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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – “Once I completed this program, I knew I wanted to be a Marine Corps Officer,” said U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Joshua Miller, lead action officer for I Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group’s participation in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Cruise Summer Program, which took place at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, from June 30 until July 3.
Each summer, the MAGTF Cruise provides U.S. Naval Academy upperclassmen the opportunity to gain firsthand experience of the Marine Corps by introducing them to joint military operations, broadening their understanding of the diverse roles and occupational communities within the Marine Corps and helping refine their career aspirations. The program, for upperclassmen under the Marine option, includes a range of physically and mentally challenging activities designed to prepare them for leadership roles.
The midshipmen embed with Fleet Marine Force units to shadow junior officers, observe and interact with Marines, learn about basic officer duties and participate in various training. This year, participants were assigned to units such as I MIG, which plays a crucial role in providing communications, intelligence, and supporting-arms liaison capabilities in support of I MEF missions.
Miller, currently the executive officer of Human Intelligence Company, 1st Intelligence Battalion, I MIG, at Camp Pendelton, graduated from the Naval Academy in 2021.
“This program helped me understand both the Marine Corps and Navy side of the military,” said Miller. “This program is one of the best I have ever been a part of. I still remember how much it helped me on my path to becoming a Marine Corps officer.”
The support of I MIG and dedicated mentors like Miller plays a crucial role in preparing the next generation of Navy and Marine Corps officers to lead, inspire, and serve effectively. By participating in these immersive experiences, midshipmen gain valuable leadership skills and a realistic understanding of potential career paths.
Capt. Prescillia Truong, a 2020 Naval Academy graduate who serves as the I MIG comptroller, recalls her own experience as a midshipman and how attending the MAGTF Cruise in 2018 helped her make the decision to become a Marine officer.
At the academy, cadets manage a heavy college course load, military training, and the requirement of playing a sport, she said. To fulfill these obligations, they must learn to multitask and effectively manage their time.
“I hope they gain a real understanding of what the Marine Corps is, beyond just the exciting parts like shooting or jumping out of planes,” says Truong. “[Being an officer is] also about handling a lot of admin work and leading Marines -- sometimes a small group but with big impact. The goal is to avoid surprises and stay as prepared as possible because that can really be tough.”
The Marine Corps hopes the MAGTF cruise will give the candidates a greater understanding of the roles and responsibilities they will assume as they progress in academic and military training.
| Date Taken: | 08.27.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.02.2025 15:45 |
| Story ID: | 546688 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 194 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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