Developing a collaborative and productive team is one of the Recreation and Wellness Center’s goals and staff members showed their commitment to students during a trip to the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, June 24-28. RWC Director James Wilkening and Coordinator of Facilities and Aquatics Lacey Carter participated in Marine Officer training hosted by the Marine Corps Recruiting Command in an effort to hone in on their leadership skills and gain a better understanding of what men and women entering the Marine Corps go through.
During the four-day “MCRC Educators’ and Key Leader’s Workshop” Wilkening and Carter trained like Marine recruits receiving briefs on education and training benefits, patrolling with Marine officers and firing M-16 service rifles at the Officer Candidates School. They attended a Sunset Parade at the Marine War Memorial in Washington, D.C. and toured the Marine Helicopter Squadron [HMX-1] and President’s Squadron.
Carter, in her seventh year at the RWC, says if she had any questions about the Marine way of life, she doesn’t anymore. “The experience was great. It left me very intrigued with Marine life. I would definitely encourage students interested in joining the military after graduation to become an officer and look into joining the Marines. They promote core values of honor, courage, and commitment and create great leaders through tough mental, physical, and emotional training.”
For more information about the workshop, visit www.MarineOfficer.com. To view more photos, go to: www.flickr.com/photos/marinecorpsrecruitingcommand.
RWC is funded by the SGA. Its continuing mission is to enrich campus life through efficient services, comprehensive programs and high-quality facilities that foster healthy lifestyles.