volume 63 number 33 August 19, 2011 Former recruit returns to see , Page 3

www.thebootonline.com www.marines.com Living Marine to be presented than 15 wounded Afghan soldiers, and recover Cpl. Reece Lodder the bodies of four fallen fighters — 1st Lt. Mi- Marine Corps Base Hawaii chael Johnson, Gunnery Sgts. Aaron Kenefick and Edwin Johnson Jr., and Navy Petty Officer MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Re- 3rd Class James Layton. moved from an ambushed platoon of Ma- ETT advisor Army Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth rines and soldiers in a remote Afghan village Westbrook died at Walter Reed Army Medi- on Sept. 8, 2009, his reality viciously shaken cal Center, Washington Oct. 7, 2009, from by an onslaught of enemy fighters, Cpl. Da- wounds sustained in the firefight. kota Meyer simply reacted as he knew best Meyer charged through the battle zone five — tackling what he called “extraordinary times to recover the dead Marines and injured circumstances” by “doing the right thing – Afghan soldiers, risking his life even when a whatever it takes.” medical evacuation helicopter wouldn’t land Nearly two years later, the White House an- because of the blazing gunfire. nounced Aug. 12, the 23-year-old Marine scout “There’s not a day — not a second that goes sniper from Columbia, Ky., who has since left by where I don’t think about what happened the Corps, will become one of the few Marines that day,” Meyer said. “I didn’t just lose four to live through the heroic actions that earned Marines that day; I lost four brothers.” him the Medal of Honor. Author Bing West, a retired Marine infan- The last was Sgt. Maj. Allan Kellogg Jr. re- try officer and combat veteran of Vietnam, ceived the medal in 1973 for gallantry in Viet- detailed Meyer’s actions in the battle in “The nam three years earlier. Although, two other Wrong War,” and praised Meyer for taking living Marines were presented the nation’s command of the battle as a corporal — the highest award for valor in 1998 and 1980 for most junior advisor in this firefight. actions in World War II. West said Meyer should have been killed, but Meyer is the second Marine to receive the he dominated the battlefield by fearlessly ex- medal for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. Cpl. posing himself to danger and pumping rifle and Jason Dunham was awarded the medal posthu- machine gun rounds into the enemy fighters. mously for covering a grenade with his body “When you leave the perimeter, you don’t to save two Marines in Iraq in 2004. President know what’s going to happen, regardless of Barack Obama will present the award to Mey- what war you’re fighting in,” said Kellogg, er at the White House Sept. 15. who lives in Kailua, Hawaii. “Once you get “The award honors the men who gave to a point where you make the decision — their lives that day, and the men who were ‘I’m probably going to die, so let the party in that fight,” Meyer said. “I didn’t do any- begin’ — once you say in your mind you thing more than any other Marine would. I aren’t getting out of there, you fight harder was put in an extraordinary circumstance, and harder.” and I just did my job.” Beginning his career with the same regiment Though bleeding from shrapnel wounds in his from which Kellogg retired in 1990, Meyer right arm, Meyer, aided by fellow Marines and deployed with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regi- Photo special to The Boot Army advisors from Embedded Training Team ment, to Fallujah, Iraq, in 2007, and earned a Sgt. Dakota Meyer will be receiving the Medal of Honor, the 2-8, braved a vicious hail of enemy machine-gun nation’s highest award for valor, from President Barack Obama in and rocket-propelled grenade fire in the village s e e MEDAL p ag e 2 Washington Sept. 15, making him the first living Marine recipient of Ganjgal to help rescue and evacuate more since the . Service limitations to change for sergeants Lance Cpl. Erin M. Ross Staff Writer

