Face of Defense: Marine Recruit Strives for Leadership Role

By Marine Corps Cpl. Walter Marino III

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego

SAN DIEGO  – Most everyone sets goals for their lives. Marine recruits are no different, and many enter training hoping to earn a leadership position. However, goals sometimes take more time to achieve than expected and for one recruit, it took most of boot camp to get within reach of a leadership billet.

Throughout recruit training, Marine Corps Pvt. Zachery T. Douthitt, Platoon 3242, Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, strived to be a squad leader or guide. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until the later stages of training that his drill instructors noticed his upstanding character.

“He’s been a good recruit this whole cycle,” said Sgt. Alanser Uruo, the platoon’s senior drill instructor. “He always puts out in all the events, whether it’s physically training, drill or guided discussions.”

Out of a platoon of 60 recruits, only four are selected as squad leaders and one as platoon guide.

At 5 feet 4 inches, Douthitt, a 20-year-old native of Muncie, Ind., is one of the smaller recruits in his platoon. He also has a calm demeanor and is soft spoken. While that didn’t make him a bad recruit, it did make it harder for him to get noticed.

“I always tried to show leadership characteristics,” said Douthitt. “I don’t know why I wasn’t picked. I hope to get recognized after boot camp to show I did give everything I have.”

Uruo said that it’s possible for Douthitt to pick up a leadership role in the Corps if he does three things: “All he has to do is stand out, be more vocal [and] take more initiative.”

Although Douthitt was a good recruit, Uruo said, it took until the second and third phase of recruit training to notice his outstanding positive and humble character.

“If I wanted to know how the platoon was doing, I would ask him. That’s how much confidence I have in him,” said Uruo. “The way he presents himself, his mannerisms, motivates other recruits. He has really good character and is a humble recruit.”

As the weeks passed in training, Uruo said Douthitt’s positivity and motivation became obvious, particularly when he would consistently provide input during recruit classes and direct fellow recruits to improve.

However, Uruo said, by that time it was too late in the game to switch up the leadership roster.

Fellow recruits called Douthitt a positive light and someone who always helped others during stressful times.

“He would help me when I was struggling,” said Pvt. Justin E. Duncan, one of Douthitt’s platoon mates. “I remember telling him that I didn’t know what I was doing here and he told me basically to keep my eyes on the prize of becoming a Marine.”

Although Douthitt did not reach his goal of holding a leadership billet in recruit training, he said it hasn’t discouraged him from continuing to excel. Douthitt believes he can earn it during his time in the Marine Corps.

“He’s been that positive person that people have looked up to,” said Duncan. “Yeah he’s not a squad leader now but if he continues the way he is there is no doubt in my mind he’s going to accomplish big things.”

Douthitt said that not being picked as squad leader didn’t affect him; it instead drove him to try harder to help others and to be someone to look up to.

“I’m not going to let my efforts stop here in boot camp,” said Douthitt. “I’m going to keep trying to do my best.”

Douthitt is the son and brother of former Marines, and, he said, he plans on passing on to his kids the values of honor and courage he learned in recruit training.

Nimitz Presents First Lt. Cmdr. Regina P. Mills Leadership Award

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Renee Candelario, USS Nimitz Public Affairs

CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- The Navy distributed the first Lt. Cmdr. Regina Pearl Mills Leadership Award during an award ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI) Aug. 9.

 More than 500 Sailors from the Aviation Boatswain's Mate (AB) community assembled on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) for the ceremony.

The award was presented to Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Saleema N. Massey.

"I'm excited," said Massey. "I didn't expect it. It's a very big thing for me. My heart is still racing. I was really close to Regina. I was here for both her tours on Nimitz and she did my last reenlistment. Having this award means a lot."

During the ceremony, Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Mill's, Regina's husband, addressed the crowd of AB's.

"A few weeks after my wife's death I was contacted by members of the Aviation Boatswain's Mate Association (ABMA) to discuss a way in which we can honor Regina's memory," said Mills. "The decision was made by the ABMA Board of Directors to create this award. I cannot thank the ABMA enough."

Mills added that the purpose of the award is to recognize the outstanding leadership in the AB community.

 Regina's daughter, Cherie Ayer, also attended the ceremony to assist in presenting the award.

"[The ceremony] was really touching for me," said Ayer. "I'm really glad the award went to Massey. She's a great person and she deserves it. I'm glad everyone was able to get together on Nimitz. There's a lot of history on this ship. I'm glad to be here."

Regina reported for her second tour aboard Nimitz in December 2009 to serve as the Navy's first female aircraft handling officer. She is known for her strength, determination and tremendous leadership during her tours, said Mills.

Regina was struck and killed by a vehicle when she stopped to assist others involved in a traffic collision in Gig Harbor, Wash., Jan. 23, 2012.

Nimitz recently arrived at NASNI after successful completion of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012.

Leadership Speakers Tout Community Partnerships

By Amaani Lyle

American Forces Press Service

MONTEREY, Calif.  – Leaders from each of the services shared their perspectives on how to maintain community ties in an era of efficiencies, stewardship and renewable energy pursuits at a conference here today.

