MCRC to Host Summer Leadership and Character Development Academy

Photo By Shaehmus Sawyer | Marine Col. Terence D. Trenchard welcomes approximately 200 high school students to the 2017 Summer Leadership and Character Development Academy at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., July 16. The SLCDA engagement is not specifically designed for recruitment, instead, its primary goal is to return the high-caliber individuals back to their schools and communities with greater knowledge of the Marines, sense of purpose and the ability for them to serve as advocates for the Corps due to their first-hand experiences with Marines. Trenchard is the chief of staff of Marine Corps Recruiting Command.  

QUANTICO, VA, UNITED STATES

11.27.2017

Story by Sgt. Courtney White 

Marine Corps Recruiting Command           

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Virginia – Each summer, Marine Corps Recruiting Command invites approximately 200 high school students from across the nation for a week-long Summer Leadership and Character Development Academy (SLCDA) here.

The academy is a community outreach and social connection program developed by MCRC which revolves around three pillars: character development, leadership and ethics. It was created to allow the students to experience ethical decision-making scenarios that simulate world events that young Marines face in daily life, garrison, or even combat.

“The program is a leadership program that will teach young high school students how to be an integral party of their community,” said Lt. Col. Sara E. McGrath, the officer coordinating the program this year. “That could be their high school, town or city, or the college they attend. We will give students the opportunity to listen to Marines and community leaders, experience physical and mental challenges, and then form their own leadership style from these challenges.”

Students who apply will compete for allocations and are rated based on their strong academic achievement, performance on the Initial Strength Test, active community service involvement, leadership traits and possession of strong moral and ethical standards.

The students selected must be a high school sophmore or junior and be at least 16 years of age by the program start date.

“This program allows students to experience a break from their normal life,” said Capt. Paul C. Shipley, an officer acting as platoon commander for the program. “It’s an acculturation process and the enthusiasm the students embrace the challenge with really helps them get through the week.”

During the week-long academy, the students are exposed to the Marine Corps’ core values of honor, courage and commitment, while learning and practicing concepts of leadership and service to others. The students hear from notable leaders from across the country, such as entrepreneurs, Holocaust survivors and Marine Corps officers. Additionally, physical fitness is also emphasized through physical training and scenario-based reaction courses.

“I believe the students most enjoy the physical aspects of the program,” said Staff Sgt. Cathleen Barsallo, who is acting as a platoon sergeant for the program. “The students seem to be most active during the obstacle courses, confidence course, morning physical training and leadership reaction course.”

At the end of the week, students who complete all the events successfully will graduate and return back to their communities more confident, selfless and better equipped to improve the lives of those around them.

“As a member of the staff at this program, I can honestly say that we learn as much from our students as they do from us,” McGrath said. “We thoroughly enjoy teaching leadership from our experiences in the Marine Corps and in the civilian sector after a Marine Corps career and we love to see a student go home with the knowledge of how and what they can contribute to their community.”

For more information on the SLCDA program, or to apply or nominate a student to the program, visit https://slcda.marines.com.

• Date Taken: 11.27.2017
• Date Posted: 11.29.2017 10:11
• Story ID: 256721
• Location: QUANTICO, VA, US