1st Marine Corps District
Story by Cpl. Brandon Thomas
James Simpson, an English teacher at Dolgeville High school, views Marine Corps uniforms of the past at the Parris Island Museum during the Educators’ Workshop. (Photo by Cpl. Brandon Thomas)
Forty educators from eastern Pennsylvania experienced firsthand just a small taste of the rigors of Marine Corps boot camp during an Educator Workshop, March 8 to 11, in hopes of gaining a better understanding of the Marine Corps.
Educators from Recruiting Station Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, took part in a special opportunity to observe Marine Corps recruit training. They would familiarize themselves with Marine Corps values and ethos and observe the transformation of recruits from civilians to Marines.
“We invited the educators down here to give them a look into the Marine Corps,” said Gunnery Sgt. Raymond Robison, a recruiter with Recruiting Station Harrisburg. “A lot of people have misconceptions of what we do and what our values are. The workshop is a way for us to set the record straight.”
The educators took part in variety of events including classes on Marine Corps opportunities and benefits, lunch with recruits, and the opportunity to face some of the many obstacles recruits must overcome to earn the title Marine.
Educators prepare to descend on the repel tower during the Educators’ Workshop, at Recruit Training Depot Parris Island, The repel tower is one of many challenges recruits must overcome before earning the title of Marine. (Photo by Cpl. Brandon Thomas)
Some of the obstacles the educators faced included the confidence course, rifle range, repel tower, and the leadership reaction course, all designed to transform a civilian into a basically trained Marine “I had such an amazing time on Parris Island,” said Lorraine Selke, an educator from West Chester East High School. “My level of respect for our nation’s military has increased ten-fold and the transformation these recruits go through in 13 weeks is truly amazing.”
Others echoed Selke’s comments.
“I’m loving it. It’s great to get a little taste of what the recruits experience,” said Fredrick Harris, an educator from the Bethlehem Area School District in Pennsylvania. “I think coming down here is great because now, if I have a student who’s curious about the service, I can tell them from my experience what it’s like down here.”
Educators with Recruiting Station Harrisburg visit the Parris Island Museum during the Educators’ Workshop (Photo by Cpl. Brandon Thomas)
Educators practice close order drill during the Educators’ Workshop at Marine Corps Recruit Training Depot Parris Island. (Photo by Cpl. Brandon Thomas)