Senior Enlisted Advisor to chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff visits Parris Island

24 Aug 2007 | Lance Cpl. Evelio Ramos Marine Corps Training and Education Command

Sgt. Maj. William J. Gainey, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Parris Island Aug. 24 - 25.

During his visit, Gainey attended the Family Day ceremony, graduation, had breakfast with Marines at the Headquarters and Service Battalion Mess Hall and toured the Depot.

He also gave Professional Military Education at the Weapon and Field Training Battalion Chapel and Depot Lyceum for Marines aboard the Depot.

"I wanted to talk to Marines so I could give them a view of what other servicemembers think of them,"Gainey said. "I wanted them to see that no matter what uniform we wear, we don't surpass each other."

One of the things discussed in the PME was the respect servicemembers should give to each other even though they are in different branches of the military.

"When I was deployed, I saw servicemembers who walked by each other to sit with people from their own branch,"Gainey said. "I don't want them to feel like they are different." "We all serve in combat and die together."

Another thing discussed by Gainey was the best way for Marines, or anybody, to reach their dreams without hurting anyone in the process.

"I tell young Marines that if they have a dream they should follow it,"Gainey said. "The only thing they need to do is make sure their dream doesn't hurt anyone else.

Gainey gave Marines a formula, which consists of five questions. If all answers are no, then the dreams are worth following.

"Is my dream going to hurt someone? Will my dream hurt me? Is my dream illegal? Is my dream immoral? Is my dream going to bring disgrace to my family and to my branch of service,"Gainey said. "Only if you can say no, then go for it."

Before finishing his visit of the Depot, Gainey had lunch with many of the Depot sergeants major at the Weapons and Field Training Battalion Mess Hall.

During lunch, he had to opportunity to meet and talk with each of them separately.

"The lunch was a great opportunity to meet Sgt. Maj. Gainey,"said Sgt. Maj. Scott T. Booth, sergeant major, Weapons and Field Training Battalion. "It was very interesting to speak with him, because he sees things from a very different perspective."

"I really enjoyed my visit of the Depot,"Gainey said. "I loved the opportunity to come here to meet DIs and talk to the Marines."


Marine Corps Training and Education Command