Photo By Sgt. William Hester | CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, Japan — Sgt. Maj. Mario P. Fields discusses leadership...... read more read more
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CAMP SCHWAB, OKINAWA, Japan — First sergeants and sergeants major from across 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force met March 27 at Camp Schwab to discuss leadership traits and to increase networking across the Pacific during a one-day seminar.
Sgt. Maj. Paul G. McKenna, the 3rd Mar. Div. sergeant major, requested all of the division’s first sergeants and sergeants major to together to discuss different topics at least once a month, according to 1st Sergeant Dennis R. Turner Jr., the company first sergeant with Communications Company, Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Mar. Div.
“Our job as first sergeants and sergeants major is focused on discipline, morale and structure,” said Turner, a Staten Island, New York, native. “We constantly ask ourselves, ‘What can we be doing better?’”
The leaders worked in groups to discuss popular topics. Then they addressed ways forward to improve on topics discussed.
“The only way to attack something is to first know what it is,” said Turner.
These meetings give Marines an opportunity to share different ideas, experiences and leadership styles from every corner of the Pacific. Also, Marines stationed in Okinawa as part of the unit deployment program, bring characteristics and knowledge from the states.
Sometimes the passing of skills learned in Marine educational courses stops once they are over, according to Turner. One of the main goals of these meetings is to promote continuous learning at the first sergeant and sergeant major level.
Throughout the rank system, Marines are required to attend professional military education courses for further promotion, according to Turner. For example, in order to pick up sergeant a Marine must attend their rank’s education course, corporals course. Too often the knowledge learned in the courses is not passed on.
The leaders also discussed larger, all-encompassing topics during the seminar.
Command climate is a term first sergeants are familiar with, according to Turner. It is the balance between proficiency, morale, discipline and Espirit de Corps.
“Once I can assess my battery’s command climate, I will be able to make changes to benefit my Marines,” said 1st Sgt. Michael E. Childs Jr., the Company first sergeant with Battery C, 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Mar. Div., currently attached to 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines. “I’ve learned a lot from more experienced first sergeants and sergeants major here. I’m able to increase my network and reach out to ask questions.”
Childs has been a first sergeant for about a year and is using these opportunities to get as much information as he can.
“We’re here to make things better for Marines,” said Childs, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native.
| Date Taken: | 03.27.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2015 22:24 |
| Story ID: | 159051 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 183 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Senior Enlisted Leaders Work to Improve Pacific, by Sgt William Hester, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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