Marines Volunteer at Sea Cadet Training Exercise

Photo By Lance Cpl. Gustavo Romero | U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Amos R. Mason, Head of Naval Enlisted Programs, guides a naval sea cadet on how to properly use a compass at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Oct. 23, Va. Marine Corps Recruiting Command volunteered to provide mentorship and training during the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps' three-day field training exercise. (U.S Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Gustavo Romero)  

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA, UNITED STATES

10.23.2021

Story by Lance Cpl. Gustavo Romero 

Marine Corps Recruiting Command           

MARINE CORPS BASE, QUANTICO, Va.—A handful of Marines from the Marine Corps Recruiting Command volunteered to provide mentorship and training during the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps' three-day field training exercise at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Oct. 22-24.
The small cadre of Marine Officers and enlisted Marines who gave up their off-duty hours to help mentor and train 50 cadets from Richmond, Virginia and Washington, D.C., were able to provide personal insights about marksmanship, land navigation, troop handling, making terrain models, and honing leadership skills.
"We offered the Naval Sea Cadets a glimpse of the training Marine Corps candidates receive at Officer Candidate School," said Lt. Col. Manuel F. Munoz, Assistant Chief of Staff G1, MCRC. "The Cadets learned how to work as a team, learned how to make decisions, adapt to challenging environments, build confidence, and issue orders quickly."
Munoz volunteered to serve as the Operations Officer for the group of Marine volunteers and he coordinated a balanced schedule of activities for the cadets. The cadets were broken up into groups and rotated through the different classes, gaining a lot of knowledge while interacting with the active duty Marines.
Lance Cpl. Jevon Gaytan, an administrative specialist from the recruiting command, volunteered to serve as an instructor and supervisor for the cover and concealment class. He ensured the cadets learned how to protect themselves from hostile weapon fire, in addition to showing how to conduct observation and surveillance from hostile air and ground forces.
"We volunteered for the opportunity to help shape and mentor the next generation of possible military members," said Gaytan, native of Edinburg, Texas. "Through my class, they learned what it's like being out in the field and why we use camouflage to conceal ourselves from the enemy."
Throughout the weekend, the cadets and their leadership shared positive sentiments about the support from the Marines who volunteered.
"I would like to thank the officers and enlisted Marines of the Marine Corps Recruiting Command; they pulled out all the stops," said Lt. Junior Grade Jason G. Ellars, Commanding Officer of Alexandria division of the Sea Cadet Corps.

• Date Taken: 10.23.2021
• Date Posted: 10.27.2021 08:52
• Story ID: 408093
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA, US