tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52332445754504717062012-02-16T04:43:30.319-06:00The official Blogger home of the Midwest Marines, headquarters for Marine Corps recruiting operations in the Midwestern United States. Based in Kansas City, MO, we are formally known as the 9th Marine Corps District.Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.comBlogger741100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-63517021060699528532011-07-13T06:17:00.001-05:002011-07-13T08:36:19.475-05:00

The last Marine Corps leadership trait in JJDIDTIEBUCKLE is ENDURANCE, which is, "... the mental and physical stamina that is measured by your ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress, and hardship. For example, enduring pain during a conditioning march in order to improve stamina is crucial in the development of leadership."This series has been a challenge in ENDURANCE for me, that's for sure!

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-37526664378114448002011-06-22T07:54:00.005-05:002011-06-22T07:59:37.112-05:00

After having reconstructive knee surgery, I'm finally feeling up to writing again. I've come to find out extreme physical pain does NOT help the writing process!Last time, I talked about KNOWLEDGE, so next up is LOYALTY. This trait's definition is, "... you are devoted to your country, the Corps, and to your seniors, peers, and subordinates. The motto of our Corps is Semper Fidelis (Always

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-13622672150203085492011-05-25T09:03:00.002-05:002011-05-25T09:09:25.767-05:00

The next Marine Corps leadership trait on our list is very near and dear to my heart. KNOWLEDGE as a leadership trait is defined as "... the understanding of a science or art. KNOWLEDGE means that you have acquired information and that you understand people. Your knowledge should be broad, and in addition to knowing your job, you should know your unit's policies and keep up with current events."I

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-34183731045222291582011-05-20T09:04:00.004-05:002011-05-20T09:15:39.616-05:00

COURAGE is next up on our list of Marine Corps leadership traits, and it's defined as, "... what allows you to remain calm while recognizing fear. Moral courage means having the inner strength to stand up for what is right and to accept blame when something is your fault. Physical courage means that you can continue to function effectively when there is physical danger present."Let's take a look

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-13175638680563240652011-05-05T20:24:00.005-05:002011-05-06T09:09:39.191-05:00

UNSELFISHNESS is this week's Marine Corps leadership trait, and it means that, "you avoid making yourself comfortable at the expense of others.; are considerate of others; give credit to those who deserve it."I honestly believe this trait has pretty much vanished from the vast majority of our society. In today's day and age of "give me whatever I want whenever I want it," the mere mention of

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-26950573340816617172011-04-21T17:31:00.003-05:002011-04-26T20:29:50.640-05:00

BEARING is this week's Marine Corps leadership trait, and it's defined as, "the way you conduct and carry yourself. Your manner should reflect alertness, competence, confidence, and control."This trait is stressed by drill instructors continually throughout recruit training. I remember hearing tall tales of experiments resulting in the creation of sand fleas just to test recruits' bearing at MCRD

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-25515616867230607182011-04-15T07:36:00.003-05:002011-04-15T08:03:48.075-05:00

Next up on our list of the Marine Corps' 14 leadership traits is ENTHUSIASM, which is defined as, "a sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of your duties. If you are enthusiastic, you are optimistic, cheerful, and willing to accept the challenges."Many who are unfamiliar with the Marine Corps often ask why Marines move around so much, and honestly, I think a large part of it is tied

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-32933294449310368422011-03-31T15:50:00.005-05:002011-04-01T07:53:21.370-05:00

I believe this week's leadership trait is probably one of the most important in everyday life, and that trait is INTEGRITY, which means, "... you are honest and truthful in what you say or do. You put honesty, sense of duty, and sound moral principles above all else." This trait is strongly emphasized from day one of the enlistment process throughout the entirety of a Marine's career. A recruit

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-32496386364671127912011-03-25T09:16:00.002-05:002011-03-25T09:19:44.403-05:00

After a much-needed break last week, I'm back to talk about TACT, which is next up on our list of the 14 Marine Corps leadership traits. The textbook definition of TACT is, "... you can deal with people in a manner that will maintain good relations and avoid problems. It means that you are polite, calm, and firm."In the real world, TACT usually refers to the ability of one Marine to approach

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-15614105735807601442011-03-11T08:35:00.015-06:002011-03-11T09:07:56.708-06:00

