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MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (10/2/2012) – More than 80
graduate students from the Wharton School, University of
Pennsylvania and 15 students from Johns Hopkins University
took part in the Quantico Leadership Venture at Marine Corps
Base Quantico's Officer Candidates School on Sept. 20-21.
Jacob Cohn, Wharton School University of Pennsylvania graduate student, complete an obstacle from the Officer Candidates School's combat course during the Quantico Leadership Venture at OCS on Sept. 21, 2012. The venture was a two-day event. Photo by USMC Lance Cpl. Antwaun Jefferson
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OCS hosted the Quantico Leadership Venture to give business students
exposure to the leadership development and evaluation process used
by the Marine Corps.
According to a brief provided by 1st Lt.
Erin Ashford, OCS protocol officer, the Quantico Leadership Venture
is an optional co-curricular experiential learning opportunities
designed to bring participants into remote and difficult
environments where they can learn from experience in confronting
challenges, solving problems and leading teams. The venture also
affords the Marine Corps and OCS an opportunity to foster positive
relations with Wharton School of Business and Johns Hopkins to make
an indelible impression on the potential future leaders of business
in America's corporate sector. |
“This event, both for the Wharton School and for the Marine
Corps, is a great partnership because, as students come
here, they realize what it takes to become a Marine and my
Marines, realize how important it is that these people are
going to be going out and leading corporations,” said Col.
Kris J. Stillings, OCS commanding officer.
The
commander's intent for this venture was to provide students
with insight and understanding of Marine Corps leadership,
core values and have an understanding of the candidates'
challenges.
With many of the students having never
handled a weapon before, the instructors introduce them to
the basics. They also made sure to encourage teamwork and
overcoming fears. Unlike with candidates, the instructors
lively engaged in conversation with the students about bias
for action, risk assessment, rapid decision making,
leadership, followership and accountability.
The
students came across many tasks and challenges similar to
the training provided to OCS candidates. They had classes on
gear assembly, purpose of adaptability training, and
Leadership and Warfighting principles, as well as how to
make their racks. Students also had opportunity to attack
the challenges of the Leadership Reaction Course and Combat
Course.
The Combat Course consisted of obstacles that
tested the students not only physically, but mentally as
well. In the beginning there were three obstacles that, if
failed, meant a (heavily padded) 6-to-15 foot drop, the
sight of which many students freeze. The course also
incorporated the Quigley as one of the obstacles. The
Quigley consists of a long canal with barbed wire and three
4-foot cement culverts submerged in swampy, snake-infested
water that students had to high crawl and side crawl
through.
“This was tough experience,” said, Bailey
Jones, a Wharton School student. “I gained a lot of respect
for the Marines, especially the drill instructors. I was
really happy to have access to the classes and courses
provided by the Marines. If I ever get a chance to come
back, I will definitely jump at the opportunity.”
More photos available below
By USMC Lance Cpl. Tabitha Bartley
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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