According to the newly released Ma- rine Administrative Message 433/11, new service limitations have been placed on sergeants, cutting their maximum service time to 10 years. The change will reshape the force on the enlisted side and make the career Ma- rines more competitive, said Master Sgt. Carlos Zuniga, depot career planner. The Enlisted Career Force Control Program, started in 1985 to manage the amount of Marines looking at a ca- reer in the service, actively shapes the Photo special to The Boot enlisted side of the Marine Corps by Marine Corps Message 429/11 restates that basic allowance for housing grade and occupational specialty. requests, unless otherwise stated in the order, will be denied for sergeants and Previously, sergeants had a service below if there is adequate space in the barracks. limit of 13 years before they were forced to separate from the Corps. These limitations were put into place to enforce more restrictive limits on Corps freezes BAH for sergeants passed for promotion in order to retain more competitive Ma- rines, according to the message. sergeants and below Lance Cpl. Erin M. Ross Now, if a sergeant has not been se- The service limitations for sergeants lected for staff sergeant after the sec- have changed after the release of ond promotion board or 10 years, Ma- Lance Cpl. Erin M. Ross It is the commandant’s Bachelor Marine Administrative Message 433/11. rines will be processed for separation. Staff Writer Enlisted Quarters initiative to cor- Sergeants can now only serve up to 10 The annual staff sergeant promotion rect the situation by ensuring each years or until they have been passed up Basic allowance for housing re- base provides adequate living as- for promotion twice. s e e SERGEANTS p ag e 6 quests for single sergeants and be- signments for all enlisted Marines low have been frozen with the release sergeant and below, according to the of Marine Administrative Message message. This week in Parris Island history 429/11. Friedman said between 2006 and Previously, limited space in the bar- 2014, the Marine Corps alloted $2.8 bil- Aug. 22, 1952, an article in The Boot announced the deactivation of the 5th racks was a problem across the Ma- lion to build new barracks in order to and 6th Recruit Training Battalions. The battalions had been activated in the rine Corps and resulted in the need for improve the quality of life for Marines. fall of 1950, about the time the Korean conflict began. During the summer some Marines to find residency else- This expansion will have created of 1951, both battalions became special training battalions and transformed where, said Lt. Col. Robert Friedman, 25,000 new barracks across the Marine civilians into second lieutenants through the Platoon Leaders Course. After with the Headquarters Marine Corps Corps, to include the new barracks on one cycle of training officer cadets, both battalions reverted back to training enlisted recruits. installations and logistics department. This increased the number of unmar- s e e BAH p ag e 4 ried Marines living off base with BAH. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Around Town: Sigler’s Rotisserie, Showtime takes on Lowcountry Page 2 Medical, Sports Page 1

Patriots Point Museum Lowcountry, Page 3 The Parris Island Boot Friday, August 19, 2011 2 More of the story

