HIGH STAKES LEGISLATIVE POKER 8 NOVEMBER 2015 Making Marines page 18 9 Senate Passes NDAA 17 FRA’s Newest Life Members !!%%"+++$*,+,,&+#&+$,,#,' ,,'*),+ 7-<1-$-(<,- (<4'("'<%-<5- $%(<<<<6$%(- "$<%'<; "'<+'%'($<5-'-(%"' 5*47906;.<#671<,9*:<4;:+65;<;0!3;0</8751<82.<9/769283<5925;83;.<58::, <&;87*:; We are extremely pleased to honor Military Veterans 9/769283<5925;83 with a new and exclusive U.S. Military Bomber Jacket 58::, <&;87*:; inspired by the historic A-1 Bomber. • Your jacket will be customized with a woven U.S. Navy Service Branch patch in authentic thread colors as shown here. • Features include your choice of black or brown Top Grain leather, tailored with outside storm flap, pleated bi-swing back, knit cuffs and waistband, two side-entry double welt pockets, two large front-flapped cargo pockets, nylon inner lining with fiberfill and heavy-duty jacket zipper. • A further option is two inner pockets to secure valuables, which are fitted with “Concealed Carry” pocket holster straps for those licensed to carry a firearm. • Bomber Jacket comes in sizes ranging from small to 3XL (sizes 2XL–3XL are $25 extra.) • Created in partnership with Burks Bay of Minnesota and backed by our Veterans Commemoratives warranty - You may return your jacket within 30 days of purchase for replacement or refund - no questions asked! • Thank you priced at just $199, with an interest-free payment plan available. (See order form for details). &:;;</:9*.<79<!;<8<+;7;:82 6//;:</*33<#671<;851<9:.;:< ,9*<18+;<;8:2;.<71;<:617<79<#;8:<7164<4/;5683<85;7 IF YOU WEAR THIS SIZE: 34-36 38-40 42-44 46-48 50-52 54-56 5833<7933<&:;;<79<9:.;:)< † † 4662 Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm EST. Have Credit card ready. 9(<0"<%-) Veterans Commemoratives™ Two Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 120, Radnor, PA 19087-4599 ORDER BY DECEMBER 6TH FOR CHRISTMAS DELIVERY! ,;4I wish to order my Navy Service Bomber Jacket customized as follows: 5:;.67<58:.) Visa MasterCard AMEX Discover 5939:)< Black Leather Brown Leather CC#: _______________________________________ Exp. Date: ____ / ____ 46;)< (See chart above) S M LG XL 2XL† 3XL† Card Security Code (CSC)__________ Signature: ______________________ 063678:,<4;:+65;<!90!;:<85;7)....................................... $ 199.00 416//62<8..:;44) (We CANNOT ship to P.O. Boxes) Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Conceal Carry Feature (add $30)................................. $___________ Name ________________________________________________________ †Sizes 2XL to 3XL (add $25) ....................................... $___________ Plus Shipping & Handling................................................ $ 19.95 Address ______________________________________________________ TOTAL DUE: ..................................................................... $___________ City___________________________ State_____ Zip __________________ 6</:;&;:<79</8,<84<&9339#4) Phone # (_________) ____________________________________________ Enclosed is my check for the Total Due payable to “Veterans Commemoratives” Charge my credit card, as indicated at right, for the Total Due Email__________________________________________________________ Charge my credit card in two equal interest-free monthly payments © ICM 2015 ELITE-CC-NA-1115 &9:<971;:<&62;<063678:,<85;74<5900;09:876+;<#8751;4<:624< <855;449:6;4<+6467<*4<92362;<87<+;7590590 November 2015 Volume 94 Number 11 1 Featured FRA TODAY 18 MAKING MARINES NOVEMBER 2015 Transforming civilians into Marines is no small feat, but Marine Corps Drill Instructors do just that in an intense 12-week period of induction, more commonly known as recruit training. These exceptional Marines are the epitome of fitness and discipline and, by their own example, cultivate esprit de corps and extreme pride in the recruits they train and mentor. Departments 18 2 COMMUNICATIONS 12 4 FROM THE FANTAIL Drill Instructors and Company Commanders: Mentoring Future Leaders 6 SHIPMATE FORUM 8 ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL High Stakes Legislative Poker 16 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Profiles in Outreach 17 FRA NEW LIFE MEMBERS 28 TAPS 29 LOOKING FOR… / REUNIONS 30 NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES 32 NEWS FROM THE AUXILIARY OF THE FRA A Year in Photos LOYALTY, PROTECTION AND SERVICE ON THE COVER FRA IS A CONGRESSIONALLY CHARTERED, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Drill Instructor Sgt Jonathan B. Reeves inspects ADVOCATING FOR CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE and disciplines recruits with Platoon 1085, Charlie U.S. NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD ON CAPITOL HILL. FOR Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, at Marine MORE INFORMATION ON THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE VISIT Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina. WWW.FRA.ORG OR CALL 800-FRA-1924. Photo by PFC Aaron Bolser. COMMUNICATIONS 2 NATIONAL OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS