I thought completing Marine Corps boot camp was my most cherished accomplishment, completing boot camp merely stood in the shadows of my last work up for my last deployment. I was holding the Bravo Squad Leader position. At this point in my Marine Corps career I obtained three combat oriented M.O.S.’ or jobs; however, there was little to no preparation for what I got myself into. There are two culminating events at what we call Combined Arms Exercise or CAX, the first one is solely for the Alpha squad leader in every platoon and the last is for the entire company of Marines which consist of about 200. Again I was no stranger to leading people because I was also a Martial Arts Instructor for the Marine Corps, but it was still not enough. Fox 10 Alpha is the range that honestly and humbly tested my grit and my mental capacity. This range, designed to test 8 year experienced veterans, consisted of the platoon firing 25 mm cannons, 81 mm mortars, and 8 machine guns over our heads while we overtake and clear three critically complicated bunkers with live ammunitions. By no means …show more content…
McQuain, taking command and doing what he does best. He was no stranger to Fox 10 Alpha, he kept his composure and moved with a sense of ease and purpose, this was his sixth time overcoming Fox 10 Alpha. Making the training more interesting the individuals, or what we call coyotes, managing the range decided to remove the Alpha squad leader to test the knowledge of the rest of the squad, because our mindset is that you should always know how to complete the job above you in case any incidents, such as this, arise. This news circulated to me quickly and when my brain processed what happed my stomach dropped. I radioed an evacuation for Sgt McQuain and continued with the assault. Suddenly my skin felt hot and prickly, I could feel the burden getting heavier and heavier because of how miniscule the tolerance for error
Among these leaders was Bravo Company’s 1st platoon’s SFC Robert Gallagher. The platoon endured terrible living conditions including no running water and filthy living space. These inadequate living conditions must be met with some relaxation on the standards they were expected to follow. Company leadership viewed this as a bribe to keep the soldiers in high spirits. In reality, they set the stage for the erosion of the morals the enlisted soldiers are supposed to possess. While the morals were being chipped away, so was the original plan the battalion had hoped to follow. Fragmentation orders became a pseudo-standard for the boys of Bravo Company. What had originally started as short-term overnight patrol bases turned into fortified traffic control points with the exception of any form of fortification other than in notion only. Despite the fact that platoon-level leadership requested for supplies they were repeatedly turned down. A major breakdown in the communication between the leadership created a loss in faith in the higher leadership for the lower-enlisted soldiers on the ground. Very soon into deployment, Bravo Company began to experience contact with unseen enemy forces. The enemy was able to engage and plant IED’s and cause casualties while remaining elusive. After the first few casualties within the company, the mission to start set up traffic control points was to begin. While conducting patrols down the road time and time
After the Vietnam War ended, the Marine Corps’ main focus changed from broad scale operations, to being an Expeditionary Force in Readiness. Although this was no new role for the United States Marine Corps (USMC), there have been many changes in society, technology and tactics that affect how the Corps operates. However, over the last 36 years one thing has remained the same, and that is the role of the Marine Non Commissioned Officer (NCO). With the world changing ever so rapidly, the strong values and responsibilities of the Marine NCO are now, more than ever, necessary to carry out the operations being assigned to United States Marines. The role of the NCO is characterized by their
A gritty sand-sweat mixture clung to the creases of Bettina Baca’s hands as she crawled using only her upper body through a sand volleyball field by Lake Claire. Three army drill sergeants screamed at her to keep moving.
Upon completion of the my bachelor’s degree, acceptance through the ECP, Officer Candidate School, The Basic School, Initial Intelligence Training, and Military Occupational Specialty Intelligence Training, I will receive orders back to the Fleet Marine Forces. The move from the enlisted ranks to the officer ranks may be very confusing, but this goal can be accomplished as long as I stay focused and move one step at a time.
When I went on mobilization to Fort Lewis, Washington and left my son in the care of my parents, I thought my parental duties would be set aside until I returned home. Unfortunately, the soldiers of 351st Ordnance Company would prove me wrong with their excessive alcohol consumption, commonly term “binge drinking,” and destructive behaviors. I would then spend the next year sharing the responsibility with four other junior noncommission officers in the task of taking care of soldiers. Despite the efforts of myself and the others we were not fully prepared to handle some of the outrageous events and lack of engagement from the leadership that would challenge us during the tour. My abilities as a junior noncommission officer and the understanding of leadership were redefined and I learned exactly what it meant to ensure soldiers have proper guidance, leadership, positive morale, and well-being.
The Marine Corps Experience, pp. 12 – 31 The Corps today, pp 318 – 335
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