MEDAL Co nt i n u e d f r o m Pag e 1 meritorious promotion to corporal in late 2008 after returning from the deployment. Before leaving for Iraq, Meyer completed the Marine Corps’ 10-week Scout Sniper Basic Course, and com- mitted himself to preparing himself and his snipers for combat. They attended lifesaving classes taught by Navy corpsmen and honed their skills with myriad weapons systems, such as light machine guns. Meyer also spent time in his battalion’s communications sec- tion learning how to call for mortar and artillery fire. “I devoted my whole life to making the best snipers in the Marine Corps,” Meyer said. “They’re a direct reflection of your leadership. If you fail them in train- ing, it could get them killed on the battlefield.” In February 2009, Meyer volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan’s dangerous Kunar province and mentor Afghan soldiers as part of an embedded training team, the type of role usually filled by U.S. Special Forces. “A Marine who seeks the challenge of joining his unit’s scout sniper platoon has to have a lot of drive and determination,” said Col. Nathan Nastase, com- manding officer of 3rd Marine Regiment and- for merly Meyer’s battalion commander at 3/3. “Being assigned to the ETT was a huge vote of confidence in his abilities.” Meyer deployed to Afghanistan on the ETT in July 2009. “Our mission was to help prepare the Afghans to take over their own country and provide security for themselves,” Meyer said. “ETTs make a huge impact Photos special to The Boot on the outcome of the war.” Sgt. Dakota Meyer with Combat Roadie, his pet monkey, in Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring In Kunar province, Meyer and another ETT ad- Freedom. Meyer will be receiving the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor, from President visor would lead squads of 15 Afghan soldiers on Barack Obama in Washington Sept. 15, making him the first living Marine to earn it for actions since the patrols. Since he could speak Pashto, the local lan- Vietnam War. Meyer was assigned to Embedded Training Team 2-8 advising the Afghan National Army in the guage, so well, Meyer often separated from the ele- eastern provinces bordering Pakistan. ment with his Afghan trainees. When his patrol fought to rescue another from an ed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan no set standard on how to do things, but you just ambush Sept. 8, 2009, Meyer’s focus on advising gave Sept. 24, 2010. Four days later, he lay static in a stark have to go out there, make decisions and get it way to surviving, and on what he had to do to keep hospital room, riddled with shrapnel. After groggily done — and that’s like the challenge of the Marine himself and his men alive. emerging from anesthesia into a blurry reality, Hawk- Corps. Once you’re satisfied with what you’ve done, “I lost a lot of Afghans that day,” Meyer said. “And ins’ phone rang — the you stop getting better.” I’ll tell you right now — they were just as close to me first call from a friend. Meyer is the 86th living as those Marines were. At the end of the day, I don’t Without fail, Meyer’s jo- “Being a Marine is a way of life. It isn’t just Medal of Honor recipient, care if they’re Afghans, Iraqis, Marines or Army; it vial drawl broke through a word, and it’s not just about the uniform — and he joins a small, elite didn’t matter. They’re in the same s - - - you are, and the speaker. group of heroes, a reality they want to go home and see their family just as bad “In the Marine Corps, it’s about brotherhood. Brotherhood means that will often require him as you do.” you always hear that to conjure up haunting re- Thrown into unimaginable circumstances, Meyer if something’s broke, that when you turn around, they’re there, minders of the battles he said the Afghan soldiers and his sniper training “saved you’ve got to work to fix through thick and thin.” has fought, the friends he my life” during the battle. it, but you never really has lost and the painful Jacody Downey is a close friend of Meyer’s from see the Marine who does Sgt. Dakota Meyer regret he bears. Kentucky. He’s seen his friend grow from a fun-lov- it,” Hawkins said. “Meyer “I’m not a hero, by any ing “jokester” in high school to a driven Marine who is that Marine. If he had something to say, he’d say it, means — I’m a Marine, that’s what I am,” he said. “The deeply respected both elders and subordinates. and he wasn’t really afraid of repercussions for what heroes are the men and women still serving, and the “Dakota has always cared more about others than he said. If it needed to be changed, he changed it.” guys who gave their lives for their country. At the end he does himself,” Downey said. “Even if he’s not with Hearing his friend would receive the Medal of of the day, I went in there to do the right thing – and his Marines now, he’s still constantly thinking about Honor didn’t surprise Hawkins. In light of the “char- it all boils down to doing the right thing – whatever them, worrying about them and calling to check on acter” and “country boy” Hawkins knows, Meyer’s it takes. All those things we learn stick in your head, them. He still considers them brothers.” actions were simply the manifestation of how he and when you live by it, that’s the Marine way.” Cpl. David Hawkins grew as a Marine under Mey- lived and led. Though Meyer will receive the Medal of Honor for er’s leadership in 3/3’s Scout Sniper Platoon. “Meyer was destined for the Medal of Honor,” what he did in Ganjgal, he insists he will wear the five- “Meyer was an ideal leader,” Hawkins, from Parker, Hawkins said. “If you got to work with him, you’d pointed medallion and blue silk ribbon to honor his Colo., said. “He knew everything about the Marines see it.” fallen brothers, their families and his fellow Marines. underneath him — how they’d respond to every situ- Meyer completed his tour on active duty last June. “Being a Marine is a way of life,” Meyer said. “It ation, not only on a Marine Corps level but also on a He went home to Kentucky, where he’s found purpose isn’t just a word, and it’s not just about the uniform personal level.” working with his hands in a family business. — it’s about brotherhood. Brotherhood means that Hawkins said he was deeply humbled by Meyer’s “Pouring concrete is kind of like the Marine when you turn around, they’re there, through thick concern as a friend, especially after being injured in Corps,” Meyer said. “When you wake up in the and thin. If you can’t take care of your brothers, what Afghanistan last year. Hawkins was severely wound- morning, you’ve got a job … like a mission. There’s can you do in life?”

Dakota Meyer watches Green County High School faculty and staff find their seats before he gives a speech to many of his old teachers, counselors and coaches Aug. 3 in Greensburg, Ky. Meyer will be receiving the From left to right, Petty Officer 3rd Class James Layton, Gunnery Sgt. Aaron Kenefick, 1st Lt. Michael Johnson Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor, and Sgt. Dakota Meyer with Afghan National Army members in Afghanistan. On the day of Meyer’s actions from President Barack Obama in Washington, Sept. 15. that would earn him the Medal of Honor, the other three Americans would fall in battle.

