Photo By Sgt. Shannon Yount | Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos, holds a microphone to a student...... read more read more
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CLEVELAND -- More than 140 youth attended a Marine Week Cleveland Leadership Academy conference at the Playhouse Idea Center June 14 during which they talked with Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos about leadership and the important role it has in becoming a better person.
"Somebody that will standup and do the right thing -- that is what we are looking for," said Amos, as he explained the purpose of the academy and the mission of Marines in providing the tools and traits of leadership. "We are looking for young men and women with character."
The conference was part of a six-day experience that began June 11 and ends June 16. Throughout the program, students learn what it takes to become leaders. They took daily field trips to view military demonstrations and static displays during Marine Week Cleveland which ends June 17. The children, 10-15-year-olds from Cleveland and Brook Park, were selected for the program on a first come, first serve basis.
Academy officials said this is not about searching for the next generation of Marines; it is about developing the leaders of tomorrow.
"We are not trying to recruit," said Lt. Col. Riccoh Player, instructor for the Marine Week Cleveland Leadership Academy. "We are sharing leadership traits that will make them better people."
Academy instructors emphasize life skills; they talk about what is important in life and why it is important, the Cleveland native explained.
Participants learn leadership traits such as honor, courage, commitment, integrity and selflessness, he said.
"Good leaders learn respect and integrity," said Aafia Akther, 15, Marine Week Cleveland Leadership Academy student from Brook Park Recreation Center. "We learned integrity helps you strengthen your morals and lying corrupts you."
During the conference, the students were given words of wisdom from the most senior leader in the Marine Corps.
People make mistakes, but those mistakes do not have to be barriers to keep them from always trying and succeeding, Amos said.
Amos used anecdotes from his youth to illustrate his point. His life experience resounded with some of the students.
"I learned that everybody starts out small, but with hard work, you will do great things and become the person you want to be," Akther said.
To reiterate what the commandant said during the conference, the academy's senior leaders spoke to the students as well.
"Marine week will be over on Saturday," said Maj. Frank L. Moore, action officer and instructor for the academy.
He reminded the student that leadership has to be enduring and go beyond Marine Week.
"You have to have the bearing, the integrity to do the right thing at the right moment, for the right reason," he added. "If you do, you all will go on and do great things."
| Date Taken: | 06.14.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 06.14.2012 20:25 |
| Story ID: | 90023 |
| Location: | CLEVELAND, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 119 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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