MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- Pinning on new rank means more than just a bigger paycheck. It means taking on new responsibilities and stepping up as a leader.
One way the Marine Corps helps freshly promoted noncommissioned officers transition into their new positions as leaders is by sending them to the professional military education class, Corporal’s Course.
After piloting several significant changes in early 2009, the Corps released the materials for command-sponsored Corporal’s Courses June 22, 2009, gearing it more toward small-unit combat leadership, rather than Marine Corps traditions.
According to Marine Administrative Message 375/09, the course curriculum is now standardized Corpswide and is a mandatory three weeks, which is longer than many command-sponsored Corporal’s Courses were previously.
Phasing out grade point averages and ushering in a pass or fail curriculum is another way of standardizing the new course. Because the course is now pass or fail, the honor graduate will be chosen by the instructors or the staff noncommissioned officer in charge.
“The pass or fail aspect is a great tool to keep Marines motivated about the course,” said Cpl. Nataly Salguero, a Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron noncommissioned officer who went through the course here in May. “Nobody wants to fail the course and have to start all over.”
Students must pass at least seven of the nine parts of the new curriculum, which includes conducting two comprehensive exams, a history essay, a performance evaluation checklist, hip pocket training, preparing after action review, sword drill, guidon drill and an operations culminating event.
“Customs and courtesies, traditions and drill definitely should have stayed the main focus,” said Sgt. Garrett Temple, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron barracks sergeant and Corporal’s Course instructor. “What does an NCO get when they pin on corporal? They get the rank, blood stripes and an NCO sword. That’s what Corporal’s Course was all about, teaching new corporals how to use those tools.”
Corporals in the course will still learn how to drill with the sword and guidon, however, they will be less emphasized.
Physical training has also been altered for the course, focusing more on combat fitness, rather than physical fitness test-specific training.
While much of the content and lessons remain the same, the course will now use more hands-on and less lecture-based teaching.
Weapons handling, strategic warfare, land navigation, fire team-type missions and patrolling will be stressed much more, as well.
“I think it’s a change for the better. As NCOs, we bear more responsibility as leaders in theater,” said Salguero. “By teaching more warfighting classes we will have NCOs who are more prepared and knowledgeable to carry out the mission and provide adequate troop welfare.”
The last week of the course is dedicated to combat and operations, including a three-day field exercise.
“I think these changes are good, but it is more like a squad leader’s course now,” said Temple. “If they wanted to create a combat leadership course, they should have done that. I don’t think they should have made Corporal’s Course into a combat corporal’s course.”
Commands can add to or adapt the program, however, as long as it doesn’t change the intent behind the curriculum.
The course material can be obtained at https://www.intranet.tecom.usmc.mil/sites/epme/corporals/default.aspx, a Common Access Card-enabled Web site, which should be checked quarterly for course updates. Units’ sergeants major or senior enlisted leaders should contact the enlisted PME Corporal’s Course coordinator, Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Gold at 703-784-4018, to receive testing materials and graduation certificates.
The station’s next Corporal’s Course is scheduled for October.