THE PARRIS ISLAND Public Affairs Director Community Relations Combat Correspondents Capt. Timothy Patrick Sharon Henderson-Reid Cpl. Isaac Lamberth Cpl. Sarah Fiocco Deputy Director Press Chief Lance Cpl. Javarre Glanton 1st Lt. Melanie Salinas Sgt. Russell Midori Lance Cpl. Erin Ross BOOT Lance Cpl. F. J. Abundes Brig. Gen. Lori Reynolds Commanding General Public Affairs Chief News Designers MCRD Parris Island Gunnery Sgt. Bill Lisbon Cpl. J Nava Eastern Recruiting Region Barry Kaufman

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Photos by Lance Cpl. Erin M. Ross Staff Sgt. Herman Franklin and Xinggang Wang pose with the Alpha Company sign at the lead series barracks Aug. 12 at 1st Recruit Training Battalion. Wang was guide of Franklin’s platoon from Day One until he was dropped less than a month shy of graduation. Former recruit returns to see platoon graduate

Lance Cpl. Erin M. Ross Staff Sgt. Christopher Jamison, drill in- Staff Writer structor. “He gave up everything to be a Marine. He had a job that he quit to Out of all the recruits that come to come here. He had a lot of motivation Parris Island for training, 10 percent to be here, and we don’t get very many never make the march across the pa- recruits like him.” rade deck—sometimes, even ones the When Wang was dropped for medi- drill instructors wanted to keep. cal reasons, Lirette said the entire pla- Such was the case for Xinggang Wang, toon was affected—including the drill a recruit from Platoon 1062, Alpha Com- instructors. pany, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, who “It was devastating. We didn’t expect it was medically separated less than a month to happen,” Franklin said. “The platoon away from earning the title of Marine. was really down but we pressed on.” “We didn’t want him to leave when he Before leaving his unit for the re- got dropped,” said 1st Sgt. Jeremy Li- cruit separation platoon, Franklin rette, company first sergeant. “We want- gave Wang his personal Eagle, Globe ed to keep him. He’s the type of Marine and Anchor, congratulating him for recruit drill instructors want.” being a great recruit and worthy of Even though he struggled learning the the title Marine. special drill movements for carrying a Though he was no longer in train- guidon, Wang was the platoon guide from ing, Wang told his drill instructors the start, said Staff Sgt. Herman Franklin, and the chain of command at the com- the platoon’s senior drill instructor. pany that he would return to see his “He never gave up, and that’s what platoon graduate. set him apart from everyone else,” True to his word, on Aug. 12, Wang Franklin said. sat in the reviewing stands as Plt. 1062 At the same time, he was the oldest re- and the rest of A Co. marched across cruit in the platoon at the age of 29—he the Peatross Parade Deck as Marines. turned 30 on the first official training “It meant everything to me and to the day. Yet, during training, he forgot how platoon that he would take time from his old he really was after keeping up with busy schedule to see his fellow Marines the younger recruits in every physical he would have graduated with walk training session. across the parade deck,” Franklin said. “I knew I was old, so I didn’t want to be Wang’s dedication to the Marines in an [infantryman],” Wang said. “I knew his platoon made him a better man than that this was the best service in the world, most, Lirette said. but I joined to not just protect countries, He had been in touch with his drill but learn how to protect myself.” instructors online and over the phone Wang, born in Beijing, came to the since he left, but his impact on the new United States on July 23, 2008, as a po- Marines will go far beyond the mili- litical reassignment from China. Before tary, Lirette said, who hopes they take coming to the states, he had studied in away the pride, dedication and ability South Korea and learned Korean and to stand up for beliefs like Wang. Japanese on top of his first language, After leaving Parris Island, Wang said Mandarin Chinese. he returned to New York City to work When he came to the states, he did not at the John F. Kennedy Airport, where know how to speak English, he said. he was promoted upon his return to He always wanted to join the Marine his old job. Corps, Wang added. He had played “I’m glad to see them all. I’m proud,” drums for a long time and had enlisted to Wang said. “I have a lot of respect for become part of the Marine Corps band. the young American generation who “He was well above average,” said joins the military.”

Xinggang Wang congratulates members from his former platoon at graduation Aug. 12, at the Peatross Parade Deck. Wang kept his promise and returned to Parris Island to see his company graduate from recruit training after being medically dropped. The Parris Island Boot Friday, August 19, 2011 4 Inside news DI helps 2nd Bn. get facelift

