MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Corporals Course 4-11 graduated 18 Marines in a ceremony in the Corporals Course classroom here Feb. 3.
“The Corporals Course instills a feeling of confidence in their leadership abilities as well as a comfort in the content they have encountered,” said Staff Sgt. Anabell Nevels, Corporals Course chief instructor and staff noncommissioned officer-incharge.
Throughout the 20 training days, the corporals train in close-order drill, sword manual, guidon manual, physical conditioning, academics, promotion system, proficiency and conduct, operational risk management, communications, leadership, land navigation, joint operations, improvised explosive devices, tactical communication and war fighting.
“Corporals Course is a period of military education that provides the Marine corporal with the education and leadership skills necessary to lead Marines,” said Nevels.
The corporals who go through this course not only gain knowledge and leadership but also how to work together as a team.
“The Corporals Course is an ongoing PME that allows the Marines to be knowledgeable and proficient war fighters,” said Sgt. Maj. David J. Wimberly, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni sergeant major. “The Corporals Course has a heavy focus on leadership traits as well as working with their peers and building their minds and bodies.”
Every Marine who attends Corporals is instilled with the same leadership qualities.
“I use what I learned in Corporals Course every day,” said Cpl. Andrea Olguin, station combat photographer who attended a previous Corporals Course here. “I think that being in Corporals Course taught me more about mentoring Marines instead of just being hard on them. “
The course helps those who are more focused in one area, such as correcting the junior Marine or encouraging the Marine, to even it out, and gives confidence in leadership capabilities,” said Olguin.
Corporals Course also teaches newly promoted corporals and Marines who have been corporals for a while things they might not have known.
“I feel the course turned me into a better NCO and taught me many things I didn’t already know, reinforced some things I did know, and provided guidance on things I thought I might have known but maybe had the wrong idea or impression of,” said Cpl. Michael A. Clemmens, Corporals Course 4-11 honor graduate.
To attend Corporals Course, one must be a corporal or lance corporal slated to pick up before graduation day.
The Corporals Course instructors are sergeants who have already gone through Sergeants Course.
These instructors pass on to the Marines attending Corporals Course what they learned in Sergeants Course and their daily experiences in the Marine Corps.
Whether it becomes a mandatory resident course or not, all corporals are encouraged to attend in order to build and improve their leadership capabilities.
The next Corporals Course is scheduled to begin March 2 and graduate March 29.