DECISIVENESS is next up on our list of the 14 Marine Corps leadership traits, and in this case, it means, "... you are able to make good decisions without delay. Get all the facts and weigh them against each other. By acting calmly and quickly, you should arrive at a sound decision. You announce your decisions in a clear, firm, professional manner."DECISIVENESS is basically the opposite of what I

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-68893271804009253932011-03-02T08:34:00.005-06:002011-03-02T11:02:53.835-06:00

Next up on our list of the 14 Marine Corps leadership traits is INITIATIVE, which in this case means, "taking action even though you haven't been given orders. It means meeting new and unexpected situations with prompt action. It includes using resourcefulness to get something done without the normal material or methods being available to you."In other words, it means not sitting on your backside

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-28189710498813857652011-02-24T09:07:00.008-06:002011-02-24T09:34:29.383-06:00

The third Marine Corps leadership trait in the acronym J.J. DID TIE BUCKLE is DEPENDABILITY which means, "you can be relied upon to perform your duties properly. It means that you can be trusted to complete a job. It is the willing and voluntary support of the policies and orders of the chain of command. Dependability also means consistently putting forth your best effort in an attempt to achieve

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-27755147899893814692011-02-17T08:07:00.003-06:002011-02-17T08:19:25.201-06:00

We explored the leadership trait JUSTICE last week, and this week we're going to look at the trait JUDGMENT, which is defined as, "... your ability to think about things clearly, calmly, and in an orderly fashion so that you can make good decisions."This is one of those traits that is learned over time through experience and can only really be helped along by a good experienced mentor. I do

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-92036330879587883812011-02-11T08:22:00.004-06:002011-02-11T08:26:58.506-06:00

We took a broad look at the Marine Corps' 14 leadership traits last week, and today, we're going to start focusing on the individual traits.The first trait in the acronym J.J. DID TIE BUCKLE is JUSTICE, and it's defined in this regard as, "... the practice of being fair and consistent. A just person gives consideration to each side of a situation and bases rewards or punishments on merit."This

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-74113664413008976472011-02-10T11:25:00.003-06:002011-02-10T11:31:58.257-06:00

About one year ago today, we posted about the then-new Marine Corps Black History Month commercial. Much has been said over the past year about making the Marine Corps reflect the so-called "face of the nation" in its racial make up. As one leader clamors for more black officers, some in the trenches have pointed out the difficulties in recruiting that particular racial group into the Corps'

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-25621072444816429402011-02-04T13:49:00.005-06:002011-02-04T13:59:26.856-06:00

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Over the next few weeks, I'm going to examine the Marine Corps' 14 leadership traits. We'll take a look at what they are, define them, apply them to a Marine's life (through real-world and/or hypothetical situations), and then dive into how they can/should be applied once a Marine transitions back to civilian life. Let's start with a broad definition of the Corps'

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-74543586728661127112011-01-21T09:12:00.008-06:002011-01-21T12:42:30.260-06:00

The Midwest Marines' Facebook page recently posted something about new year's resolutions. Unfortunately, it looks like I'm late to the party as usual, so I figured I'd post a little something here about my resolution.First of all, I want to provide a little background. It's no secret I am a strong proponent of everyone - service members especially - carrying concealed weapons. Unfortunately, I'm

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-52635328217680885732011-01-14T11:42:00.003-06:002011-01-14T11:48:42.624-06:00

Yesterday, I had a conversation with a fellow Marine staff NCO about "incentives" for a job well done. He and I joined the Marine Corps around the same time, and we both agreed our incentive to do a good job was little more than the boss giving us a pat on the back. We didn't then, nor do we now, have award or trinket fixation when doing our job.It's sad that the same cannot be said for what

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-62142745455630011902010-12-20T15:48:00.000-06:002010-12-20T15:48:45.402-06:00

Who said Marines don't have other talents? This Marine is awesome and the video is funny and moving at the same time. I will absolutely be thinking about the Marines who are deployed around the world during the holidays and encourage you to do the same. I have been away from my family for multiple holidays over the past 10 years and know what it is like to be away from them, patrolling on a

Captain Ken Kunzehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10905129236183794790noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-56159399570794369292010-12-17T08:43:00.004-06:002010-12-17T08:52:45.396-06:00

We haven't done a bored Marines video in a while, so I dug this one up from last Christmas/New Years to remind us that, even in a deployed environment, Marines still find ways to have fun during the holidays.

