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MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. - Of the 200,000 people who join the military every year, 180,000 join the enlisted ranks and 20,000 become officers. There are various opportunities for enlisted Marines to transition to the commissioned ranks and continue their career, but the selection process for these programs is extremely competitive and requires a process of indoctrination completely different from the enlisted mindset. That being said, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island boasts prior-enlisted commanders in nearly every battalion; an unprecedented circumstance. Each of them took the road less traveled to get to where they are today, but they all share the same experience of enduring recruit training and earning their Eagle, Globe and Anchor aboard the recruit depot.
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Lt. Col. Robert Groceman, the 2nd Recruit Training Battalion Commanding Officer, was raised in a family whose lineage was rich in military history; his father served in the Air Force, grandfather in the Army Air Corps, and maternal grandfather in the U.S. Navy during World War II. That being said, Groceman said his intentions never leaned towards military service until he began college and took a Military Science course through the Army ROTC program. It was there where he discovered the opportunity to serve as an enlisted Marine while completing his degree.
“I was interested in becoming an officer, but I also wanted to have enlisted experience,” Groceman said. “When I found out about the Marine Corps Reserve, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.”
Unlike most Marines who go through the training pipeline once, Groceman spent three back-to-back summers in “boot camp.” In the summer of 1999, Groceman shipped to and ultimately completed recruit training at MCRD San Diego. The fall of the same year, he reached out to an Officer Selection Officer (OSO) to pursue the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) at Officer Candidate School on Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA, where he would spend six weeks of each of the next two summers being evaluated in the hopes of becoming a second lieutenant.
He said the drive to continue his service was ultimately impacted by the lessons he was taught from his drill instructors, which he carries with him today.
“I think my experience helps me understand what recruits are going through and how they view their drill instructors,” Groceman said. “For an enlisted Marine, their drill instructors have a profound impact on them. I will always remember my drill instructors: Sgt. Singleton, Sgt. Demuro, Sgt. Moreno, and Sgt. Tipps.”
Groceman says he continues to be in awe of the drill instructors at 2nd Battalion and their work ethic, just as much as he was towards his own drill instructors as a recruit.
“Drill instructors are the battalion’s center of gravity; Therefore, I must look out for their best interests when making decisions,” Groceman said. “I am humbled every day by how hard they work, how much of their heart they put into their duties, and how much they and their families sacrifice. It’s an understatement to say that this is a tough job, and I try to build trust with them by first and foremost acknowledging how tough it is.”
Gathering knowledge and experience from his own journey to becoming a Marine, Groceman said his biggest takeaway as a leader is giving his Marines, drill instructors and recruits an environment where they can grow and learn together as a team.
“There is value in listening to as many people as possible, regardless of their rank or position,” Groceman said. “Some of the best insights I’ve received on recruit training have come from new Marines that are about to graduate, new drill instructors, and spouses. The simple act of listening and being open-minded shows others that you value them and their contribution. I have found that it’s a great way to build a cohesive team that is based on trust and mutual respect. “
| Date Taken: | 08.12.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 08.16.2021 12:17 |
| Photo ID: | 6784864 |
| VIRIN: | 210812-M-XU431-0023 |
| Resolution: | 4443x3125 |
| Size: | 5.2 MB |
| Location: | PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 284 |
| Downloads: | 8 |
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