Special-Purpose MAGTF Africa, 24th MEU JTFE Marines Graduate Corporal's Course

Photo By Sgt. Adwin Esters | Sgt. Stefan Tunstall, Corporal's Course instructor and reservist with 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company in Mobile, Ala., demonstrates how to indentify enemy movement on security patrols using only foot prints, Aug. 23, 2012. Marines from Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Joint Task Force Enabler participated in a three week Corporal's Course on Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, Aug. 13 through Aug. 30, 2012. The course provides the Marines with necessary leadership skills and is designed to provide the war fighting skills, core values and mindset necessary for effective leadership of Marines.  

SIGONELLA, ITALY

09.21.2012

Story by Cpl. Adwin Esters 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

SIGONELLA, Italy - Marines from Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Joint Task Force Enabler, graduated a three-week Corporal’s Course, Aug. 30, 2012.

The class of 16 Marines, made up of corporals and lance corporals, participated in the course which included a curriculum covering the history of the Marine noncommissioned officer, land navigation, combat operations, and leadership techniques. The course also covered drill, sword manual, uniform regulations, public speaking, combat conditioning, customs and courtesies, and mentoring and counseling. During the course the Marines wrote essays, prepared lectures, and took exams on the different subjects.

With the help of fellow staff noncommissioned officer instructors, Staff Sgt. Lawrence Robles, a former drill instructor, native of Yoakum, Texas and reservist with Detachment 1, Motor Transport Company in Abilene, Texas, ran the course as chief instructor.

“This is the first step in basic leadership,” said Robles. “It is a stepping stone used to show the Marines, from a leader’s perspective, how to deal with their peers and subordinates and how to treat them with firmness, fairness and dignity.

For the Marines involved, the course afforded a good learning experience allowing a better understanding of what it means to be a noncommissioned officer.

“I learned a lot about myself and the things I need to improve on in order to be the best leader possible,” said Cpl. Candace Windsor, administrative clerk for Special-Purpose MAGTF Africa, Lake Charles, La. native and reservist with Marine Forces Reserve in New Orleans, La. “I also learned that there are multiple types of leadership and not every leader will do things the same exact way.”
In the final week, the Marines participated in a combat fitness test and a culminating event, requiring the Marines to use all the knowledge they learned over the past weeks. Later, the Marines held a Mess Night out of tradition to symbolize the ending of the Corporal’s Course.

The course officially ended with a graduation ceremony where Marines received their Corporal’s Course certifications. During the ceremony three Marines were recognized for their outstanding performance during the course. Cpl. Melanie Molano, radio operator for Special-Purpose MAGTF Africa, native of Vallejo, Calif., and reservist with 4th Landing Support Battalion, 1st Beach and Terminal Operations Company A., in Concord, Calif., was named the honor graduate; Cpl. Windsor received the physical fitness award; and Lance Cpl. Christopher Sprouse, radio operator for 24th MEU JTFE and native of Roanoke, Va., received the Gung Ho award.

“Corporal's Course was an eye opener for me,” said Lance Cpl. Sprouse. “It showed me that there are many obstacles that affect your style of leadership and that I will always have help from my senior and junior Marines.”

Though the course is over, the newly minted and soon to be corporals are expected to take what they have learned and pass on their experiences to their junior Marines. The course marks a change in them and their abilities as future leaders.

“There is a transformation in the Marines that takes place. You see it from an instructor’s point of view,” said Robles. “From the first week when it’s all new to the last week when they finally understand and take control of the knowledge they’ve gained.”
Special-Purpose MAGTF Africa is comprised of approximately 125 Reserve Marines and sailors from 32 different units from across the country and is based at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy.

• Date Taken: 09.21.2012
• Date Posted: 09.21.2012 05:38
• Story ID: 95086
• Location: SIGONELLA, IT
• Hometown: ABILENE, TEXAS, US
• Hometown: CONCORD, CALIFORNIA, US
• Hometown: LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA, US
• Hometown: MOBILE, ALABAMA, US
• Hometown: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, US
• Hometown: OCEAN SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI, US
• Hometown: ROANOKE, VIRGINIA, US
• Hometown: VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA, US
• Hometown: YOAKUM, TEXAS, US