Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, GA -- Seventy-seven Marine Corps Logistics Command staff noncommissioned officers participated in a SNCO Leadership Seminar at Naval Station Mayport, Fla., Feb. 27 - March 2. SNCOs from MCLC and Marine Depot Maintenance Command’s Production Plant Albany, Ga.; Production Plant Barstow, Calif.; Blount Island Command, Jacksonville, Fla.; and four liaison officers, who are spread throughout the continental United States, attended the five-day seminar. Hosted by Sgt. Maj. Christopher Harper, sergeant major, MCLC, the purpose of the seminar was to discuss SNCOs’ professional development, team building and other Marine Corps-wide leadership venues as a group. “Upon my arrival to Marine Corps Logistics Command, I noticed that beyond sending SNCOs to individual professional military education courses there was nothing in place to address SNCO developmental concerns as a group within the command,” he said. “Anytime a command can bring all of its SNCOs together under a single roof under one accord to discuss current command and Marine Corps issues/concerns both the command, its Marines and the institution benefits.” Maj. Gen. Charles L. Hudson, commanding general, MCLC, encouraged and inspired the SNCOs through his remarks during the seminar. Other SNCOs and civilian-Marines from Headquarters Marine Corps, MCLC and Blount Island also briefed the SNCOs. Seminar briefs provided important information as well as opportunities for the SNCOs to network with one another. Topics included retirement, suicide prevention, selection boards, equal opportunity and more. “Marine SNCOs are the keepers of the Corps’ traditions, customs and standards,” Harper said. “It’s very important they embrace, believe and carry themselves to that level of expectation 24/7. The intent of the SNCO seminar was to remind and enlighten our SNCOs of the important role they play daily in the lives of noncommissioned officers (sergeants/corporals) and junior Marines. “SNCOs are also expected to not only be mentors of junior Marines, but be advisers/mentors of young officers as well,” he added. “SNCOs are expected to set the example and perpetuate our Corps’ values/ethos. The Marine Corps expects a lot from its SNCOs.” Harper noted he picked NS Mayport for “the value of the offsite experience. The majority of the SNCOs of Marine Corps Logistics Command are from here. By us having it in Mayport on a naval base away from current duties allowed them to focus more.” Master Sgt. Jason E. Spangenberg, career planner, MCLC, drafted the seminar’s letter of instruction, set it up and attended the event. “There were a lot of things covered and I think overall it was a lot of great information,” he said. “It got the SNCOs to think about leadership scenarios and situations, overall where they are in their careers, what their junior Marines have to look forward to or what’s changing in the Marine Corps and how we as a SNCO Corps can affect it. It’s always good to bring one team, one fight together. The average SNCO did a lot of networking.” Gunnery Sgt. Kejuan Hull, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge, command operations center, MCLC, described networking with the other SNCOs as giving him “the opportunity to share some ideas concerning leadership challenges I’ve seen within the command and learn about new leadership techniques that fellow SNCOs have found effective throughout their careers. The seminar allowed me to develop a better rapport with key people across the command and other Marine Corps Logistics Command SNCOs. “Marine Corps Logistics Command’s seminar reminded me that I need to constantly make better, more inclusive and effective decisions,” he added. “Ultimately this leads to how you impact, fulfill or even exceed junior Marines’ expectations.”