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-37312624937892207452010-12-02T11:36:00.004-06:002010-12-02T11:55:22.852-06:00

Young Marines should not be married, either before they enlist or during their initial enlistment. The simple fact is, the Marine Corps is just not conducive to healthy marriages in junior Marines. One of the (many) topics I see brought up across the Internet by prospective recruits is that of marriage. Questions usually go something like this: “Should I get married before I ship to boot camp?”

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-80130295164070473832010-11-16T15:17:00.000-06:002010-11-16T15:17:48.828-06:00

On 11 November 2010, the Marine Corps announced that the next Marine Week will take place from 20-26 June 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri.  The purpose of Marine Week is to “connect our Marines to the American public”.  It is the opportunity for community members to see Marine Corps equipment such as the Osprey, to view music performances by the Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps, and to see

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-27740365666807921662010-11-12T09:01:00.009-06:002010-11-12T10:23:35.697-06:00

Law enforcement officers and Marines are both trained to handle various scenarios, often involving lethal force in self defense or defense of others. As a matter of fact, many current law enforcement tactics, techniques, and procedures come from the military sector.Nationwide, law enforcement officers carry their duty weapon everywhere they go. Why? Because handguns are seen as the most effective

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-64868830848476934142010-11-04T13:11:00.008-05:002010-11-04T13:26:01.174-05:00

In my last blog, I talked about taking leave (aka vacation), and while it was definitely nice, it was also not without frustration. In this blog, I’d like to talk a little about the source of that frustration – McMiller Sports Center, the only public outdoor shooting range in Southeastern Wisconsin. First, the goodAside from the fact that it’s the ONLY public range in SE Wisconsin where you can

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-53084940553452644992010-10-27T13:02:00.000-05:002010-10-27T13:02:30.337-05:00

I am what we call in recruiting a “proof source.”  Proof to other women that female Marines exist and can be successful in the 94 percent male Marine Corps.  When I was commissioned at the end of Officer Candidates School (OCS), I prayed each night that I would find the strength to be an effective leader of Marines.  It never occurred to me that I already had that strength and had demonstrated it

Amelia Kayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07971188401941745279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-31135784670922805432010-10-14T07:59:00.005-05:002010-10-14T08:07:10.958-05:00

Today marks the first of 10 days I won’t have to wake up at 0445 if I don’t want to. Leave is one of the most underrated benefits to being in the Marine Corps, and you really only really appreciate it when you haven’t taken a chunk of it in a while. Sure, I’ve taken a few days here and there, but that was always to go visit the wife’s family. And while I love her family, the process of driving 8

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-53540380736580646282010-10-07T13:23:00.003-05:002010-10-07T13:38:19.326-05:00

I really feel like an old man when I start thinking about how things were when I was 18 or 19 years old. My wife has, for a couple years now, been pointing out grey hairs, and until recently, I never noticed them. I now try to joke about them and call them an indication of wisdom …What got me to start thinking back about 15 years was a conversation I had with a MCMAP instructor whereby we seemed

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-62644355154734040092010-09-29T11:35:00.002-05:002010-09-29T11:37:53.792-05:00

We are just over a month away from mid-term elections, and contrary to what some believe, some of us in the military pay more attention to politics than many civilians. The reason is pretty simple – just about every aspect of our lives is directly impacted by our elected representatives’ decisions since they control our pay and dictate the policies which affect our overall quality of life.At my

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-54299711113116921692010-09-23T11:08:00.002-05:002010-09-23T12:43:10.323-05:00

I’d like to talk a little this week about financial responsibility.It seems just about every week a “news” story comes out saying the ailing economy is driving young men and women to join the military, and indeed, recruiters will talk to potential applicants about financial security (which is nothing new – they’ve been talking about that since before I joined in 1997).The problem is these same

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-63387728795241218472010-09-16T14:14:00.000-05:002010-09-16T14:17:51.186-05:00

The Supreme Court is set to hear a First Amendment case that will undoubtedly have a dire outcome.The case, Snyder v. Phelps, surrounds the protesting of military funerals by a religious group hell bent on using a service member’s death to further the group’s agenda.As an American, I’m deeply conflicted by the possible outcomes. How could any Marine - much less one with almost 13 years in the

