Marine Corps Base Quantico -- Florence Dawson’s route to the Marine Corps was unlike most. For her, the motto, “Once a Marine Always a Marine” is true as she continues to work with Marines and other services as part of Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico.
Unlike most, she didn’t join the Marine Corps at 18 years old or take part in the delayed entry program. Upon graduating from university in France, she came to the United States in 1999 as an Au Pair for about six months in Washington State and never looked back.
Away from the comfort of her hometown of Valenciennes, France, she started working as a travel agent at the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot in San Diego, Calif. She joined the Marine Corps in 2004 at 30 years old after waiting six year to receive a Green Card. For Dawson, it was about finding a sense of belonging, pride and a challenge. The Marine Corps was the ultimate test for her and although she was older than most recruits, she excelled.
“Nobody talked me into it; I joined the Marine Corps because I wanted to give back to my new adoptive country and wanted a challenge,” said Florence Dawson, now the Africa Desk Research Analyst for the Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning. “When you’re an immigrant, you want to belong somewhere. I was married to a Marine and the Marine Corps seemed like the best way to give back after 9/11 and be part of something.”
Before joining the CAOCL, Dawson worked as a legal chief for the Wing Staff Judge Advocate for the Third Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., and separated from active duty as a Sergeant in 2010. After taking time off to complete a Masters, she worked as the Family Readiness Officer for the School of Infantry West in Camp Pendleton, Calif.
In her role as the Africa Desk Research Analyst, Dawson, educates Marines and other military members on African culture and teaches operational French in preparation for deployments and training with African armed forces. French along with English is one of the most common languages in Africa, which encompasses more than 50 countries.
“Learning about a country’s culture is important for Marines and other services that deploy because to create good working partnerships and build long lasting relationships with a foreign country, knowing their culture or military structure is essential.” said Dawson. “In the Marine Corps we learn to be leaders early on as non-commissioned officers, but it is not necessarily the case in Africa. A Corporal in the Marines is given more responsibilities and is trained to demonstrate initiative, but someone of the same rank in another country may not have the same type of responsibility.”
Dawson’s job at the CAOCL involves working with commands that request training about the area of Africa they are deploying to. Units may submit a request though CAOCL to learn about the region, culture and languages spoken.
Dawson has been part of the CAOCL since September 2013, and finds her personal background and her experience as a Marine beneficial in understanding the goal of those she’s teaching.
“As a prior Marine, I understand the Marine's perspective, and as an immigrant, I can relate to what it means to learn a culture and language,” said Dawson. “Furthermore, the key is to not only be able to provide cultural training, but be able to understand what a Marine preparing to go on a deployment needs and wants to know. I just wish we could be part of those deployments and exercises in some capacity and maximize our efforts for the Marine Corps.”
The Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning executes operationally focused training and educations in individual training, PME, and pre-deployment phases, reflecting current and likely contingencies and functions, to ensure Marines and leaders deploy with a grasp of culture and indigenous dynamics for use as a force multiplier.
twertz@quanticosentryonline.com