ASVAB Shootin’ up Targets Policy Affects Re-Testing Rules
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September 1, 2009 Issue 19 New ASVAB Shootin’ up targets policy affects re-testing rules Story and photo by Lance Cpl. Jerrick J. Griffin The Convoy Staff MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – A new policy in ef- fect Sept. 1 gives new rules for Marines who want to retake the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. According to Marine Corps Order 1230.5B, no Marine will be allowed to re- take the ASVAB without permission from his or her command. “Marines used to come and take the ASVAB on their own,” said Pat Jeffress, branch manager for the Joint Education Center here. “It became a problem when some Marines ended up with lower scores and their command didn’t know that they had even retaken the ASVAB.” Under the new order, Marines are only allowed to retest for the following reasons: to meet the score for formal schools, spe- cial duty assignments, and retraining in other Military Occupational Specialties, to Photo by Cpl. Jacob A. Singsank meet the basic requirement for reenlist- Lance Cpl. Alex J. Olivares, 20, from San Antonio, and Lance Cpl. Matthew S. Lundh, 22, from Chicago, military policemen ment options, to meet the prerequisites with Military Police Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, work as a team to fire the M-240 for enlisted-to-officer programs and to G machine gun at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug. 28. The Marines were training for their upcoming deployment. replace test scores not retrievable from the Marine Corps Total Force System or the Official Military Personnel file held at Headquarters Marine Corps. S-3 officer pushes Marines to succeed Even if a Marine has permission from See ASVAB, PAGE 2 Story by Pfc. Khoa N. Pelczar poster advertisement with Chesty The Convoy Staff Puller holding a sword, and his mom joked with him about how he should MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP join the Corps. He gave her the PENDLETON, Calif. – A young child same answer every time, ‘No way who wanted to become an architect mom, because they kill people.’ ended up enlisting to be a part of the As he became of age, a recruiter brotherhood of the Marine Corps. called him and gave him another Growing up, all Capt. Alexis option to consider after graduating Sanchez wanted to do was de- high school. A bit wiser and after sign works of art, so he went to a seeing another kid at school who fine performing arts high school to was in the Delayed Entry Program, study and prepare his art portfolio Sanchez decided that it was time for to be submitted to a college. With a change, so he walked right up to a sudden change of heart, 18-year- the recruiting station and enlisted. old Sanchez decided he wanted to After Sanchez was enlisted for Staff Sgt. Michael L. Ward reads become a Marine. seven and a half years, he figured over the Armed Services Voca- Sanchez, the operations officer it was time for another change, but tional Aptitude Battery at the for S-3, Headquarters Company, wasn’t ready to leave the Corps Joint Education Center Aug. 26. Photo by Lance Cpl. Jerrick J. Griffin Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st yet. So he earned a commission Starting Sept. 1, a new policy Marine Logistics Group, remembers Capt. Alexis Sanchez runs to third pertaining to Marines retaking when he first saw the Marine Corps See OFFICER, PAGE 2 base during a softball game Aug. 27. the ASVAB will go into effect. Page 1 September 1, 2009, Issue 19 RCT-3 Marines implement methodology to understand local problems Story by Sgt. Scott Whittington Marine to get the information. The Regimental Combat Team 3 method is designed to be uncompli- cated so that any Marine of any rank HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan can gather public concerns. — There’s a new weapon in the arsenal “You have to have people skills,” said of Marines and it’s considered a key to Lance Cpl. Jasmin A. Gagnon, 23, civil winning a war against an insurgency, but affairs specialist. The Falls Church, Va., it doesn’t fire or explode. native added, “It would just be awkward Marines from 4th Civil Affairs Group, to walk up and ask questions without attached to Regimental Combat Team establishing a rapport.” 