Turning an essay into an out line and a PowerPoint.

In today’s realm, the United States has many threats, personal relations, and financial obligations that they have to work within on a daily basis. Threats that can range from terrorist or just other countries that stand against the United States. However, the United States stands on a strong foundation which is its military. The military stands to protect this country and other countries in need of its support. In the United States, our military is composed of; the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Army, the Airforce and the Coast Guard. However, the Marine Corps leads the way in innovation, tactile skills, winning battles, and being feared. The Marine Corps is a highly trained, skilled, and fighting branch. In the United States Marine Corps “Every Marine is a rifle man”. Every marine is expected to be well trained tactically, cunning, and lethal, when it comes to combat. This is why the Marine Corps is the only branch that guards the president. Both the Marine Corps Recruit depot Parris island and San Diego have a common mission, which is to train civilians into becoming a United States Marine. However, in boot camp Drill instructors tend to forget the Marine Corps mission, which is to deploy to win our nation’s battles swiftly and aggressively in times of crisis. In Recruit training, drill instructors tend to focus 85% of their attention on drill which is not good for the Marine Corps mission. The Marine Corps should eliminate time spent on drill because it takes away training from field skills, Marksmanship with the rifle and customs that can save the lives of a Marine in a combat or training environment.

Furthermore, the recruits in boot camp executing drill is not a bad thing because it instills discipline in a Marine and that’s a good foundation to have, however it doesn’t save lives in combat, therefore drill instructors should cut down on some of their time and energy that they spend on drill. What will save lives is field skills, such as, patrolling, land navigation (both day and night), and camouflage techniques. “Patrolling is a detachment of ground forces sent out by a larger unit for the purpose of gathering information or carrying out a destructive, harassing, or

security mission” ( NCO Journal. 2004. Para 3). Teaching recruits how to patrol and the different types of combat patrolling can increase their effectiveness whenever they go to combat. On the other hand, “land navigation is important because Marines are still in combat over in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a Marine stateside, never knows when they will be needed to go support in combat” (NCO Journal. 2004. Para 5). Having skills, such as night and day land navigation will allow Marines when in battle, to be able to effectively use a map, compass, and protractor, when technology fails. Although, technology is good, it can fail, and when it does, Marines will have the necessary mapping skills to fulfill the mission regardless of the circumstance when in battle. In addition, another skill set drill instructor’s need to spend time on is teaching camouflage technique classes. This will allow for the new generation of Marines to learn how to properly apply and wear Cammie paint correctly along with how to move silently and maintain proper noise and light discipline in combat. This technique makes it difficult for the enemy personnel to detect you because if the enemy can’t see you, then they can’t shoot you.

It is equally important, to also have Marine Corps rifle training. One of the main reasoning behind it is safety. If you can accurately hit your target, you will be confident. When you know you can shoot accurately, you don’t need to spend extra time thinking about how to shoot, but can instead concentrate on where to aim and determine if a shot is safe. Therefore, in boot camp drill instructors need to focus on rifle skills because shooting is not just aiming a rifle and shooting. “Rifle skills combines the activities of loading and unloading a firearm, performing the proper corrective action, selecting the correct ammunition, and applying shooting skills. It isn’t a difficult activity, but it takes time, practice, coaching, and self-study to become proficient in the use of a rifle” (Michele, Tom. 2010). Whenever you go to combat or training you will be successful in the skillful manipulation of the rifle and understand its capabilities” (NCO Journal. 2004. Para 8). You grasp a better understanding of how to aim, and understanding

how to have good sight picture and sight alignment, while clearing the stoppages and loading and unloading procedures for the rifle which will enable you to be more effective”

However, since recruit training is the foundation of civilians into Marines, drill instructors need to focus their attention on Courtesy also. Having good courtesy will give marines discipline, as Marines we police our own which develops courage and good moral standards. Teaching recruits in boot camp about courtesy will help them understand the differences between right or wrong in garrison or a combat environment. Courtesy will help develop these recruits, so when they become Marines they will be able to listen, respect their superiors and follow orders. If a Marine doesn’t follow a direct order they were given it doesn’t only affect them it affects everyone in the team and the goals they have set for the mission. When Marine’s don’t follow orders, the objectives are hurt and the chances of winning the war are low. “The key to successful team work, is followings, leading, and learning how to follow instructions of those appointed over you” (Military Training. 2017. Para 7). The meaning of discipline in the Marine Corps should be thought of from day one in basic training until the day they graduate and see their families. Having good courtesy or discipline is vital to following orders efficiently, without it Marines wouldn’t react fast enough when something is being commanded or would simply not be concerned enough to perform the task in hand, failing the team. “If a Marine has good courtesy skills, they will follow the commander’s orders because we certainly know that no matter what decision they make it will always be its overall good for the U.S, the Marine Corps, and the individual Marines. When an order is given we need to fully understand the order, and think about what needs to be done using the least amount of resources or time to achieve the mission in hand to complete the commanders or NCO’s specific commands” (Military Training. 2017. Para 7)

In conclusion, drill is not a bad tradition because it promotes discipline. However, the Marine Corps can focus its attention in field skills, weapons skills and customs. These skill sets need to be taught effectively and provided more time to learn. These skills are very important skillsets that Marines need to have to be able to successfully accomplish the mission. Once Marines are taught these skills and understand it, then that allows for more ethically minded, tactically cunning, and lethal Marines when it comes to all operations whether it’s in combat or in garrison. This will allow the Marine Corps to be successful in all orders to produce a Marine better prepared to succeed across the Range of Military Operations.

References

Michele, Tom. (2010). "Weapons qualification important part of training for Soldiers." Weapons Qualification. Accessed September 03, 2017. http://www.mccoy.army.mil/vnewspaper/newspaper/realmccoy/08132010/weapons_qualification.htm

Military Training. (2017) Importance & Advantages of Military Training Systems; Shooting Range Infantry, Armored & Mobile Targets & More Means Better Personnel!" Shooting Range Industries. Accessed September 03, 2017. http://www.shootingrangeindustries.com/importance-advantages-of-military-training-systems-shooting-range-infantry-armored-mobile-targets-more-means-better-personnel/

NCO Journal. (2004) "Field training exercise." NCO Journal. Accessed September 03, 2017. http://ncojournal.dodlive.mil/tag/field-training-exercise/.

World Press. (2013) The Army Should Attach Strategic Importance to Education and Training. Accessed September 03, 2017, from https://dengxiaopingworks.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/the-army-should-attach-strategic-importance-to-education-and-training/