MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. --
Joseph Thomas, the director of professional development at the Marine Corps University, and members of the Lejeune Leadership Institute, visited the Depot, Feb. 13 through the 16. The purpose of this visit was to observe recruit training with an emphasis on values based training.
Thomas also conducted several professional military education sessions with selected personnel from the Depot.
Most of his time at the Depot was spent talking to Marines from Drill Instructor School, officers, staff noncommissioned officers and senior drill instructors aboard the Depot.
The PMEs emphasized the different stages of moral development for Marines, and an introduction to using case studies in the teaching of leadership and ethics.
"This visit is part of a longer term effort at Marine Corps University where we develop policy," Thomas said. "Speaking to Marines like this is the best way to improve or enhance the curriculum in ethics."
Thomas started his visit on the 14th by observing the recruits of Delta Company while taking their Law of Land Warfare and Uniform Code of Military Justice classes.
The classes consisted of teaching ethics to recruits, which have been implemented to teach them about honor, courage and commitment as they transformed into Marines.
Then, he moved to Page Field to observe the recruits from Fox Company during the Crucible.
"The crucible was not created when I went through recruit training," Thomas said. "I wanted to see it first-hand to see what goes on. I have two sons who went through it, and now I know what it is all about."
After the crucible, Thomas had lunch at the 4th Recruit Training Battalion Mess Hall and then he gave a brief at DI School.
The brief consisted of a discussion about leadership, ethics and the use of case studies for teaching.
He later gave another PME at the Field Training Facility for officers in the Depot.
The next day, Thomas met with the staff noncommissioned officers in the Depot for a PME.
The purpose of the PME was to discuss the results of the ethics and leadership survey that more than 400 Marines aboard the Depot took part in.
According to Thomas, ethics are more important now more than ever. In previous wars, ethics were never a part of the equation. Marines knew what their objective was, and they did it. They did not have to worry about non-combatants and prisoners of war.
The results from Parris Island were compared to the sample group who took the survey. That group was comprised of almost 100 Marines from the operating forces.
In most cases, the answers from Marines in combat were close to the answers of Marines in a garrison setting.
Thomas believes this is important because it means that even in dangerous settings, Marines are still holding up core values and beliefs.
"The result of this survey is a good-news story," Thomas said. "Some worried if you asked ethical questions of Marines in a combat zone, you might find out answers you didn't want to hear.
"However, Marines understand core values and are doing the right things," Thomas added. "Value, leadership and ethics are all being upheld."
Before departing the Depot the final day, he observed the Emblem Ceremony for recruits of Delta Company.
"This was a very successful visit," Thomas said. "We spoke with Marines from the top down about how Marines feel about ethics. Col. (Andy) Solgere has a clear vision of what core values mean to the Corps and the young staff NCOs lead discussions better than those who work in Quantico."