Photo By Cpl. J Nava | Staff Sgt. Shawn Potvin, the operations chief at 3rd Recruit Training Battalion and...... read more read more
Subscribe
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- A drill instructor aboard the depot was honored when his own former drill instructor from recruit training 13 years ago served as the re-enlisting officer for his re-enlistment ceremony, June 7.
Staff Sgt. Shawn Potvin walked across the slick asphalt of the brand new 3rd Recruit Training Battalion parade deck to be re-enlisted by his former drill instructor, Capt. Brian Everett, operations officer at 2nd Recruit Training Battalion.
The two now hold the distinction of becoming the first to hold a re-enlistment ceremony on the depot’s newest parade deck.
The meeting between the former recruit and his drill instructor happened by chance.
“I was walking through the store, and I just spotted him and asked him to re-enlist me,” Potvin said.
In 1998, then a staff sergeant, Everett was a typical hard-nosed, steely eyed drill instructor serving in Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion on Parris Island.
Former recruit Potvin looked like most recruits – scared and confused.
“No one has an easy time in boot camp and Staff Sgt. Potvin was no exception,” Everett said. “But to see him get through that and become the successful Marine that he is now is definitely something special.”
The impression that Potvin’s drill instructors left on him inspired him to rise through the ranks and make a dash for the “smokey bear” himself.
Today he is serving his quota time as the operations chief for 3rd RTBn.
It’s very special to see old recruits in the fleet, but the feeling is indescribable to see them back on the drill field, Everett said. “It’s awesome to see him here now as a proud staff non-commissioned officer. He’s definitely a success story.”
This chance encounter with a former drill instructor has given Potvin something to look forward to later on in his career.
“Seeing him now has made me look forward to coming back on the drill field one day as a first sergeant and seeing some of my former recruits as drill instructors,” Potvin said.
He said he would like to see his mentorship of new recruits come full circle, just as it has for Everett.
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2011 14:48 |
| Story ID: | 72194 |
| Location: | PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 885 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Former drill instructor re-enlists former recruit, by Cpl J Nava, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
