Transcript writer Tony Pennington and photographer Kevin Ellis are taking part in the weeklong Educators Workshop sponsored by the USMC. They will share their pictures and stories of the young men and women as they complete the boot camp and become Marines.
By Tony Pennington
Transcript Staff Writer
Military service isn't for everyone, and yet most civilians have an image or a perception of the men and women wearing the uniform. From the movies, the evening news or newspapers, there are plenty of outlets for general information.
But what would movtivate a person to enlist? What happens at boot camp?
In an effort to provide a more acurate picture of the process from recruit to Marine, the United States Marine Corps sponsors an Educators Workshop once a year for media members, counselors and educators. This year 13 interested individuals from Oklahoma signed up for a week in San Diego, Calif., to tour the training process. Beginning today, the Marines will open their doors and give the members of the workshop access to the young men and women hoping to prove themselves worthy of wearing the globe and anchor.
"The workshop is to help the average person to actually see what Marine training is all about," said Staff. Sgt. Kent Pendleton, 26. "Nothing is staged. This is exactly what Marine Corps basic training is. You will see the change in an individual from day one. It's the whole process."
Throughout the week, the tour will visit various training areas and recruits in different stages of boot camp. They will learn what Norman recruiter Sgt. Shane Weeks said awaited him when he chose the armed forces as a career.
"Recruiters were at one time a 17-year-old facing the same uncertainties," Weeks said. "I just didn't wake up one day as a 24- year-old sergeant."
As the new would-be Marines place their feet on the yellow footprints today at the induction center, it will be for different reasons: pride, duty, service. But each one, according to Weeks, is there because he or she wants to be.
"It's an internal drive," he said. "These are individuals not looking for money or bonuses. It's something they feel they need to give to their country."
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Transcript Photo by Kevin Ellis
Discussion
Tell it to the Marines
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