Craig College, deputy assistant chief of staff, installation management; Rear Adm. Dixon Smith, Navy southwest region commander; Jim Holland, deputy for Air Force installation policy; and Dave Clifton, Marine Corps Installation Command deputy spoke at the installation leadership forum during the 2012 Association of Defense Communities Annual Conference.

College lauded initiatives such as The Community Covenant, an Army program designed to foster and sustain effective state and community partnerships with all services to improve the quality of life for soldiers and their families at both current and future duty stations.

“It’s this partnering relationship without the exchange of cash, without the exchange of contracts, that gives me some optimism as we look to things like municipal services … that we have already (a) framework of cooperation that will permit us to figure out how to bring (more) of those kinds of support groups,” College said.

Holland spoke about the community support the Air Force received through a partnership regarding the service’s recent decision to base the F-35 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. The partnership is important not only to the aircraft arrival in fiscal 2015, but also in December 2014 when the Air Force will make its next F-35 basing decision.

Air Force bases throughout the nation have seen local community partnership surges in ventures ranging from resorts to hotels and even to hyperbaric chambers, Holland said, but the aviation aspect is one of the larger pieces of the budget puzzle.

“For every dollar that a barrel of crude goes up, the aviation fuel bill goes up $600 million … so you can see why we watch this,” he said.

The volatility of the market is huge, Holland explained, stressing the urgency of the service looking to the commercial sector to help carry the load for alternative fuels.

Clifton shared Holland’s sentiment regarding budgetary tides. “The pace and volume of change is enormous right now,” he said. “For leadership to have clear priorities, we need to have a good idea about what we can do differently.”

Clifton said the Marine Corps has pushed efficiencies, paring where feasible and adding where needed, specifically with the addition of 22,000 Marines for war, land acquisitions at 29 Palms, Calif., and the in-sourcing of information technology and security forces assets.

Smith, whose command is headquartered in San Diego, acknowledged the vitality of the job market for military, contractors and retirees in his domain.

“One in four jobs in San Diego exists either because the individual is in the military, or a civilian employee of the Department of Defense or a contractor.”

“We cannot do anything within a stovepipe; we have to work with the community,” he said.

With just six months in the region, Dixon said, he already has been asked to join the board for Cleantech Group, a San Diego-based organization in collaboration with about 200 eco-centric companies to develop green solutions for business leaders in the military and private sectors.

“Our military forces and installations are phenomenal stewards of the environment,” Dixon said.

Face of Defense: Young Marine Leads Others

By Marine Corps Cpl. Jonathan Wright

31st Marine Expeditionary Unit

SHOALWATER BAY, Australia, July 2, 2012 – He may barely be past his teen years, but Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Theodore Kavich, a fire team leader with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit here, is responsible for the management and care of three Marines in his squad.

Outside the Marine Corps, not many 20-year-olds bear the burden of leadership, especially in matters as serious as combat.

“I just got out of my teenage years, and here I am directing my Marines in things like response to enemy contact,” said Kavich, a native of Pasadena, Calif. “Having this responsibility at the age of 20 is not only an honor, but a welcomed challenge.”

Kavich grew up listening to battle stories told by his grandfather, a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars. Regaled with these tales, he entered adulthood knowing that if he joined the Corps, it would be as an infantryman.

“Joining the Marine Corps was something I always had in my mind, but I didn’t want to join fresh out of high school,” Kavich said. “I wanted to come in with a little experience.” So after graduating from high school at 17, he went to college for two years and gained some life experience. When he figured he had gone to college long enough and before he missed any opportunities, he enlisted at 19 years of age.

His first assignment, after infantry school, was to his current unit -- 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. Kavich’s potential for leadership was recognized immediately.

“When he first came to the unit, he took the initiative to help other Marines and get things done,” said squad leader Marine Corps Cpl. Moses Weaver. “For those reasons, I put him in the fire team leader position, and he caught right on. Whatever task I gave him, he took care of it right there.”

One year later, Kavich finds himself in Australia on his second deployment with the 31st MEU. He leads his fire team in preparation for an attack during Exercise Hamel 2012, the multi-national training evolution between the Marines of the 31st MEU and the Australian and New Zealand armies.

“That little time he spent between high school and joining the Marine Corps gave him a little time as an adult, which shows in how he leads us,” said Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jonathan Munday, a member of Kavich’s fire team. “He’s not a leader that dictates; he works with us and listens to any ideas we may have and implements them into his plans if he thinks it’s necessary. We’re very confident following his lead.”

The Marine Corps places the responsibility of military leadership and expectations of sound judgment on young Marines. Kavich said, noting that was part of the attraction for him.

“You join the Marine Corps knowing there’s a near-guarantee you will be deployed,” he said. “That attracts the people who are up for the challenge, especially of becoming an infantryman, regardless of their age. They feel they are ready for whatever is to be expected of them.”

As for the future, Kavich said, he will see how the rest of his initial contract will play out. But those in his fire team say his leadership traits could take him far if he were to continue his service.

