[MARINES]- United States Marine Corps News 06/23/97 [2/3]

[Veterans News & Information Service]

Division of Public Affairs, Headquarters, United States Marine Corps,
Washington, DC 20380-1775 Commercial: (703) 614-1492/4/5 DSN:
224-1492/4/5 FAX: (703) 697-5362

Date: 06/23/97 Release #: 413 Byline: 2nd Lt. Courtney Wyckoff, HQMC

Headline: FEMALE ENLISTED INSTRUCTOR WRAPS UP TOUR AT ACADEMY

WASHINGTON -- Gunnery Sgt. Lisa Roe has seen a lot of the Marine Corps.
Currently a career counselor in the Manpower Management and Enlisted
Assignment Branch, HQMC, she's also held assignments in Japan and
California, served on the drill field at Parris Island, S.C., and rigged
chutes at Andrews Air Force Base. Still, she said, her wealth of
experience didn't prepare her for what she found when she checked into
her billet as a company gunnery sergeant at the U.S. Naval Academy,
Annapolis, Md.

"I never really understood what the Academy was all about. I knew it was
a college, I knew it was a military organization, but I didn't understand
the whole picture," she said with a grin.

In fact, Roe found her experience of training recruits at Parris Island
was her only reference point for what life at the Academy would be like.
"I thought it was going to be very strictly run, authoritarian like
Marine boot camp," she said.

Roe holds the distinction of being the first female enlisted Marine
stationed at the Naval Academy. Her accomplishments were recently
recognized when Lt. Gen. Carol A. Mutter, Deputy Chief of Staff for
Manpower and Reserve Affairs, presented her with the Navy and Marine
Corps Commendation Medal.

Roe was among the initial group of enlisted Marines in October 1994 who
were assigned to a new program at the Academy. Navy officials had
determined that midshipmen needed to build confidence in staff NCOs and
chiefs earlier in their careers. Assigning enlisted Marines and Sailors
to the Academy would not only illustrate their role in the sea services,
but would also provide midshipmen with mentors who could assist them with
their questions and concerns.

To find the right people for the job of helping to develop tomorrow's
officers, the Academy put out a call for the best of the best. Roe
answered that call at 2 a.m. from Japan. She had just returned from leave
when she heard of the position openings at the Academy. She quickly got
on the phone to her monitor to get further details. Next, she completed
an extensive application package that showed she had the required drill
field experience, letters of recommendation, a strong physical fitness
test score, and an overall record of solid achievement and experience in
the Corps.

She was notified several weeks later of her selection as the first woman
to participate in the program. Excited, she began preparing for her new
duty station, thinking that it was going to be similar to Parris Island.
Instead, she found a "leadership laboratory," where she was a key
instructor. "It was a great learning experience," she said. "I had to
find a way to teach them how to lead without leading for them."

Roe's daily duties began with early morning PT with the midshipmen. From
there, she would often spend time critiquing formations and drill. When
she wasn't in the classroom co-teaching a leadership class with her
company officer, she was walking the barracks, inspecting company areas
or talking with students. She said that her tour of duty was free-form,
allowing plenty of room for personal initiative. It wasn't long before
she grew quite attached to the midshipmen. "I just wanted them to be the
best person, the best officer candidate they could be," she insisted.

As her award citation illustrates, Roe's a positive impact on many
midshipmen: "Her presence, ability to relate to midshipmen, and personal
example were instrumental in the daily professional development of over
130 midshipmen assigned to her company ... Her direct role in counseling
midshipmen who were service assigned to the Marine Corps has resulted in
the Naval Academy producing superior future Marine Corps leaders."

"I wasn't there as a recruiter," Roe said, "but I certainly wanted
exceptional midshipmen to think about going Marine."

A native of Olympia, Wash., Roe was the honor graduate from boot camp and
has been meritoriously promoted three times during her career. Yet, she
is modest when discussing her many accomplishments. In fact, when talking
about the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for her superior
service at the Academy, she is quick to say, "I don't think that I did
anything exceptional. But if the Navy is recognizing the achievements of
Marines being exceptional since 1775, then I accept the award." (2nd Lt.
Courtney Wyckoff, HQMC) -USMC-

Date: 06/23/97 Release #: 408 Byline: Cpl. J.R. Lewis, MCRD Parris
Island, S.C.

Headline: GEORGIA GOVERNOR'S "FALL TO THE TOP" VIA THE MARINE
CORPS

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, Parris Island, S.C. -- "Drunk, dirty,
disheveled, and dejected, I sat cross-legged on the floor of the Gilmer
County Jail in the Appalachian town of Ellijay, Ga."