Lance Cpl. F.J. Abundes ball and he took it and ran with it.” Staff Writer On paper the task to create these things from scratch and still execute Undoubtedly, drill instructors leave daily duties may seem daunting, but their mark on the Corps in many ways. for Carr it wasn’t hard. The biggest of which, may be turning “With this, you get the satisfaction untrained civilians into members of one of completing something – especially of the most storied organizations in the with this job where everyone appreci- world. Should they graduate recruit ates it,” Carr said. training, they will become the Corps’ Unlike Carr, many woodworkers be- future leaders. But a drill instructor come involved in their trade when they with 2nd Recruit Training Battalion is are young. leaving his mark in a different way. “Growing up, my dad, he was always Staff Sgt. Justin Carr, Golf Company, the handyman,” Carr said. “I didn’t get 2nd RTBn., creates woodwork that could into woodwork until I became a DI.” stay with Golf Company for as long as While on quota, Carr would always they occupy their current barracks. find the time to create things. He said “He takes pride in what he does,” said it assisted him in becoming patient and Gunnery Sgt. Colin Boyd, company was a positive outlet when he wanted first sergeant, “But in him doing this, to relieve stress. it’s something that we as a company After the battalion provided the mate- can take pride in.” rials, Carr cut, painted and detailed the Boyd turned to other Marines in the pieces at home. battalion and asked who could under- Carr’s new hatch plates replaced the take all sorts of handyman projects sheets of paper that had once adorned and was referred to Carr. After speak- the front door of each squad bay and ing with him, Carr showed Boyd pos- office. sible designs and took it from there. “You have something that looks Carr, currently serving as the com- professional and that represents you pany’s operations chief, constructed – it’s something you can have pride hatch plates, markers used to desig- in,” Boyd said. nate what platoon or office occupies Carr says he didn’t complete these a room, for every G Co. office and extracurricular projects for medals or squad bay. awards. Carr also created a new guideon “Just the appreciation of the drill holder for the company as well as instructors alone – and the company frames to house the drill instructor staff – that’s good enough,” he said. and senior drill instructor of the quar- Carr’s creations have become a part ter board and the chain of command of G Co.’s facelift and will add to the board. company’s identity, Boyd said. “This is pretty much something “He put his time and effort into it,” where I said ‘Hey, this is what I want Boyd said. “It shows attention to detail, and I want to know if you’re capable of pride and ingenuity. It’s a hell of a lot doing this,’” Boyd said. “I gave him the better than what we had before.”

Photos by Lance Cpl. F.J. Abundes Staff Sgt. Justin Carr, operations chief for Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, built wall placards and display frames, among other things, to give the company offices and buildings a facelift.

Staff Sgt. Justin Carr, operations chief for Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, readies his power tools to work on the chain of command board Aug. 11. He will rebuild this particular project and it should take him approximately two more weeks to finish.

BAH The purpose of the re- throughout the BEQ, Co nt i n u e d f r o m Pag e 1 iteration is to re-enforce Friedman said. the presence of noncom- According to the mes- missed officer leader- sages, the Marine Corps Marine Corps Air Station ship in the barracks also has the responsi- Beaufort. and keep unit integrity bility of providing all personnel with a well- maintained suitable liv- ing environment aboard installations. Currently, approxi- mately 10,000 single ser- geants and below that do not have children have been approved for BAH and 4,500 of them live in an area that can provide adequate space in the BEQs. Hardship requests and other instances to in- clude joint custody will be looked at in a case- by-case light. If a Marine has a need for housing, to include joint custody, visitation and other instances listed in the Marine Corps Order on housing (Marine Corps Order P11000.22), BAH will not be withheld, Fried- man added. According to MAR- ADMIN 429/11, BAH requests for sergeants and below will continue to be denied until bar- racks across the base are operating at 95 percent capacity. This will not affect the BAH status of already approved sergeants and below living off base. For information on qualification for BAH, consult MCO P11000.22 or contact the Installation Personnel Administrative Center at 228-2739 for Parris Island or 228-8434 for Marine Corps Air Sta- tion Beaufort. The Parris Island Boot Friday, August 19, 2011 Around the Corps 5

Lance Cpl. Justin R. Stein A scout sniper serving with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's maritime raid force sights in from a helicopter during counter-piracy and counter-terrorism training Sunday.