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-59258855253072245272010-09-13T15:53:00.005-05:002010-09-13T16:18:14.501-05:00

Here in Milwaukee, we're lucky enough to conduct a couple unique pool functions, and one of them is our annual "combat day" at a private paintball park.More than 100 of our poolees from the Milwaukee, Racine, and Waukesha areas dedicated their Sept. 11 to learning basic squad patrolling techniques and formations, and then they put them into practical use during four scenarios on the paintball

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-9632868771812202612010-09-10T13:18:00.008-05:002010-09-10T13:35:32.480-05:00

As my first blog post here (here's a link to my bio), I thought I'd start on the lighter side. Who hasn’t seen a bored Marine video on YouTube?! It seems like in between saving kitty cats and battling insurgents, junior Marines have a LOT of time on their hands and no better way to use it than making a spoof video or showing their ignorance.Even the Marine Corps Times has a few blog posts

Staff Sgt. Greg Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17078123523231810297noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-74376936549075418192010-08-30T12:39:00.001-05:002010-08-30T12:39:56.716-05:00

We have moved this blog to our mirror site at http://midwestmarines.blogspot.com. Our podcasts are still available at www.midwestmarineswebcasts.posterous.com. As always, you can follow us at www.twitter.com/midwestmarines. Posted via email from Midwest Marines

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-10205876256394431102010-08-25T13:19:00.001-05:002010-08-25T13:19:54.000-05:00

http://www.southtownstar.com/neighborhoodstar/evergreenpark/2630374,082410med... Posted via email from Midwest Marines

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-71702474103897195962010-08-02T20:28:00.001-05:002010-08-02T20:28:52.239-05:00

@NPR recently reported that Maryland no longer allows schools to administer the ASVAB to a student without parental approval. This legislation also prevents schools from releasing the test results to military recruiters without parents' or students' permission.  The Maryland Coalition to Protect Student Privacy, meanwhile, is advising groups in Wisconsin, Oregon, New Hampshire, Georgia, North

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-33695455171016754122010-08-02T11:45:00.001-05:002010-08-02T11:45:38.902-05:00

(http://www.komenkansascity.org/komen-race-for-the-cure) Posted via email from Midwest Marines

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-20408219927005605202010-06-11T17:01:00.001-05:002010-06-11T17:01:26.491-05:00

The last 2010 Midwest Marines Educators Workshop ended today in an awesome way. The last event for our 74 educators was watching a company of new Marines graduate from boot camp in San Diego where four of the six honor graduates, as well as the best marksman and most physically fit Marine, were all recruited by the Midwest Marines! Stay tuned here and on our webcast page (

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-6957612755512832882010-05-02T22:07:00.001-05:002010-05-02T22:07:51.218-05:00

Midwest Marines from across Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula held their annual family nights last week. During these annual events, actual Marine Corps drill instructors provide a small, but intense taste of recruit training for those getting ready for recrit training and their families. A question and answer period helps calm anxious nerves -- for parents, anyway.

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-60515440285758269942010-04-20T23:58:00.003-05:002010-09-03T14:21:54.437-05:00

27-minute documentary shows Marine Corps drill instructors behind the scenes. This is a must-see video for every young man and woman who will soon feel the chill of standing in front of the most influential Marine they'll likely encounter. Posted via web from Midwest Marines

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-23864703151679861622010-04-20T14:14:00.001-05:002010-04-20T14:14:04.856-05:00

Johnstown, Iowa's Camp Dodge will host 200 Marine Corps officer hopefuls from throughout the Midwest April 23-24 for a grueling two days designed to see if they even stand a chance of surviving the toughest leadership course in the country: Marine Corps Officer Candidates School (OCS).   We'll post webcasts right here so can feel the pain alongside these young men and women as they meet drill

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-91964130879020414732010-04-08T20:21:00.001-05:002010-04-08T20:21:38.667-05:00

 Educators from Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the Chicago area spent the day at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton as part of the Midwest Marines Educators Workshop in San Diego this week. Here is a gallery of some of the photos from today's events. To hear educators explain today's events in their own words, visit Midwest Marines Webcasts for today's update.

