MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. -- Even though the Marine Corps is adapting to a new mission and tightening budgets, cultivating leaders through education is a goal that remains at the forefront, Master Gunnery Sgt. James Marsh, senior enlisted advisor to the sergeant major of the Marine Corps, told graduates of Sergeants Course Class 6-13 on Oct. 4, at Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico. Marsh was the keynote speaker for the graduation ceremony.
“As you all know, we’re pivoting toward the [Asia]-Pacific region while falling under budget restraints and a force drawdown,” Marsh said. “[However,] there is one area that is going to be critical during these trying times and that is professional military education.”
NCOs are often referred to as the backbone of the Marine Corps. They are responsible leading and mentoring junior enlisted Marines at the squad and platoon level, as well as passing on the Corps’ history, customs and traditions. The seven-week course is designed to enhance their leadership, warfighting, training, administrative and communication skills.
At Quantico, 73 sergeants from installations around the Corps graduated from the course. Sgt. Kelly Piper and Sgt. Dustin Lavery received special recognition for demonstrating exceptional qualities.
Piper, an assault amphibious vehicle operator at Marine Corps Systems Command at Quantico, received the “Honor Graduate” and “Sgt. Maj. Dan Daly” award for outstanding academic markings and physical fitness, but, more notably, his leadership abilities.
“He spread himself throughout the whole class and [often] stayed late to help students with some of the more difficult subjects, which helped them pass,” said Master Sgt. Weinburg Allen, Sergeants Course Senior Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. “That is one of those hidden qualities, when someone goes above and beyond what they’re supposed to do [ to support others, while] also helping themselves succeed.”
Lavery, engineer equipment operator at Headquarters and Service Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., received the “Gung Ho” award for his motivation, cooperation and esprit de corps during the course.
Both awardees were nominated by their peers and the faculty at SNCOA aboard Quantico. PME programs like the Sergeants Course are essential in cultivating leaders. In the Corps’ changing environment Allen said leaders rely on Marines who can lead with command presence, flexibility and intellect.
“Marines who have the willingness to understand what their command is doing and the direction of their commander, have the ability to lead Marines,” Allen said. “However, if you fight everything tooth and nail, then we really don’t need you because we have to be able to adapt to the situation.”
For Marsh, maintaining academic rigor is one of the Corps’ greatest weapons.
“The society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting by fools,” Marsh said quoting Thucydides, a Greek historian and general. “I believe this is just as true today as it was back then. We as leaders cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to producing leaders who are capable of leading significant challenges.”
Writer: afelton@quanticosentryonline.com
Graduate Spotlight
Sgt. Kelly Piper, Honor Graduate and Sgt. Maj. Dan Daly Award
Favorite leadership trait: Decisiveness. Being confident in who you are and the manner in which you speak can go a long way with your junior Marines.
Competitive edge: My ambition to be better than the person next to me.
Course takeaway: I’ve learned to manage my time better. Also, when you’re working with your peers, you see different leadership styles. Now I know that there are so many different ways to handle a situation.
Sgt. Dustin Lavery, Gung Ho Award
Favorite leadership trait: Dependability. There’s no point of being in the Marine Corps and trying to be a leader if you can’t be dependable.
Competitive edge: It bothers me when somebody can do something better than I can, so I’ll push to be better.
Course takeaway: It has taught me how to manage and mitigate issues. I also learned that not every Marine going to be the same kind of person, so I have to lead different Marines, in different ways.