It's hard to believe that these words describe a man on the path to
greatness. But that's exactly how Georgia Governor Zell Miller starts out
his latest book, "Corps Values -- Everything You Need to Know I learned
in the Marines."

The path that led Miller from that jail cell in August 1953 to his
position at the top in the state he loves wasn't easy. In fact, he took
one of the hardest routes imaginable -- the U.S. Marine Corps.

The decision to enlist, said Miller, is one of the best he ever made.

"I would not be governor today if it were not for those 12 weeks I spent
at Parris Island and those three years I spent in the Marine Corps," said
Miller in his deep southern drawl. "The values that were taught to me in
the Marine Corps are values that are current in everything I do."

With his wry southern wit and often humorous accounts of recruit training
at Parris Island in the 1950s, the former Marine sergeant puts a spin on
the fundamental Marine Corps values with which he was embedded, and
applies these lessons as a guide for changing an ailing society.

Somewhere in the literary ground between Robert Fulghum's "Everything I
need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten," Hillary Rodham Clinton's "It
Takes a Village," and William Bennett's "The Book of Virtues," Miller's
fourth literary work weighs in big on values and boot camp memories, but
small on the windy, self-aggrandizing style that plagues the memoirs of
many politicians. In the words of "Marietta Daily Journal" columnist Matt
Towery, who ran on the GOP ticket in opposition of Miller in 1990, Miller
is "gently placing his arm around the shoulder of the reader and sharing
the secret to an orderly and productive life."

"I just wanted to weigh in on the discussion of values that I had first
learned from my mother and were later reinforced so strongly by the
Marines," said Miller.

Like a tattoo, those values are under Miller's skin and have guided him
every day since he left the Corps' ranks. The values are neatness,
punctuality, brotherhood, persistence, pride, respect, shame,
responsibility, achievement, courage, discipline, and loyalty. Miller
dedicates a chapter to each value and reinforces the value's importance
with anecdotes, philosophies, and his version of the facts of life.

Not surprisingly, Miller's "Corps Values" fall directly in line with the
Marine Corps' Core Values -- Honor, Courage and Commitment. The two
philosophies share the common idea that character is destiny, both in
individuals (such as governors), and organizations (such as the Marine
Corps).

"I have met very few former Marines who haven't kept these values," he
added.

>From the towering portrait of Iwo Jima that rests on the wall behind his
>desk in
the Georgia State Capitol, to his trademark black cowboy boots that are
polished to mirrors at the toe, to the gold eagle, globe and anchor
pinned on his suit jacket, Miller's love and respect for the Corps are
present in his everyday life.

Miller isn't the only one who is thankful to the Corps for guiding him to
the top political office of Georgia. Countless cars driven by college
students returning home for summer break bear bumper stickers praising
HOPE Scholarships. Since 1993, HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils
Educationally) has provided free college tuition and book allowances to
students who graduate from Georgia public or private schools with at
least a B average. In addition, Miller has also provided a
pre-kindergarten plan for all Georgian 4-year-olds and a tough DUI plan
aimed at keeping those children and their families alive.

In light of his achievements, Miller has been described as "a brilliant,
brilliant governor," by President Bill Clinton, and "Tough as nails," by
former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn.

But of all the words used to describe Miller, there is one word that best
sums up his achievements and attitude towards success in life -- Marine.
(Cpl. J.R. Lewis, MCRD Parris Island, S.C.) -USMC-

Date: 06/23/97 Release #: 421 Byline: Flagship, Norfolk, Va.

Headline: HEALTHWATCH: FOOD PYRAMID BALANCES DIET

If you think you're eating a balanced, nutritious diet by choosing foods
from each of the four food groups, you're wrong. In 1992, the United
States Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Health and
Human Services decided the four food groups were not enough and created
the "food pyramid."

In the pyramid, foods we should eat more often are placed at the base,
and those we should eat less frequently are at the top.

Cereal, rice and pasta are at the bottom of the pyramid. USDA recommends
six to 11 servings of these foods daily. The pyramid's next level
recommends two to four serving of fruits, and three to five servings of
vegetables.

The third level includes two to three servings of milk, yogurt and
cheese, and two to three servings of meat, poultry, fish, dry beans,
eggs, and nuts. Fats, oils and sweets are on top of the pyramid and
should be eaten sparingly.

What constitutes a serving?

In the bread group, one serving equals one slice of bread, one ounce of
ready-to-eat cereal or one-half cup cooked cereal, rice or pasta.

A serving of vegetables is one cup of raw, leafy greens, three-quarters
cup vegetable juice, or one-half cup of other chopped vegetables.

A serving of fruit is one medium apple, banana or orange; one melon
wedge; one-half cup of chopped fruits or berries, or three-quarters cup
fruit juice.