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-12442572204140082622010-04-07T20:53:00.001-05:002010-04-07T20:53:37.146-05:00

Educators from Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the Chicago area visited Marine Corps Air Station Miramar today for a look at how active duty Marines live and work aboard a Marine Corps installation. They also visited the flight line to get an up-close look at Marine Corps aircraft and emergency services. After a trip to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Exchange

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-73181444485313625122010-04-07T14:24:00.001-05:002010-04-07T14:24:33.101-05:00

Wayne "Rusty" Stitt, principal of Sturgis High School (Michigan) and Peter Zak, assistant principal of Eagan High School (Minnesota) share their experiences on Day 1 of the Midwest Marines Educators Workshop. See previous post below for more details on Day 1 -- and a preview of Day 2. See and download the full gallery on posterous   Download now or listen on posterous

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-2548487190641578492010-04-06T23:50:00.001-05:002010-04-06T23:50:40.340-05:00

Educators from Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the Chicago area were introduced to their drill instructors this morning as part of the Marine Corps Educators Workshop in San Diego. By the end of the day, the teachers, counselors and administrators had experienced the "Yellow Footprints", marched several miles, threw punches at each other and negotiated the bayonet assault

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-62580473051469903422010-04-02T22:46:00.001-05:002010-04-02T22:46:28.071-05:00

She's seen just about everything in more than two decades as a Marine. Now she's responsible for every woman trying to earn the title. Listen to the newest Midwest Marines Webcast to find out more. Posted via web from Midwest Marines

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-45010629527540775922010-04-02T22:41:00.001-05:002010-04-02T22:41:37.940-05:00

  Download now or listen on posterous Interview_with_Lieutenant_Colonel_Roberta_Shea_-_Midwest_Marines_Webcast_2-2010.mp3 (6508 KB) Lt. Col. Roberta Shea is a combat veteran from Iraq and Afghanistan with the combat action ribbon to prove it. She’s jumped from airplanes, directed the Commandant’s staff, served at Guantanamo Bay, seen time in both the

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-86068382427352421942010-03-23T15:27:00.001-05:002010-03-23T15:27:21.628-05:00

Midwest Marines and officers from across the country will host a free leadership workshop 6-8 p.m. tonight in the Forest Quadrangle on Indiana University's campus in Bloomington, Ind. The workshop-style mentorship program called "Tools for Graduation" is open to the public, and it demonstrates how to use the Marine Corps' 14 core leadership traits for success in college and everyday life. The

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-72662284248519375622010-03-10T10:48:00.001-06:002010-03-10T10:48:51.083-06:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) throughout the Department of Defense (DoD). This year’s SAAM has increased importance, as reported cases of sexual assault in the Marine Corps are increasing; in 2008 there were 244 reported cases of sexual assault, the highest the Marine Corps had seen. In 2009, there were approximately 266 reported cases of sexual assault, according to the remarks

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-14336522745201352532010-03-10T10:46:00.001-06:002010-03-10T10:46:46.528-06:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) throughout the Department of Defense (DoD). This year’s SAAM has increased importance, as reported cases of sexual assault in the Marine Corps are increasing; in 2008 there were 244 reported cases of sexual assault, the highest the Marine Corps had seen. In 2009, there were approximately 266 reported cases of sexual assault, according to the remarks

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-66266120431486948862010-03-02T14:47:00.001-06:002010-03-02T14:47:24.297-06:00

We had a blast last week with St. Louis and Milwaukee educators in San Diego getting a first-hand look at what training and life are like for Marines, as you can tell from the photos below and the webcasts on our sister site. Chicago & Kansas City educators are at boot camp in San Diego this week, so feel free to post questions here that you’d like to ask educators from your area about their

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-86249012946707979912010-03-01T15:31:00.003-06:002010-03-01T15:31:36.948-06:00

Midwest high school educators overran the bayonet assault course at Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego Tuesday. More than half of the 70 Midwest Marines Educators Workshop participants from Milwaukee and St. Louis screamed, ran, crawled, crossed rope bridges, climbed walls and bayoneted dummies amidst the sights and sounds of battle during the week-long program that makes them experts on Marine

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See and download the full gallery on posterous Photos courtesy of Staff Sgt. Joseph Paulsen, Midwest Marines Recruiting Station Milwaukee Want more? Our webcast lets you join four educators going through the course. If you would like to participate in an upcoming Midwest Marines Educators Workshop, find out more here.  Posted via email from Midwest Marines

