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GENEVA, Ohio — Overlooking the world’s largest indoor track, dozens of America’s warriors gathered to hone their already-sharp skillset. But the skills they were gaining today didn’t have anything to do with warfighting, they were learning to help themselves.
The Spire Institute, a sprawling 150-acre state-of-the-art sports facility here, hosted a life-skills workshop put on by the Wounded Warrior Regiment, based in Quantico, Va., and the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment.
Thirty-four Marines and their families attended the classes, said Capt. Guy Zierk, the Wounded Warrior Regiment injured support cell coordinator for Ohio and Indiana. The Marines received classes that ranged from “resume do’s and don’ts” to the most effective way to use the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.
The all-day workshop, April 4, brought in benefit specialists and representatives from agencies like the Veterans Administration and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service to teach these Marines how to best use the benefits they have very obviously earned.
They are all off active duty, or on their way out, said Zierk. But that doesn’t mean that the Marine Corps forgets about them.
“The Wounded Warriors represent all Marines,” he said. “Even though they may be out, they still have the Marine attributes that society desires of the few and the proud. To let them fall by the wayside is to waste a vital resource.”
That opinion is reflected not only by Zierk and the Wounded Warriors, but by senior Marine Corps leadership as well.
“Efforts like these are part of the third leg of the Corps’ ethos, honor, courage, and in this case, commitment,” said Maj. Gen. W. Lee Miller, Jr., assistant division commander for 2nd Marine Division, “The commandant says, along with the rest of us, ‘We’re keeping faith with our Marines, whether they’re wounded, injured or ill. Whether they’re active-duty or Reserve of any type.’”
Miller also said that showing this kind of commitment is important because once you’re a Marine, you’re always a Marine, and Marines take care of each other.
| Date Taken: | 04.04.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.12.2012 12:29 |
| Story ID: | 86645 |
| Location: | GENEVA, OHIO, US |
| Hometown: | CLEVELAND, OHIO, US |
| Hometown: | GENEVA, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 84 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, SPIRE Institute partners with Marines to teach life skills, by SGT Michael Ito, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