A serving from the milk group includes a cup of milk or yogurt or 1 1/2
ounces of cheese.

A serving from the meat category equals two to three ounces of cooked,
lean meat, poultry or fish; one egg; one-half cup cooked beans, or two
tablespoons of seed or nuts.

"The majority of your plate should contain rice, pasta, potatoes, bread
or other grains, accompanied by fruits and vegetables," said Lt. Leslie
Cox, MSC, dietician at the Bureau of Naval Personnel. "Does meat cover
the majority of your plate? If so, it is time to review the food guide
pyramid." (Flagship, Norfolk, Va.) -USMC-

Date: 06/23/97 Release #: 407 Byline: Staff Sgt. Pamela R. Redmond, MCAS
New River, N.C.

Headline: MARINE CORPS PRESENTS HEROISM MEDALS TO TWO CIVILIANS

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, New River, N.C. -- Two civilian employees have
been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for risking their lives
during Hurricane Bertha to rescue victims of a sunken boat. The award,
also known as the "Lifesaving Medal," is the highest recognition for
heroism the Navy and Marine Corps bestows in peacetime.

Firefighter Scott N. Longo, of Holly Ridge, N.C., and Assistant Air
Station Operations Officer Robert L. Livingston Jr., of Columbus, Ga.,
were both on duty when Hurricane Bertha hit the area July 12, 1996. The
destructive weather center received a call that two boats were sunk at
the marina and survivors were in the water. According to Livingston, upon
arriving at the scene, they observed a jacket on the flybridge that
looked like someone waving. "That unnerved everybody," he said. "That,
and the fact that there were two kids involved."

Without hesitation, both men decided to attempt a rescue.

The medal citation states, "They broke into the marina building and
acquired a 12-foot Zodiac boat, motor, and fuel. They departed the beach
into two-foot white-capped seas with winds sustained at 40 miles per hour
and gusts to 60 miles per hour. During this attempted rescue, recorded
winds reached 70 miles per hour sustained with gusts to 108 miles per
hour."

When they reached the sunken vessel, the men found no survivors. They
then made a sweep of the coastline where survivors would most likely
drift. Exhausting all efforts, they returned to shore where they learned
the boaters had already made it back safely.

Colonel David C. Anderson, air station commanding officer, observed the
rescue attempt from the shore. "We never knew the boaters were safe when
they (Longo and Livingston) went out into the water. These men never
hesitated to risk their lives for others," Anderson said.

Hurricane Bertha caused more than $20 million in damage to the New
River/Camp Lejeune area. Less than two months later, the area was hit yet
again by Hurricane Fran. Repairs from last year's storms are still
underway, even as the region enters the 1997 hurricane season. (Staff
Sgt. Pamela R. Redmond, MCAS New River, N.C.) -USMC-

Date: 06/23/97 Release #: 417 Byline: Lance Cpl. Amos Kelso, MCRD Parris
Island

Headline: MARINE RANKED #1 AT MILITARY BODYBUILDING
CHAMPIONSHIPS

MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, Parris Island, S.C. -- After years of
training and a second place finish last year "the Troll" has finally made
it to the top in military bodybuilding.

Corporal Russ Hosmer, otherwise known as "the Troll," a marksmanship
training instructor at Parris Island's Starlite Range, took first place
in the light heavyweight division at the All Armed Forces Bodybuilding
Championships May 9 and 10 at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in
Virginia Beach, Va.

Competing at 196 pounds, Hosmer went up against service members from
every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces including the Army, which had
placed first for three consecutive years. He became the first Marine to
win the event.

Competition consisted of three rounds spotlighting symmetry, individual
posing and a final seven-pose showdown. Although muscularity seems to be
the main focus of such competitions, Hosmer said that it takes a lot more
to win.

"It's not about how big you are; it's who has the total package," said
Hosmer. "They judge on grace, movement, and actual posing; it's the way
you present yourself, your stage presence."

Hosmer added that part of this stage presence comes from mental
preparation.

"Your focus is yourself. You try to picture what you're going to look
like, what you're going to do, and you pretty much don't worry about
anybody else. Your only competition is yourself."

He also said that winning required a strong, positive attitude despite
how tired he might have been from training; something the Marine Corps
helped him develop.

"I've learned a lot from the Marine Corps; from being in the field and
staying focused when you've been out on patrol and only had about two or
three hours of sleep a night," said the former member of Small Craft
Company, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejuene, N.C., who spent several years
working with the South American Drug Task Force. "The Marine Corps helped
me out tremendously on the mental level."

"They all took care of the little things where it helped me focus on my
training so I could get ready for the show," said Hosmer.

