Marine Corps Recruiting Command 2015 Eastern Recruiting Region Educators and Key Leaders Workshop

QUANTICO, VA, UNITED STATES

07.17.2015

Story by Cpl. Logan Block 

Marine Corps Recruiting Command           

QUANTICO, Va. – Marine Corps Recruiting Command hosted this year’s Eastern Recruiting Region Key Leader and Educators Workshop from July 13 to 17 in Quantico, Virginia. The workshop provided 44 attendees an opportunity to see what it takes to become a Marine officer.

The attendees participated in events such as the Leadership Reaction Course and took a ride in an MV-22 Osprey Tiltrotor Aircraft with Marine Helicopter Squadron One. They also attended briefs at Officer Candidate School and The Basic School. The attendees said they learned that they key to success in being a Marine officer is having the initiative to rise above challenges and lead.

“To actually come here and have the opportunity to sit and talk to the officers for the days that we have been here, and they’ve really embedded with us throughout the entire time, we get to know them personally, hear their story and understand why they chose the Marine Corps over any other branch of service, I think was a phenomenal experience,” said Brad Newbury, National Medical Education and Training Center Campus President.

The educators spent part of a day learning about combat patrolling and medical evacuation drills. They observed infantry Marines perform simulated patrols and buddy rushes, and also were shown how to properly prepare and eat a Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE). The Marines teaching them included TBS staff and officer selections officers. The OSOs traveled to Quantico with the educators as their escorts to help answer questions and build lasting, mutually-beneficial relationships.

“Seeing what goes on behind the scenes will also give them a greater appreciation for each service member walking out there,” said Marine Major Lisa Lawrence, Officer Selection Officer Recruiting Station Hyattsville. “We all have a story, and this is a way to find out what that story’s about.”

For many of the educators, this was their first exposure to military life. Witnessing first-hand the training officer candidates and newly commissioned officers go through to develop the skills they need to be successful leaders was eye-opening for some of the educators, they said.

“This has been one of the best experiences of my life,” said Melissa Forges, Florida State University Assistant Director of Engineering Employer Relations and Recruitment Services.
Forges said she would encourage any educator afforded the opportunity to attend this workshop to come experience it.

MCRC hosts two Key Leaders and Educators Workshops each year, one for Eastern Recruiting Region and one for Western Recruiting Region. For more information about the workshop, please visit http://www.mcrc.marines.mil/OSOEducatorsWorkshop.aspx

• Date Taken: 07.17.2015
• Date Posted: 07.17.2015 13:26
• Story ID: 170343
• Location: QUANTICO, VA, US