National President John D. Ippert, Honolulu Branch 46 National Vice President Virgil P. Courneya, High Sierra Branch 274 National Executive Dir. Thomas J. Snee, Navy Department Branch 181 Honoring Shipmates, Stephen R. Cox Finance Officer NOVEMBER 2015 Junior PNP Mark Kilgore, Pensacola Branch 22 Veterans and Marines Lauren Armstrong National Parliamentarian PNP J. C. “Jim” Eblen, Imperial Beach NOVEMBER IS AN AUSPICIOUS month in the FRA universe. For starters, Branch 289 FRA TODAY the Association will mark its 91st birthday on November 11th, com- National Chaplain William H. Hall, GEM State Branch 382 memorating the date that our founding fathers established the Fleet REGIONAL PRESIDENTS Reserve Association in Philadelphia. George Carlin and Bob White had a vision to give the enlisted community a voice on Capitol Hill and I Northeast / New England Floyd G. Hunt, Iroquois Branch 214 think they’d be pleased to know the work they started back in 1924 con- East Coast John J. Willis, Ocean View Branch 60 Southeast Larry L. Cox, Low Country Branch 269 tinues to pay dividends for enlisted personnel and their families today. North Central Curry Sanders, Mo Kan Branch 161 That date is also the day our nation pays tribute to its veterans — all South Central Michael D. Oliver, Old Naval Home who served in uniform. Veterans’ Day is a day to honor their service Branch 307 and sacrifice, and FRA will host and/or be represented at a variety of Southwest Agustive A. Hermes, Jr., Chula Vista Branch 61 ceremonies and services around the country, including the national West Coast Larry S. Briggs, Jr., Silver Dollar Branch 192 Veterans’ Day ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery. Many mili- Northwest Michael H. Archer, Cheyenne Branch 59 tary retirees don’t see themselves as veterans , but everyone who served and was honorably separated from service can proudly claim the title, ACTIVE DUTY ADVISORY COUNCIL as well as a variety of benefits available through the Department of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Michael Stevens Veterans Affairs (VA). FRA’s involvement with veterans isn’t limited to Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Ronald Green parades and speaking engagements on November 11th. Our legislative Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven Cantrell advocacy includes work to protect and enhance the VA benefits our RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL members earned through their service to our nation. Force Master Chief of the Navy Reserve Clarence “CJ” Mitchell November also includes the Marine Corps’ birthday and many FRA USMC Reserve Force Sergeant Major Anthony Spadaro shipmates will celebrate the Corps’ 240th year of existence on November Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force 10th. In honor of this important occasion, we’ve chosen to highlight an Eric Johnson icon of the Corps — USMC Drill Instructors — as the subject of this month’s feature story. I had the privilege of interviewing some of the FRA TODAY MAGAZINE senior leadership of the Drill Instructor School at Marine Corps Recruit The monthly membership publication of the Fleet Reserve Association Depot San Diego. By coincidence, I happened to be there on a recruit Publisher Fleet Reserve Association training graduation day and it was truly awe-inspiring to see hundreds National Executive Director Thomas J. Snee of newly-minted Marines, all sinew and pride, walking around the base. Communications Director Lauren Armstrong Most were accompanied by parents, grandparents, siblings and girl- Managing Editor William Kohudic friends who all wore obvious signs of pride in their Marine — smiles, Contributing Photographer Paul Gunther adoring looks and t-shirts emblazoned with messages such as “My son Design and Art Direction is a Marine.” FIREBRAND, Alexandria, VA www.firebrandstudios.com Design Director Scott Rodgerson As part of my research for the story, I asked Marine Private Cole Production Manager Sandy Jones Forbey, a new graduate from Bravo Company, what he’d learned from his DI that he thought would serve him well during his USMC career. FRA TODAY (ISSN 1935-7192) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., “Discipline, ma’am,” he replied, without hesitation. “When your par- ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754. A MEMBER’S SUBSCRIPTION IS COVERED BY THE MEMBER’S ANNUAL DUES. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ALEXANDRIA, VA AND ADDITIONAL ents tell you to clean your room or do something, you can blow it off. OFFICES. PUBLICATION OF NON-SPONSORED ADVERTISING IN FRA TODAY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE FRA OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES. POSTMASTER: But there’s no slacking here. And that discipline becomes a habit.” SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: MEMBER SERVICES, FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, Forbey’s response illuminated several points. His military bearing, VA 22314-2754.