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CAMP FOSTER, Japan - Non-commissioned officers are important assets to the Marine Corps. They work, teach and, in many cases, live alongside their junior Marines. Due to the close relationship NCOs have with their Marines, they are the first line of defense in stemming hazing.
Marine Corps Order 1700.28A, which defines hazing and the Marine Corps’ intent on the issue, states that no Marine may engage in hazing or consent to acts of hazing being conducted upon them.
Participating in any form of hazing may severely damage or even end a Marine’s career. The consequences of hazing include potential administrative or disciplinary prosecution under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Whether it is coercing a Marine to do something they should not do, for example pushing a newly promoted Marine’s chevrons into their skin or giving a newly promoted corporal their “blood stripe,” the things that were once (and incorrectly) viewed by some as tradition are actually acts of hazing.
It is the job of NCOs to ensure their Marines are educated on the topic of hazing and how it affects the unit and what to do if they see it happen.
“The Marine Corps has only one initiation process and that begins when recruits step on the yellow footprints and ends when they earn the title of United States Marine,” said Sgt. Norris B. Avery, an air operations NCO with III MEF.
Although it is up to the NCOs to ensure their Marines are not being hazed, there are some occasions when the NCOs are hazing junior Marines.
“If someone superior to you is hazing you, you have to inform your command,” said Cpl. John E. Hale, an administrative clerk with Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “If it is a sergeant or staff NCO doing the hazing, inform someone higher in your chain of command so it can be dealt with.”
In the end, it is every Marine’s responsibility to make sure hazing incidents do not happen, and it is the responsibility of those who witness it, or are hazed themselves, to report the information pertaining to the incident to their command.
“Marines can’t just look away and pretend it didn’t happen if they see someone getting hazed,” said Cpl. Justin H. Garrard, the barracks manager with Company B, H&S Battalion, MCB Foster, III MEF. “It is everyone’s responsibility to report hazing incidents because you wouldn’t want to be hazed, so why would you let it happen to someone else.”
According to MCO 1700.28A, all allegations of hazing will be investigated and violators will be subject to appropriate action, in order to ultimately prevent acts of hazing and ensure all Marines are treated with dignity and respect.
Hazing not only hurts the Marines being hazed and the unit, but it also contradicts everything the Marine Corps stands for and represents.
| Date Taken: | 04.20.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.26.2012 21:21 |
| Story ID: | 87421 |
| Location: | CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 177 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, NCOs first line of defense against hazing, by LCpl Garry Welch, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
