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CEPAT Inside the Military Setting A Firsthand Look at Athletic Training for the Marine Corps By Jess Vera Cruz, M.s.ed., VaTL, aTC 50 percent leadership. You pass the stan- My resumé included recommendations NaTa CePaT CoMMittee dards or you go home – period! from an Army physician and a Navy physi- cian. My third recommendation was from he Marine Corps’ GETTING THE JOB the GMU Team Physician, who was prior Sports Medicine Prior to changing job settings, I was an Navy. I accepted the position over the and Injury Pre- assistant AT at George Mason University phone while at an NCAA Division I track vention (SMIP) from 1997-2004. I would not have said this and field meet in Austin, TX. I didn’t know program started at the beginning of my collegiate career, it at the time, but the SMIP program was in 2003. The mis- but my years working track and field pre- in a pilot-program stage. I took a leap of sion of the SMIP pared me for a lot of the injuries that occur faith when I started this job in July 2004. athletic trainer is at OCS. Overuse types of injuries are to reduce injury always within the top three at OCS because JOB STRUCTURE attrition by prevention. Currently 27 ath- the volume of running is similar to how a The first five years of my job was a con- Tletic trainers work within the SMIP at distance runner trains. Add to that lack tracted position for two different com- entry-level training sites around the nation. of sleep, poor nutrition, no stretching, no panies. In 2010, my position was con- I am the only athletic trainer at Officer Can- recovery periods, a lot of Marine motiva- verted to government service or federal didates School (OCS) and have been per- tion and one can understand why overuse worker. One of the biggest differences forming this job since 2004. injuries occur. I noticed about being a federal worker Established in 1917, U.S. Marine Base Athletic training students, staff and versus a collegiate athletic trainer was Quantico, Va., the Crossroads of Marine even the officer candidates are constantly having a pay scale. The workers' position Corps, serves as the place where “vital asking me how I came to be at OCS. I descriptions dictate the pay scale. The pay concepts, training, and equipment of the remember it like it was yesterday! I was scale allows me to look into my potential future are developed.” OCS resides in a looking at the Placement Vacancy Notices earnings as I move forward in my career, small corner of this base and is the only on the NATA Career Center and read a something that was missing as an AT at the Marine Corps facility in the nation serving company heading named “CRAssociates.” collegiate level. as the proving ground for future Marine I was going to skip it, but curiosity got the Yearly, we evaluate ourselves and officers. The mission of OCS is to “train, best of me. I read the company’s name submit performance reviews. For hard evaluate, and screen officer candidates to again and panned to the right side of the work, we are sometimes awarded cash or ensure they possess the moral, intellec- screen and read “Quantico, Va.” Being a time off through the Performance Award tual and physical qualities for commis- Navy brat, I knew Quantico was a Marine Review Board (PARB). Cash awards are sion; and the leadership potential to serve base. I sent in a resumé, not knowing that dependent on the military budget. The successfully as company grade officers a former George Mason general practice advantages of working for the federal gov- in the operating forces.” Potential officer doctor was on the search committee for ernment are many, but there are also some candidates are vetted through a highly the position. Not only was this physician negatives. For example, this year we are competitive recruiting process. The offi- just recently promoted to a Navy Captain, currently subjected to sequestration. The cer candidates are graded on 25 percent he was also the Senior Medical Officer of majority of Department of Defense work- physical fitness, 25 percent academic, and the clinic with which I would work closely. ers will be taking one day off without pay 36 | NATAnews | OCTOBER 2013 CEPAT per week until the end of the fiscal year for exercise science degree combined with a Those who need quick medical evalua- a total of 11 days. degree in physical education. Just like in tions or are in need of taping and feel that The 27 ATs within the program prob- the athletic world, we work together to pro- they can make training will come to me for ably do things a little differently at each vide the best training environment for our further screening. The officer candidates entry-level training site. I believe we fill the Officer Candidates. who cannot make training due to injury go medical gaps within each of our commands. directly to the clinic. The Navy provides all medical services for A TYPICAL DAY After performing the duties at the the Marine Corps. The Army and Air Force A typical day for me starts at 0500 in the SATR, I arrive at my main Athletic Train- have their own medical personnel. ATs are morning, which means I am up at 0350 and ing Room (ATR) in Branch Hall, which not here to replace Navy Medicine; we are on the road by 0430. I arrive at the Satel- is a building named after the first Afri- here to add sports medicine to sites that lite Athletic Training Room (SATR) located can-American Marine Officer who served may not have trained personnel. I am fortu- within the candidates’ barracks. This room in World War II and the Korean War. The nate that the brunt of medical care at OCS is designed to be mobile, comprised mainly ATR contains all of the equipment typically is handled by the Naval Health Clinic. This of supplies and taping/treatment tables. found in any small ATR in the country. I allows me to concentrate on the prevention generally will see if the clinic needs any piece of my job. If I do my job well, Navy help or go to the field. Medicine should see fewer injuries. Every officer If I go to the clinic, I evaluate and treat officer candidates. Now, since injury rates HIERARCHY candidate that are low, the volume of candidates is easily My position has two bosses. I answer to handled by the clinic and most of the time the Senior Medical Officer of the Navy has stood in I am not needed. Out in the field, I perform clinic for anything that is associated with the duties of a typical athletic trainer in medical care for officer candidates and front of me has the traditional sense. I assist in preparing staff. I report to the Commanding Officer the officer candidate for transport when (CO) of OCS to provide him information the willingness needed. The difference is Navy Corpsmen to aid him in making informed decisions and Marines in tactical vehicles transport regarding training. I am considered a sub- to volunteer, injuries off the field. The rest of the day ject matter expert. If any training is causing is filled with taking care of staff members, an increase in injuries, it is my job to pro- knowing that entering data, attending meetings and pre- vide the CO different courses of actions to paring for future classes. The manpower mitigate the problem. they will be in hours to make this place run smoothly is The hierarchy of OCS is very similar incredible. I am involved in anything that to the college athletic world. The athletic harm’s way in relates to candidate training, especially director would be the commanding offi- sports medicine. cer. The CO has an administrative staff, less than a year. One thing I don’t miss from the colle- maintenance and transportation, public giate level is preparing water before prac- relations, supply and operations similar to The spirit of tice! Here at OCS, Marines truck around what an athletic director would have work- watering bowls. I brief them on proper ing for him. Teams consist of various offi- patriotism flows hydration during the first week of training, cer candidate classes throughout the year. but the candidates are in charge of refilling Each company has staff members who through every their hydration systems and canteens. Mix- act like coaches during physical training. able products, such as sports drinks, are The strength and conditioning coach in one of these kids. done by them at night in the squad bays. athletics is a Physical Training Instructor Every officer candidate that has stood at OCS. The British Royal Marine Com- If the command needs the space, all the in front of me has the willingness to vol- mandos have been providing us a Physical equipment within the room can be moved unteer, knowing that they will be in harm’s Training Instructor (PTI) for a number of quickly and easily. I usually spend about way in less than a year. The spirit of patri- years. The US Marine Corps does not have 30 minutes or an hour here every morning, otism flows through every one of these a specific job for physical fitness, but the six days a week. This time is equivalent to kids. I used to get paid to help that athlete commandos do. These British PTIs have the 30 minutes before practice starts when win.

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