggressiveness and innovativeness throughout their daily routines to remain vigilant in the event of any opposing threats.

• Date Taken: 02.02.2015
• Date Posted: 02.05.2015 01:34
• Story ID: 153580
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)