Lance Cpl. Ryan Carpenter A Navy boat launched from USS New Orleans Aug. 12 carries maritime raid force members of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The force’s assault element practiced boarding vessels from the ocean’s surface miles from Southern during the unit's first sea-based exercise since becoming a complete Marine air-ground task force in May. Raid on mock pirated vessel planned, launched from sea base

Gunnery Sgt. Scott Dunn UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters, one 11th MEU carrying scout snipers with high-pow- ered rifles. PACIFIC OCEAN — Training to re- The Marines apprehended a small take a hijacked seagoing vessel, mari- group of actors portraying terrorists- Gunnery Sgt. Scott Dunn time raiders boarded their floating ob- cum-pirates, seized small-arms weapons A UH-1Y Venom piloted by Capts. Kyle Wilt and Joshua Gordon lifts from the jective miles from Southern California's and returned the vessel to its owner. amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island Sunday to fly snipers supporting a San Clemente Island Sunday, while The 11th MEU embarked the am- counter-piracy training mission miles from Southern California’s San Clemente overhead, helicopters flew unseen snip- phibious assault ship Makin Island and Island. Wilt serves with a detachment of skid-landing helicopters attached to ers and heavy guns. the amphibious transport dock New Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced), the aviation combat The raid force’s assault element – Ma- Orleans Aug. 10 in San Diego, begin- element of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit. rines and sailors serving with the 11th ning a 12-day exercise with the Navy's Marine Expeditionary Unit – launched Amphibious Squadron 5. Having sailed from USS New Orleans on Navy rigid- from San Diego four days ago, this Navy hulled inflatable boats, executing coun- and Marine Corps team began working ter-piracy and counter-terrorism tactics together at sea for the first time since rehearsed days before – essentially vis- the unit formed a complete Marine air- iting, boarding, searching and seizing ground task force in May. an ocean vessel. The team has planned and conducted From USS Makin Island, the unit’s its first few training missions from the aviation combat element launched four sea, with more scheduled in the coming of its skid-landing helicopters: a pair of days, including an operation extending AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and two as far inland as Yuma, Ariz. The Parris Island Boot Friday, August 19, 2011 Inside news 6 MSG team briefs aboard the Depot

Lance Cpl. F.J. Abundes cers and for watch standers for Staff Writer sergeant and below,” said Staff Sgt. Anthony Lappe, one of the The Marine Security Guard team members. recruiting, advertising and “Marines hear the rumors screening team visited Marine about what qualifies them for Corps Recruit Depot Parris Is- the program,” Rose said. land Monday to brief all Marines The team members say they interested in the program. believe many Marines don’t ap- The team came to give Ma- ply because they think certain rines ranking from lance cor- things such as tattoos or their poral to gunnery sergeant in- military occupational specialities formation regarding MSG duty disqualify them from the duty. directly from those who have Lappe said he made sure the a first-hand experience, and to Marines understood how well iterate the career benefits of this duty could benefit them in making the desicion to be an their civilian or military careers. MSG. “We give Marines their top “A lot of Marines just don't secret clearance, educational know what the MSG program opportunities, 100 points toward Lance Cpl. F.J. Abundes has to offer,” said Staff Sgt. their cutting score, and other Staff Sgt. Anthony Lappe, a member of the Marine Security Guard recruiting, advertising and Cydney Rose, one of the team ways to be promoted on the pro- screening team, speaks with Marines Monday at the depot theater about the benefits of being a members. “We are here to gram,” Rose said. Marine Security Guard. spread the correct word about The primary mission of MSG the MSG program.” is to provide internal security at The brief was held at the de- 148 designated U.S. diplomatic pot theater. and consular facilities in 133 “We’re looking for qualified countries and to provide protec- Marines to fill the positions as tion for U.S. citizens and govern- detachment commanders for ment property located within staff noncommissioned offi- those facilities.

Staff Sgt. Cydney Rose Special to The Boot Marine Security Guard students learn handcuffing techniques at their school in Quantico, Va.

SERGEANTS be allowed to extend for seven The ultimate goal is to have than 10 years of service and an talk to your career planner.” continued from page 1 months until the next staff ser- sergeants promoted to staff ser- EAS date allowing for 13 years, To contact your command geant board to allow an addi- geant by eight and a half years, he will be grandfathered and career planner: for Headquar- tional chance for promotion. Zuniga explained. Staying up to allowed to continue his service ters and Service Battalion However, if a Marine is passed date on proper military educa- until their assigned date. planner call 228-3269, Weap- board will list eligible sergeants up for staff sergeant twice and tion, basic training and holding “The most important thing is ons and Field Training Bat- as “selected” or “not selected.” his EAS date allows less than a special duty assignment can to make sure your [official mil- talion call 228-3316, Recruit Sergeants who were passed 10 years of service, the ser- help in looking more competi- itary personnel files] are up to Training Regiment call 228- up the first time and have less geant will still be processed for tive for the selection board. date and correct,” Zuniga said. 2264 or 6th Marine Corps Dis- than 10 years of service will administrative separation. Now, if a sergeant has more “If you have any questions left, trict call 228-2092.