Photo By Lance Cpl. Nataly Espitia | U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Robert C. Fulford, the commanding general of 1st Marine...... read more read more
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The 1st Marine Division's company commanders course recently concluded its third iteration, marking a significant milestone in preparing new leaders for their roles within the Blue Diamond. This specialized training is crucial for equipping company and battery commanders with the skills and knowledge necessary for effective leadership.
The students of Company Commanders Course 2-24 graduated Aug. 9, and are already back on the ground leading their companies.
"Marines are coming from a wide variety of places – to include b-billets or command career level schools – our goal is to re-green and reeducate them, to set conditions for their success to serve as battery and company commanders in the Blue Diamond.” said Lt. Col. Mark Saville, the director of Division Schools.
The course spans five days and focuses on providing a centralized onboarding experience for newly assigned leaders within the division.
The comprehensive curriculum begins with four days of classroom instruction, where students engage in lectures and discussions, learning about the division staff's functions and their individual roles within their respective units. This includes the development of long-range and mid-range training plans, with insights from Training and Education Command on best practices and trends observed in service-level training exercises.
The following days shift focus toward talent management, legal considerations, multi-domain operations and new capabilities. This sets the stage for understanding the broader implications of command and the strategic management of their units.
The final day is dedicated to hands-on training and familiarization with new equipment. Students participate in a live-fire exercise and are exposed to advanced weaponry and vehicles, such as the Amphibious Combat Vehicle and Ultra Light Tactical Vehicle. This practical experience is designed to bridge any gaps in knowledge about newer technologies and equipment, which may be unfamiliar to some.
In addition to the core curriculum, the course offers optional "brown bag" sessions during lunch breaks or after hours. These sessions provide extra material for students who wish to dive deeper into specific topics, such as fitness reports and Junior Enlisted Performance Evaluation System procedures. These optional sessions could be integrated more formally into the program in future iterations, depending on student feedback, according to Saville. This iterative process ensures that the training remains relevant and effective.
Saville believes the course's diverse content – from training and unit management to advanced equipment familiarization – provides company commanders with the skills needed to lead effectively.
"Our goal is to provide a full spectrum of knowledge and practical skills that will enhance their performance," said Saville.
Capt. Matthew Kitagawa, a company commander with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st MARDIV, says the course allowed for him and his fellow classmates to get caught up and familiarized with new skills that will be useful for them going forward.
"It's a great opportunity to bring everybody together who is returning to the Fleet Marine Force to learn about some of the new pieces of equipment and some of the new practices that have come to fruition from Force Design," said Kitagawa. "Many of us were on assignments that prevented us from staying current with new developments, so this course has been very useful for refreshing our skills.”
As the division continues to refine and enhance the company commanders course, it remains a critical tool in preparing the division's leaders for the complex and dynamic challenges of modern military operations.
Saville believes the course is already providing significant benefits to the participants themselves and the division as a whole and wishes it had been established when he served as a company commander.
"Having a course like this before becoming a company commander would have been extremely valuable to me," Saville said. "This program is similar to other high-level leadership courses, but it's tailored specifically for the unique challenges faced by company and battery commanders."
Division leaders plan to conduct the course twice a year to ensure all new company commanders are well-prepared to serve in the Blue Diamond.
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 09.11.2024 15:59 |
| Story ID: | 480521 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 118 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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