SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- “To lead in the 21st Century – to take Marines, soldiers, Sailors and airmen into battle, you will be required to have both character and competence,” Army Gen. H. Norman Scharzkopf, commander of U.S. and allied forces in Operation Desert Storm, said of leadership in the military.
In 2003, due to the lack of participation in the Infantry Squad Leaders Course, the course was no longer offered aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, so Marines had to go to Camp Pendleton, Calif., to attend the course.
In August, the course was once again offered here and Marines assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment were the first to go through the course.
The course prepares Marines to be more effective leaders in combat situations, teaches the basics of the infantry field and enhances the Marine’s competence, said Staff Sgt. Lee LeGrande, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Infantry Squad Leader Course, Regimental Schools.
Marines selected to take the course are nominated through their chain of command and receive orders to attend the course, which tests their textbook knowledge on the Marine Corps as well as their tactical knowledge on combat.
“So far, we have taught them land navigation, patrolling, ambushes, different types of attacks, how to call in for close air support, and call for fire,” said Sgt. Archie Taylor, instructor and a 34-year-old Magnolia, Texas native. “What we’re trying to do is take trained fire team leaders and mold them into squad leaders and give them the knowledge to conduct their own training.”
On Sept. 19, students conducted squad rushes and maneuvers here, shooting at pop-up targets with M-16 A4 service rifles, squad automatic weapons, M-240G machine guns, and M-203 grenade launchers.
“We wanted to get them out of the classroom and let them actually control the squad,” said Staff Sgt. David M. Tollett, chief instructor. “I want them to be more hands-on rather than have them just sit in a classroom environment, because it gives them more confidence in themselves.
“We want them to utilize what they have learned,” the 31-year-old Cookeville, Tenn. native continued. “We instill leadership tools in them so when the time comes, they can reach into their toolbox and grab whatever tool they need in a combat environment, and lead Marines with confidence.”
The 1/3 Marines who graduated the course said they have become the leader that they always wanted to be.
Sergeant Joseph Cervantes, platoon guide, Bravo Company, who got out of the Marine Corps in early 2001, but rejoined recently, was one of the graduates.
“It’s been a challenge to get back into training,” said the 34-year-old Pensacola, Fla. native. “I’m learning a lot more here than I did when I went through SOI (School of Infantry). It’s a great course.
“I’ve learned that there’s more to training than what the eye sees. There’s a lot of planning that goes into even the simplest operation, which I never knew when I was a young NCO (noncommissioned officer). There’s even more complexities to prepare a Marine for combat, because there’s training that has to be done and orders that squad leaders have to write out. It’s just something that I am thankful that my chain of command offered me.”