Photo By Staff Sgt. Courtney White | Summer Leadership and Character Development Academy (SLCDA) Company C students tour...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. – Approximately 200 students from across the United States attended the Summer Leadership and Character Development Academy (SLCDA) aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, July 16-22.
The SLCDA is a community outreach and social connection program developed by Marine Corps Recruiting Command. The goal of the academy is to attract a diverse group of rising high school juniors and seniors from across the nation, who are service-oriented and academically sound.
“This program allows students to experience a break from their normal life,” said Capt. Paul C. Shipley, a platoon commander for Bravo Company, Second Platoon, during the program. “It’s an acculturation process and the enthusiasm the students embraced the challenge with really helped them throughout the week.”
According to Shipley, every aspect of the experience reinforces personal character development and ethical leadership.
“This program helps the students build a sense of confidence in themselves as leaders,” said Shipley. “Some students have had the privilege to be leaders in their sports or clubs, but others have no experience leading their peers.”
During the week-long academy, the students were exposed to the Marine Corps’ core values of honor, courage and commitment, while learning and practicing concepts of leadership and service to others.
“When we arrived, we were put into squads for events and competitions and there was an obvious want to come in first place,” said Hannah Goodman, a native of Waverly, Ohio, and SLCDA participant. “We found out very quickly that there was a difference between striving for first and helping out your team.”
According to Goodman, the competition became not about placing first, but about helping others accomplish the mission.
“At the end of the day, if you didn’t help everyone in your squad finish,” said Goodman, “did you really win?”
Throughout the week, the students were exposed to team building exercises, leadership and ethics case studies and activities as well as daily physical fitness classes, community service projects and a trip to Washington.
“I believe the students most enjoyed the physical aspects of the program,” said Staff Sgt. Cathleen Barsallo, a platoon sergeant for Alpha Company, First Platoon, during the program. “The students seemed to be most active during the obstacle courses, confidence course, morning physical training and leadership reaction course.”
During the academy, the weather reached well above 100 degrees.
“The heat made every situation a little harder, but not impossible,” said Barsallo. “Even though they were sweating, they had fun and really seemed to enjoy everything.”
Though the academy is run by Marine Corps Recruiting Command, it is not specifically geared toward recruitment, but rather, the main goal is to return high caliber individuals to their schools and communities with a greater sense of purpose.
The academy itself revolves around three pillars: character development, leadership and ethics and allows the students to experience ethical decision-making scenarios that simulate world events that young Marines face in daily life, garrison, or even combat.
Throughout the six years of the program, approximately 20 SLCDA graduates from previous classes have applied for, and received Marine Option Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps or Service Academy placements.
“The program doesn’t just help future Marines,” explained Barsallo. “The program can help anyone. This academy can give you tools that can help in a conference room or in the civilian world, as well as in a military setting."
| Date Taken: | 07.23.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 07.27.2017 13:51 |
| Story ID: | 242677 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VA, US |
| Hometown: | WAVERLY, OH, US |
| Web Views: | 213 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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