3, use a method known as Tactical “I’m very encouraged by the intelli- Conflict Assessment Planning and gence of the Marines and locals,” said Framework to engage the local popu- DeFrancisci, a Melbourne, Fla., native. lace to get feedback on sources of in- “The fact that we’re listening is key to stability, according to Lt. Col. Leonard building a relationship (with the Afghan J. DeFrancisci, CAG detachment com- people.)” mander, RCT-3. The method uses basic questions and Tactical Conflict Assessment Plan- any local citizen can be interviewed, ning and Framework is a standard- not just key leaders. The questions ized diagnostic tool, created by United were designed to get to the root causes States Agency for International Devel- of instability, not just the surface. The Photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau opment and used since 2006 in mul- Marines then aggregate these answers Maj. George Anikow, Civil Affairs detachment executive officer with Regi- tiple countries. locally, and work by, with and through mental Combat Team 3, jokes with local children during a patrol in Helmand “Our goal is to go out and see what the Afghan government to solve the Province, Afghanistan, Aug. 18. the problems are in the eyes of the lo- problems. cals,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Wil- “One problem isn’t unique from village “We can direct resources to address people, they have met a few challenges. liam L. Lowry, civil affairs specialist and to village,” said Sgt. Scott M. Spaulding, the most significant problems,” said De- “People in certain areas are still intimi- corpsmen with the 4th CAG detach- civil affairs noncommissioned officer and Francisci. “Since the local populace is a dated by the enemy,” said DeFrancisci. ment, and Tampa, Fla., native. “We de- Milford, Del., native. “TCAPF should be center of gravity in a counterinsurgency “They aren’t always willing to work with termine if we should bring the Afghan kept at a local level.” operation, this tool helps us focus on that, us. Establishing consistent presence government in to foster a relationship.” For example, one community may which is the people.” over time, they’ll realize we are the good Due to the limited amount of local have a lack of drinkable water. Another Every Marine outside the wire focuses guys.” government assets, the Marines take village two miles away may have a need on the threats of enemy contact and IED “We do what we say, and we say what part in assessing the locals’ status, us- for more security or access to medical strikes, but the CAG Marines deal with an we do,” stressed DeFrancisci. “We’ll de- ing TCAPF. But it doesn’t take a CAG services. additional issue. In interactions with the liver on our promises.” concept in my career,” Sanchez said. OFFICER “You can always learn something from Continued from Page 1 anyone.” Sanchez said he treats his Marines the Marine Corps Enlisted Commis- the way he would treat his children. He sioning Education Program. spends time with them to get to know “Having the enlisted background, it them and help them do well. gives me the sanity check, I know what “I want to be able to wake up every works and what doesn’t,” said San- morning and push my kids to do their chez, 31, from Paterson, N.J. best by mere example. That translates Having been prior enlisted, Sanchez to my professional career by wanting can relate to enlisted Marines, which to push my Marines to do their best by has helped him out tremendously in setting the example as well,” said San- his job. chez. As the S-3 operations officer, his job Sanchez likes to meet people in per- Photo by Lance Cpl. Jerrick J. Griffin is to develop a pre-deployment training son, and he said doing so makes it eas- Sgt. Gabriel Sotelo looks up information about the Armed Services Vocational plan, which involves attending meet- ier to actually get to know that person. Aptitude Battery at the Camp Pendleton Joint Education Center Aug. 26. ings to discuss different types of train- In the process, he is able to get out of ing and coordinating with subordinate the office and meet a lot of people. by the Marine’s command. units and outside agencies. One way he likes to spend time outside ASVAB “The six-month period between retak- “If I take time to do a detailed plan the office is participating in one of Head- Continued from Page 1 ing the test will give Marines time to study now, it would eliminate a lot of head- quarters Company’s softball teams. and actually get a better score instead of aches down the road,” Sanchez said. “I enjoy participating on the softball their command to retake the ASVAB, if just taking it again right after you just took “Marines would be able to train properly team because it allows me to engage they already have the minimum score for it,” Jeffress said. with no downtime. Knowing that I have the Marines outside of work, and I be- an assignment, he or she will not be al- Marines who participate in the Military contributed to something that would af- lieve it builds camaraderie,” said San- lowed to retest to increase their score.