Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Julius Clayton | Cpl. Keyne Hernandez, recipient of the Director's Certificate of Physical Excellence,...... read more read more
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CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait-- Putting on new rank means more than just a bigger paycheck, it means taking on new responsibilities and stepping up as a leader.
One way the Marine Corps helps freshly promoted noncommissioned officers transition into their new positions as leaders is by sending them to a professional military education class, the Corporal’s Course. Making things interesting is attending class while deployed in the desert of Kuwait.
“This is the first time the Corporal’s Course has been held here in Kuwait,” said 1st Sgt. Michael Hensley, Director of the Corporal’s Course.
Students are evaluated as a pass or fail on all parts of the curriculum, which includes conducting two comprehensive exams, a history essay, a performance evaluation checklist, hip pocket training, weapons handling, strategic warfare, land navigation, fire team-type missions and patrolling, preparing after action review, sword drill, guidon drill and a three day operations culminating event.
“It was a tough challenge for all of us being overseas on a deployment while also taking this course, but we stuck together as a class and overcame the hardships and succeeded,” said Cpl. Gabriel Gulley, honor graduate, from Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The task assigned to the members of Class 351-14 Corporal’s Course was not an easy one. They not only had to continue their daily mission of customs operations here in Kuwait, but every evening they were required to attend class.
“The class did excellent, especially with time constraints of having to continue their mission while deployed and still be enrolled in the Corporals Course. It shows that they are good at time management and well on their way to being good leaders,” said Sgt. Dylan Shaffer, a faculty advisor for Class 351-14 from the 2nd Law Enforcement Battalion.
“It was difficult at times to manage our time. We were going 100 miles per hour every day, but it was worth it in the end,” said Cpl. Keyne Hernandez, the recipient of the Director’s Certificate of Physical Excellence, and a native of Cape Coral, Florida.
During their time at the Corporal’s Course, the Marines learned about the Marine Corps’ history, heritage and traditions. They gathered each morning to recite their noncommissioned officer’s creed, complete daily physical fitness sessions followed by extensive periods of classroom instruction on everything from the Marine Corps’ history and structure to combat operations and mentoring junior Marines.
“I expect that no matter what your level of knowledge of the Marine Corps is you are going to gain more knowledge and experience by taking this course”, said Hernandez.
A lot of responsibility comes to corporals very quickly, said Shaffer. Up to the rank of lance corporal, Marines are mainly responsible for their own workload. But when they make corporal, they not only have to manage their own workload, but are responsible for a number of Marines who work under them as well.
“I feel that my leadership skills are more refined and that I have more tools in my toolbox to help mentor my junior Marines. It is a great stepping stone to future ranks in my Marine career,” added Hernandez.
This course is a sharp change of pace for many of the corporals, said Shaffer. While they come from leadership positions in their respective units, few have had the chance to implement the formal leadership techniques taught at the course.
“Graduating this Corporal’s Course will give me a well-rounded view of how the Marine Corps works , what good leadership looks like and what things good leaders need to focus on,” said Gulley.
At the end of the ceremony, the graduates were congratulated by their senior leadership as they mingled among themselves, reminiscing about the past three weeks they had spent together becoming the future leaders of the Marine Corps.
| Date Taken: | 08.02.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.02.2014 05:26 |
| Story ID: | 138074 |
| Location: | KW |
| Web Views: | 167 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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