GULF OF ADEN (Aug. 10, 2016) – Thirty-one Marine Corporals and one Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class stood proudly in formation on the forecastle of the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD-17), as their class honor graduate dismissed them from their final day of Corporals Course.
The Marines and Sailor, from 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the San Antonio respectively, attended the two-and-a-half week course in order to further their military education; learning sword and guidon techniques, preparing and teaching classes, and learning how to be more effective leaders of Marines.
“The emphasis is on leadership and the traits and principles of a leader of Marines,” said Cpl. Robert Debevoise, a graduate of the course. “We learn how to apply that in a real world stetting and how to use those principles to take care of your Marines, lead them, and accomplish what you need to accomplish.”
This is the first Corporals Course that has been completed on the San Antonio during the 22nd MEU’s current deployment. Students came from a variety of occupations and elements within the MEU.
“We have Marines from Aviation Combat Element, Ground Combat Element, Logistics Combat Element, Command Element; so we have all these Marines from different specialties and commands we get to work with and learn from each other and have a better working and personal relationship,” said Debevoise.
The students were split into five squads, each with a staff sergeant leading, instructing, and mentoring the squad. Squad members trained, studied and held group discussions together; learning how to function better as a unit.
In 2015, completion of a resident corporals course seminar became a requirement for Marines to become eligible for the rank of sergeant. The graduates of this class are now one step closer to achieving the next rank.
22nd MEU, deployed with the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, is maintaining regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.