“When he gives an order, there’s no questioning it,” Munday said. “He knows what he’s doing, is confident in that decision and has our interests in mind when making it.” Some Marines need to lead for years to develop those traits, he added, but Kavich already grasps them.

Exercise Hamel 2012 is a certification exercise for the Australian army’s 1st Brigade. Marines are acting as the opposition force for the Australians, bringing a unique set of tactics to the training environment.

The 31st is the only continuously forward-deployed Marine expeditionary unit.

Battaglia Accepts Leadership Award on Behalf of All Enlisted U.S. Troops

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON  – The top U.S. non-commissioned officer shared the spotlight last night with fellow honorees U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Prince Harry and other luminaries as he accepted a prestigious Atlantic Council leadership award on behalf of all enlisted service members.

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, accepted the Distinguished Military Leadership Award at the council’s annual awards dinner. The award recognizes the contributions toward a better world made by enlisted soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, several dozen of whom attended the dinner.

“It is indeed humbling to represent an enlisted corps of over 1 million men and women, a diverse and powerful composition reaching all walks of life,” Battaglia told a group of almost 900 former and current administration officials, members of Congress, ambassadors and influential business leaders.

He noted the transformation of the enlisted force since its inception 237 years ago into a “multi-dimensional, multi-talented enlisted corps” that brings unprecedented capability and professionalism to the all-volunteer force.

“Our enlisted men and women have patriotically provided enduring freedoms within the borders of our homeland and beyond,” he told the gathering. “We are no longer just simply a defender of society, but rather, a vigorous group which helps sustain the commitment of Americans to everything we value: honor, equal opportunity, resiliency, leadership and integrity.”

Battaglia recognized the contributions the enlisted force has made during the past decade of conflict, noting as examples special operators “who risk much to ensure that our adversaries bring no harm” and National Guard members who provide immediate response to their communities when natural disasters strike.

He also remembered enlisted warriors “who gave the full devotion of duty and now lie in formations within hallowed grounds of our cemeteries,” and acknowledged the unwavering support of military families whose support is vital to the military’s success.

As Sen. Chuck Hagel, president of the Atlantic Council and an enlisted soldier during the Vietnam war, presented the award, Battaglia shared the stage with representatives of each service: Army Staff Sgt. Tanner Welch; Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Serena Anderson; Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Curtis Robinson; Air Force Tech. Sgt. Lisa Tomlinson; and Coast Guard Petty Officer  2nd Class Lisa Pique.

Prince Harry of Great Britain, accepted the Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership Award for work he and his brother, The Duke of Cambridge, conduct for wounded British servicemen and  women and veterans.  He extended his personal congratulations to Battaglia and the U.S. armed forces for their “peerless contribution to the defense of freedom.”

Harry, a captain in the British army, said he witnessed those contributions firsthand while deployed to Afghanistan. “It was a privilege for me to fight alongside members of the United States armed forces,” he told the gathering. “Their professionalism and dedication to the values we share and hold dear are inspirational.”

Speaking with American Forces Press Service after the ceremony, Battaglia said he felt like a lottery-winner, albeit it without the monetary gain, to be able to accept the award on behalf of all enlisted members and NCOs. “Saying it is an absolute honor might be an understatement at this point in time,” he said. “If I had to put some kind of … price on it, I’d have to call it priceless.”

While expressing appreciation for the Atlantic Council’s formal recognition, he said he’s not surprised that the American people continue to stand solidly behind their military.

“Noncommissioned officers and our enlisted force have always measured up,” he said. “And when the stakes got really high after 9/11 and during the past 10 years, they have really carried a big burden on their shoulders and showed their mettle.”

Receipt of the Distinguished Military Leadership Award sends a strong message to the men and women in uniform, he said. “America, our society respects and admires the hard work and sacrifices you and your families do each and every day,” he said.

“So keep up the great work that you are doing,” he continued. “And when it comes time to making decisions – and they are very, very hard decisions that you will make – the right decision is never-wavering the moral, ethical high ground.”

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Thomas Mooney, serving at the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory in Quantico, Va., said he felt honored to attend the ceremony and experience the outpouring of support firsthand.

“It’s great to see such support from such a large, diverse audience,” agreed Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jason Hesbol, an aide to Battalgia. “It’s humbling as well,” he said. “As you can see, there’s a lot of pride.”

Also during last night’s ceremony, the U.N. secretary-general received this year’s Distinguished International Leadership Award for his success in mobilizing international leaders around global challenges.

Ban Ki-moon used last night’s ceremony as a platform to lament “a deficit of leadership” from the international community to end the bloodshed in Syria and to announce an increase in U.N. observers there.

The United Nations will deploy its full complement of 300 military observers and 100 civilians to Syria by June, he announced. The U.N. currently has 59 military monitors and about the same number of civilians on the ground.

Leadership Award

Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, helps to accept the 2012 Distinguished Military Leadership Award on behalf of the entire active and reserve enlisted force during the annual Atlantic Council Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C., May 7, 2012.