Photo By Lance Cpl. Taylor Von Sanders-Frazer | U.S. Marines and students with Kapolei High School’s Marine Corps Junior ROTC pose...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII — On a warm Tuesday afternoon, a group of Marine Corps Junior ROTC students gather around in the large, fenced dog kennel of the Marine Corps Base Hawaii Provost Marshals Office (PMO). Mesmerized, the students observe with front row seats to the demonstrations starring the base’s military working dogs and their military dog trainer and handlers. First K-9 up is a confident Barbie, who swiftly moves through the obstacle course, and then an obedient Schultz who attacks a fleeing suspect - in this case - a trainer protected by a padded bite suit. Afterward, the students learn the process of becoming a military dog handler from PMO’s Cpl. Adriano Abad. Some students ask questions while others are quietly engaged in learning the canines’ day to day training.
The K-9 demonstration took place on the second day of a three-day leadership symposium hosted by the Marine Corps Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy (SNCOA) Hawaii for the students of Kapolei High School’s Junior ROTC. The symposium, held July 1 to July 3, also included events such as a critical thinking boat activity, drill practice, case studies, and mentorship with each individual student.
Aldrin-Jay Javier, cadet commanding officer of Kapolei High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC, enjoyed the experience provided to him and his fellow cadets, saying, “This is our first time doing this, so we are very fortunate and thankful toward Marine Corps Base Hawaii and hope to be back again next year.”
A crucial piece of curating the convention was U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Michelle Rhea, master faculty advisor of the SNCOA-Hawaii. The idea was brought up to Rhea by retired Lt. Col. Benjamin Hawthorne, Kapolei High School’s Junior ROTC senior Marine instructor, during an event back in October with the SNCOA and the students. Rhea coordinated with Hawthorne to host the event, with the approval of the Academy’s director, 1st Sgt. Craig Provens.
Contributions from other units on MCBH were also made in seeing the logistics of the symposium through. The Wounded Warrior Battalion supported the Academy with barracks for the students, allowing the students the rare opportunity to experience life as a service member throughout the symposium, eating at the chow hall and living on base. Marine Corps Community Services showed enthusiasm in teaching the four lenses, a training that helps individuals assess the talent and potential of themselves. Upon identifying the individual’s temperament, they fall under one of the four color personality traits: Blue, green, orange, and gold represent nurturers, independent thinkers, adventurers, and structured leaders, respectively.
The first day of the symposium kicked off with drill practice, led by the Academy’s Gunnery Sgt. Samantha Torres, a former drill instructor. Afterward, Rhea taught them a case study on the Rwandan genocide, allowing them to learn about the injustices, primarily against the Tutsi, and set them in the place of a leader forced to make tough decisions. The month of July marks the 30th anniversary of the end of the Rwandan genocide. This case study provided tons of knowledge to most of the students who had never heard of the ordeal and even prompted a discussion among the group. The study ended on the power of forgiveness and learning how the country was able to overcome the heavy effects of the genocide, through unity and reconciliation.
“As a young teenager, they're put in social situations where everyone around them is making bad decisions,” said Rhea. “How do you be that one person that stands up against the crowd and says, ‘You know what? This isn't right.’”
A team-building exercise at the pool concluded the symposium. The group was given a limited number of supplies and together had to create a functioning boat that could cross the pool. The activity prompted the students to think critically about how to resolve issues and overcome obstacles.
“Here at the Academy, we want to emphasize the following: how can we give you the tools to make the best decisions in tough situations?” said Rhea. The students also had the opportunity to connect with her, who, from her experiences in the Corps, imparted life lessons and values such as discipline, accountability, and structure. Leaders such as Rhea hope to inspire people to do things they never thought they could do, just as her former mentors inspired her to do things she never thought she could do.
“My greatest reward in the Marine Corps is having Marines come back to me saying that I made an impact in their lives. Even if we can only reach one and they say, ‘I want to be just like you,’ that's the greatest gift in the world.”
The continuous efforts of the SNCOA-Hawaii toward the local community forges strong bonds that maintain mutual trust between the Marine Corps and the residents of Oahu whilst empowering the next generations ready to lead.
“We want the community to not only know that we're here to protect and serve, but we're in this together. I argue that sometimes being American is helping each other out, not because we have to, but because we want to strengthen each other,” said Rhea.
| Date Taken: | 07.29.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 07.30.2024 16:04 |
| Story ID: | 477294 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 70 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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