Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego -- Department of Defense employees in the Executive Leadership Development Program spent the day as a recruit at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Jan. 6.
“The purpose of the ELDP is to give leadership experience and a better understanding to DoD employees who may one day be deciding on doctrine that will affect training or functionality in a service branch,” said John Norton, lead facilitator, Executive Leadership Development Program Class 2015. “The class is made up of a very selective group of middle management leaders who are being groomed for potential senior executive positions within the DoD.”
Norton explained that over the year, the ELDP Class 2015 will tour various military installations around the world to help gain experience and build a better foundation of all of the facets that encompass the DoD.
“As we go on tour, we like to talk to people and figure out how things work and take those experiences back to our organizations,” said Shon Farley, staff officer, Geospatial Intelligence. “As we move up the chain, we’ll be able to make the best decisions to guide the force.”
Their tour stopped at the depot to show steps in the process of transformation from civilian to Marine.
“Since none of us (in the class) work for Marines, it was a real highlight to be able to understand how we can help (Marines), what they need, how they function and what their structure is,” said Farley. “I think we all have a profound respect for the physical fitness Marines have to remain in, the weapons training and how you lead, because this is a leadership development program, so one of the key things is learning how other leaders lead from the lowest level to the highest level. How the Marine Corps does things is really important to us.”
To get a true idea of the transformation process, the class received a first-hand experience of what it’s like to be a real Marine Corps recruit. Drill instructors were introduced, took charge and caused havoc and chaos on the class, holding each class member to the highest expectations just like they would a recruit.
“I have an appreciation for what the drill instructors do and understand they’re trying to instill that shock and awe so they can mold and shape you into a better person,” said Farley, a prior enlisted Air Force service member. “Coming from a different service, it’s given me more of a respect for the Marine Corps. When you say Marines you always think of hardened, tough people, but you never really know what goes into the process of making that. Here, we got to see first-hand how that process really works, which made me think my Air Force boot camp wasn’t that bad!”
During their time on the depot, the ELDP class toured various facilities and performed the log drill event and bayonet assault course. Drill instructors gave the class no slack in their performance of the events, making some groups perform extra exercises if they failed to follow directions.
“It was physically challenging,” said Farley. “Even as a team, it allowed us to work on our leadership skills because we don’t want to leave anybody behind. It was helping us to bond and grow as a team. It was good conflict management as well. When you’re getting yelled at you need to think ‘how am I going to respond, how am I going to turn this situation into something positive?’ What’s inside of me that I can stand on and say ‘no matter what, I’m going to make it through this; I’m going to help others get through this.’ It was an awesome experience.”
After concluding the events, the class transitioned to Edson Range, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., where they slept in the squad bays, just as recruits would. They were issued gear and prepared for their next day activities at the School of Infantry. The following week, the ELDP class returned to the depot, this time slightly timid, and saw the product of this transformation at the recruit training graduation ceremony.
“It was good to see young men transform from what they were to what they are now,” said Farley. “It’s a coming of age, rite of passage, and I can really see the difference from when they got their heads shaved to now. They’re all really sharp and on cue and are better men for going through that process.”
The class left the depot with a new outlook to help them lead the future of the DoD. Their experiences will help one day shape the course and decisions that will affect service members from the bottom up.
“The experience we had was awesome,” said Farley. “The people who worked with us were awesome. The Marine Corps is a very classy organization. Hopefully the class next year will get the same experience.”