05/29/2013 -- Teams of Marines scurried through the woods to hone their navigation skills using a map and compass to find designated checkpoints.
This was just one of many tasks mastered during the Corporals’ Course held at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, May 12-24.
“The course is designed to teach the fundamentals of small unit leadership,” 1st Sgt. James Britton, Inspector-Instructor first sergeant, Detachment 2, Supply Company, 4th Supply Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, said. “This course is the first level of leadership these Marines will experience.”
Topics covered during the course included drill and ceremony, a variety of leadership classes, using social media responsibly, tactical communications and land navigation.
“Land navigation is one of those leadership skills Marines take for granted,” Sgt. Joshua Loflin, career planner, MCLB Albany, explained during the class he taught. “Marines tend to depend on global positioning systems and think land navigation skills are unnecessary.”
Loflin said during his tour in Afghanistan it was common for a GPS to become inoperable.
“Batteries die, equipment fails,” he said. “That’s when land navigation knowledge becomes critically important.”
Another critical aspect of being a good leader is teamwork, according to Britton.
“During this course, I want these Marines to learn from us, but when they are out here, I want them to learn from one another as well,” he said.
Although every aspect of the course is important, the most important lesson Britton hopes Marines received from him during the class was to “lead from the front.”
He added a good leader also takes responsibility.
“I want them to always be a good example for the Marines they lead,” Britton said.
Britton’s desire to drive that message home was validated by some of the participants.
“There is a lot of information I have gotten from this course, but the class in leading Marines was (the) most important,” Cpl. Torean Blye, supply administration clerk, Det. 2, Supply Co., said. “I have learned to be responsible and accountable. I am prepared to lead now.”