Photo By Cpl. Khoa Pelczar | Devil Pups work together during a team buliding exercise at Camp Pendleton, Aug. 6....... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Every time Marines hear someone scream "Yes ma'am," or "Yes sir," out the top of their lungs, Marines can't help but smile with the flashback of boot camp they were once went through. But for these kids, it's just the beginning. For the next 10 days of their lives since the day they had step foot on Camp Pendleton, they will "camp out" with a few of the most discipline fighting force there is, the Marine Corps.
These kids were range from the age of 14 to 17, who were lucky enough to be a part of this Marine Corps summer program sponsored by a non-profit organization, which held the same name as the program itself, Devil Pups, designed to help kids gain self confidence and learn to take responsibility for their actions.
Aug. 6, these boys and girls were put to a final test in the 12-Stone Course before they get to graduate. The events required these kids to use leadership skills, such as taking charge, be confidence and flexible to the situations given.
Once they arrived at the training site, they were divided into fire teams, each team initiate a fire team leader, who would take charge of the group in all the given situations.
"They're required to utilize teamwork to complete these missions," said Staff Sgt. Victor Gonzalez-Aguirre, a drill instructor with Field Company. "At this point, we just stand back and observe, let the Pups take charge, apply everything they've learned on how they want to attack the mission after reading it."
The instructors guided their groups to the obstacles, explained to them the safety involves and given them the objectives. Then they would step back and monitor the Pups execute the mission.
"The instructors themselves were the ones working on making good civilians," said in her email, Staff Sgt. Bertha G. Hernandez, series "B" chief instructor, 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group. "They carried themselves in a very professional manner and were always demanding the best from the Pups."
Most instructors volunteered to be a part of this summer program. Without these Marines volunteering, the program won't last.
"It's refreshing for me to take a break from screaming at recruits," said Gonzalez-Aguirre, 31, from Beaumont, Calif., "their parents trusted the Marine Corps enough to instill a little discipline in them."
For ten days, these Pups are living out in tents, getting knowledge from Marines to gain self confidence, discipline and good citizenship.
"They're only get a fraction of what average Marine Corps recruits go through," said Gonzalez-Aguirre.
"Within the ten days that they were allotted for training, the instructors molded and mentored these kids, they were a direct impact on the final result," Hernandez said in an email.
The program was designed to help young teens become good citizen, Marines volunteered to help out with the program. Boys and girls around the area could join the program for free and go on a ten days summer camp. At the end, they'll become better citizen; more mature and receive a coin at the end for the training they went through. And maybe they would even learn something that they didn't think they can do it, something as simple as swimming.
| Date Taken: | 08.06.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2009 14:33 |
| Story ID: | 37375 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 456 |
| Downloads: | 184 |
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