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-75905219080094626372010-02-26T01:37:00.003-06:002010-02-26T01:37:27.327-06:00

  Download now or listen on posterous Missouri Educators tackle Bayonet Assault Course during the first Midwest Marines Educators Workshop of 2010.wma (2469 KB) From: Eric Tausch To: Tausch Capt Eric C Sent: Fri Feb 26 02:22:24 2010Subject: Educators Workshop Webcast: Bayonet course puts Midwest educators as close to boot camp as you can get without

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-87161160921833270492010-02-26T01:37:00.001-06:002010-02-26T01:37:05.388-06:00

  Download now or listen on posterous Why Rockford East HS's Laura Lindell went to Educators Workshop and what she's bringing home for students.wma (2387 KB) From: Eric Tausch To: Tausch Capt Eric C Sent: Fri Feb 26 02:33:04 2010Subject: Rockford, Ill., educator tells why she attended the Educators Workshop & what she’ll bring back to students Laura

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From: Eric Tausch To: Tausch Capt Eric C Sent: Wed Feb 24 01:52:13 2010Subject: Laura Lendell, a home school counselor at Rockford East High School in Illinois, and Vikky Winkler, a career specialist for Fond du Lac High School in Wisconsin recount some highlights from their experience in San Diego today as Marine Corps recruits during Day 1 of the Midwest Marines Educators Workshop.

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-87727006551829315952010-02-23T22:56:00.001-06:002010-02-23T22:56:45.142-06:00

High school teachers, counselors, coaches and administrators from Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri and Illinois started the first two minutes of the Midwest Marines Educators Workshop this morning in San Diego just like recruits would experience the first two minutes of Marine Corps boot camp before spending time with Brig. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, responsible for all recruiting and

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-8728862573169543082010-02-23T00:52:00.001-06:002010-02-23T00:52:17.886-06:00

Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri and Illinois educators experience boot camp this week, so tune in to our webcast channel starting tomorrow night for their thoughts as the week progresses! Our educators sponsored by #MidwestMarines recruiting stations in Milwaukee and St. Louis made it safely San Diego today to experience Marine Corps boot camp first hand this week with the Midwest

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-43192270982090593502010-02-19T00:58:00.001-06:002010-02-19T00:58:58.055-06:00

How would lifting the ban on openly gay military service affect recruiting and retention in the Midwest? With top military leaders now endorsing an eventual repeal of the 1993 “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, it’s a fair question – perhaps even fairer, more valid, and of more immediate concern than speculating on an individual’s performance in combat based on his or her sexual orientation. Still

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-535328148088945352010-02-17T15:54:00.001-06:002010-02-17T15:54:16.976-06:00

There's a lot in store for our webcasts through March. Look for the following coming soon: Midwestern educators comment next week from a visit to Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego We're taking your questions right now for combat veteran Lt. Col. Roberta Shea, who has seen it all in 25 years now commands the Corps' only unit that transforms young civilian women into Marines. On the

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-78214631582161109282010-02-09T16:04:00.001-06:002010-02-09T16:04:36.991-06:00

At the conclusion of “A Few Good African American Men and Women” I posed the following question:  Will our efforts be enough to communicate to African Americans that they can be successful in the Marine Corps?  So what were these efforts?    The Marine Corps has released a commercial that will be shown fifty percent of the time that the Marine Corps runs a 30 second commercial during the

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-11237768530276534232010-02-03T21:11:00.001-06:002010-02-03T23:59:32.968-06:00

What kind of musician joins the Marines? Do band members go to boot camp? How good is “good enough” to audition? What’s the audition process like? What’s the best source of information? What questions should you ask local recruiters? What positions are available? Does the band go to combat?  In an impromptu interview with the Corps’ senior talent scout for the Marine Music Program, Master

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-81230111558562494472010-02-02T21:32:00.001-06:002010-02-02T21:32:51.875-06:00

Our apologies to the many readers who have been unable to comment on posts without an account on this platform. The problem should be fixed now, so we look forward to your thoughts. Posted via web from Midwest Marines

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I volunteer at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City.  While I was there on Saturday, I had the opportunity to discuss World War I uniforms with an interpreter.  We discussed how the biggest change to the uniforms over time has been their size.  We Marines still wear a service uniform that is eerily similar to the olive drab service uniform and garrison cover that were worn by the World

