Noncommissioned officers continue Marine Corps values

1st Marine Division
Story by Lance Cpl. Timothy Lenzo

Date: 10.17.2011
Posted: 11.02.2011 17:23
News ID: 79454
Non-commissioned officers continue Marine Corps values

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – Several hundred non-commissioned officers from 1st Marine Division units gathered to discuss how to encourage honor, courage and commitment throughout the Marine Corps during two days of seminars for the division’s NCO summit, Oct. 17.

“The focus of the summit was for us to strengthen our core values and leadership skills, to initiate critical thinking and keep each other ready for the fight,” said Sgt. Ronny Pool with Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and the master of ceremonies for the summit.

The meeting covered different topics ranging from alcohol and drug abuse to roles and responsibilities of non-commissioned officers while on duty.

Each non-deployed battalion sent five sergeants, five corporals and two Navy petty officers to the event.

“I hope the Marines that came will take what they learn back to their units and spread the word like wildfire,” said Pool.

The summit was a great chance for the corporals and sergeants to come together and discuss key issues about the Marine Corps.

Pool said that coming together would help empower the non-commissioned officers to reach out to their Marines and be better educated to deal with issues their Marines might face.

“I believe leaders should gather like this,” said Cpl. Kevin McCarthy, a field radio operator with 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines. “It better equips new corporals, who get to learn from senior sergeants, so when that sergeant does get out of the Marine Corps, that junior corporal can step right in.”

Marines who attended the summit will take what they learned during the event and apply it at their individual units.

Pool said he hopes the core values will spread from the non-commissioned officers who attended the summit, back to their peers and eventually across not only 1st Marine Division, but the entire Marine Corps.

“I really think this was great training and think all non-commissioned officers should come to a summit at least once in their career,” said McCarthy.