MCTOG graduates instructor class

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center
Story by Lance Cpl. Levi Schultz

Date: 10.30.2015
Posted: 11.04.2015 13:38
News ID: 180868
MCTOG graduates instructor class

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group held a graduation ceremony at the MCTOG classroom, Oct. 30, 2015. Maj. Gen. Brian D. Beaudreault, commanding general, 2nd Marine Division, impressed upon the graduates the importance of this training.

Marines from around the globe left their units to attend the Operations and Tactics Instructor Officer’s Course; the OTI Chief’s Course; the Intelligence and Tactics Instructor Officer’s Course; and the ITI Chief’s Course. Each of the classes falls under the six-week Tactical Marine Air Ground Task Force Integration Course, conducted three times a year aboard the Combat Center.

“The whole point of these courses is to get the operation and intelligence staffs together to not only refresh what we know but to learn a way to teach it to our Marines,” said ITI-O graduate, Capt. Timothy Ehrhard, intelligence officer, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. “During these courses, we got the opportunity to learn some very tangible things and to see what is missing in ourselves and to be self-critical so that when we go back to our units we can better lead our Marines.”

The courses provided the Marines with experience and the opportunity to take what they have learned throughout their careers in practical application and test it in an academic environment.

“Overall, training like this is critical,” said Master Sgt. Robert Robertson, OTI-C instructor, MCTOG. “As we progress throughout our careers, it’s important that we set up our senior leadership and officers for success. Bringing them into this type of environment allows them to augment and reinforce what they know and bring what they learn back to their units.”

Maj. Anthony Samas, OTI-O graduate, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment; Master Gunnery Sgt. Antonio Rivera, OTI-C graduate, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment; Capt. Richard Vanshyten, ITI-C graduate, 5th Marine Regiment; and Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Bonham, 4th Marine Regiment, graduated at the top of their respective classes and received awards during the ceremony as honor graduates.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Beaudreault left the Marines with a one last remark on the importance of the course.

“At the end of the day, you’re better Marines for it, your units will be better for it, and the Marine Corps will be better for it,” Beaudreault said. “If that is the outcome of every course, then we should not change a thing.”