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-20573910364362031472010-02-01T14:32:00.001-06:002010-02-01T14:32:34.085-06:00

I volunteer at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City.  While I was there on Saturday, I had the opportunity to discuss World War I uniforms with an interpreter.  We discussed how the biggest change to the uniforms over time has been their size.  We Marines still wear a service uniform that is eerily similar to the olive drab service uniform and garrison cover that were worn by the World

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-36754662644981163602010-02-01T01:08:00.001-06:002010-02-01T01:08:02.627-06:00

What kind of musician joins the Marines? Do band members go to boot camp? How good is “good enough” to audition? What’s the audition process like? What’s the best source of information? What questions should you ask local recruiters? What positions are available? Does the band go to combat? Get answers to these questions and more Wednesday during the Midwest Marines' inaugural webcast, as the

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-69496052673466700212010-01-25T22:54:00.001-06:002010-02-06T01:47:53.329-06:00

 http://www.montereyherald.com/news/ci_14262332?nclick_check=1 Posted via email from Midwest Marines

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-46820495162984161082010-01-22T09:43:00.001-06:002010-02-06T01:48:59.811-06:00

As he watched the chaotic scenes from Haiti unfold on television, Jake Wood worried that large-scale relief efforts couldn't move quickly enough ... http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/12822245/exbadgerturnedmarine-wood-leads-rescue-effort-in-haiti (CBSsports.com wire) Posted via email from Midwest Marines

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Via KSPR News While this type of action is not recommended, I can’t say it’s surprising either. What’s most impressive about this young Marine is the level of self-discipline he exhibited. He just finished three months of boot camp, to include martial arts training, and is likely in the best shape of his life, yet he exhibited the maturity and judgment to control a heated situation using words

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-28614755730276155262010-01-18T04:26:00.001-06:002010-01-18T04:26:04.876-06:00

Now THIS is good news (First wave of Marines leave Iraq)! Our Marines have performed remarkably in Iraq, but it's time to get back to our roots: ship-based, expeditionary operations; deploying at a moment's notice with a Marine Air Ground Task Force capable of accomplishing nearly anything.  I've heard it said that a Marine in combat fights not for country and not for Corps, but rather for

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-54734461737327948952010-01-15T16:29:00.001-06:002010-01-22T00:27:01.738-06:00

One of the Commandant of the Marine Corps' recruiting goals is to recruit to the "face of the nation."  This nation is 12 percent African American and 14 percent Hispanic American.  It is the goal of the Marine Corps to represent this diversity within our ranks, at all levels.  Over the past few years, the Marine Corps has been a popular choice for Hispanic Americans; 17 percent of Marines are

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-88372836898727287322010-01-14T16:10:00.001-06:002010-01-14T16:10:08.987-06:00

  My college freshman daughter is attending a terrific university this year with tuition, fees, books, housing and a small stipend all paid for by the Post 9-11 GI Bill; and it truly cost me nothing. This occured to me as I moved her from one school to another this week with very little anxiety, which will likely floor other parents who've pulled thier hair out after a son or daughter decided

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-15265572967019323452010-01-08T16:19:00.001-06:002010-01-08T16:19:38.977-06:00

Thoughts of the four upcoming Midwest Marines Educators Workshop trips to San Diego are helping us stay warm as temperatures plummet and snow piles up across America’s heartland. A few seats are still available for high school teachers and faculty (and a few members of the media) to experience Marine Corps recruit training first hand and free of charge between February and June. I’m glad I’ll be

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The safest place in America is in its heartland next to a Marine, which makes cases like the tragic death of Indiana University Professor Don Belton even more disturbing than normal since a former Marine may be involved. A recent CBS’ News headline caught my eye in particular: Did "Gay Panic" Lead Ex-Marine Michael Griffin to Kill Professor Don Belton? Despite no apparent connection between his

Admin for Midwest Marineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14026542832019998857noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233244575450471706.post-55652387420229698102009-12-21T10:37:00.001-06:002009-12-21T10:37:05.895-06:00

I've found the answers to this question to be as varied and unique as the women providing them, which is exactly what you find in asking young men why they join. Being the husband of a former Marine, however, has provided a glimpse of what may just be bricks in a common foundation. A recent story (plus video and photo gallery) by Jonathan Foerster at Naples News (Naples, FL) called "Teen to

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