The New Jersey native and former Alabama resident explained that all the
hard work and sacrifice he and the people who supported him put into the
competition did make him feel pressured to win, but that pressure
disappeared when the winners were announced.

"It's like putting an 80-pound pack on your back and then all of a sudden
they tell you you've won and it's like taking the pack off. It's just a
real good feeling."

With a national military championship under his belt, Hosmer is only one
win away from his dream of becoming a professional bodybuilder. He stated
that he will compete with the U.S. bodybuilding team this summer as the
only active duty military service member on the team and go on to the
World Amateurs later this year. He added that he is now the only active
duty service member ranked in the top 50 in the nation as a bodybuilder.

Hosmer's win at the championships will be shown on ESPN and SportsSouth.
He will also be featured in the August edition of "Flex" magazine, as
well as a cover story in an upcoming edition of the "National Physique
Committee News." (Lance Cpl. Amos Kelso, MCRD Parris Island) -USMC-

Date: 06/23/97 Release #: 415 Byline: Cpl. Sam Kille, 1st Marine Corps
District

Headline: MILITARY CAREER LEADS TO COLLEGE ALUMNI AWARD FOR
FEMALE BANDSMAN

IMAGE CAPTION -- 25ALUMN2.JPG -- Staff Sgt. Marty Rector, the musician
technical assistant for the 1st Marine Corps District, was one of three
alumni of Ball State University to be awarded the School of Music's 1997
Alumni Achievement Award. (Photo by Sgt. Derek Phillips)

NEW YORK -- When most university alumni return to their alma mater, it is
to catch a sporting event, take their family on a tour of the campus, or
to merely stroll down memory lane.

For a rare few, it is to be recognized by the university for achievements
made after graduation.

Staff Sgt. Marty Rector, the musician technical assistant for the 1st
Marine Corps District, recently made such a visit to Ball State
University in Muncie, Ind. While there, the 1984 graduate was one of
three alumni to receive the Ball State School of Music's 1997 Alumni
Achievement Award.

"Just knowing that so many talented people have attended the school makes
this a real honor," Rector said.

Between 200 to 300 students a year study at Ball State's School of Music,
and there are more than 3,000 alumni. Each year, a committee from the
school's administration explores the list of former students to select
individuals for the award.

The citation for the award credited Rector for earning a master's degree
in music at the University of Michigan, serving as a percussion section
leader with the 3rd and 4th Marine Aircraft Wing Bands and the 1st Marine
Division Band. It also lauded her for being selected as a musical
technical assistant.

"Marty has really accomplished a lot," said Dr. Erwin Mueller, Rector's
professor at Ball State and a member of the selection committee. "We're
really proud of her here at Ball State." (Cpl. Sam Kille, 1st Marine
Corps District)

-USMC-

Date: 06/23/97 Release #: 410 Byline: Lance Cpl. Matt Hagerman, I MEF

Headline: NEW GUNNERY SYSTEM KEEPS 1ST LAR ON TARGET

MARINE CORPS BASE, Camp Pendleton, Calif. -- The new Precision Gunnery
System for Light Armored Vehicles was recently tested by lst Light
Armored Reconnaissance Battalion during a force-on-force engagement here.

The PGS is a recent development designed to hone Marines' gunnery skills
and make combat simulation exercises, such as the Marine Corps Combat
Readiness Evaluation Standard, more realistic.

This was the first time the gear had been used for a simulated
engagement. Prior to this, it was in the testing phases of its
development.

The system consists of external sensors that register hits, a pulse
projector mounted on the 25 mm chain gun, a control panel to view
information about shot locations, a computer processor, and a global
positioning system.

The system removes any gray area from force-on-force engagement.

"We no longer have to worry about Marines arguing over who shot who
first," Staff Sgt. Edward Milewski, battalion master gunner, said.

One advantage of PGS is its ability to simulate an actual round's
trajectory. With the lasers used on a Marksmanship Integrated Laser
Engagement System, LAVs only needed to point and shoot at a target to
score a hit, according to Milewski. With the pulse projector, if the
distance isn't calculated correctly, the pulses won't land on target.

The PGS can be used as a training tool after the engagements are over. By
removing the memory cards from each LAV and downloading the information
into a central computer, the entire scenario can be played out, including
all shots fired.

"Each unit has a GPS built in so we can overlay the battle onto a map and
see what really happened," Milewski said. "It makes catching mistakes and
showing corrections easier."

The future of this system is promising due to its compatibility with
future combat simulators. With the MILES 2000 system in development, LAV
gunners will be able to engage a number of other targets, including
aircraft and infantry using the PGS.

"Eventually, we will be able to simulate entire battles using a
combination of the systems," Milewski said.

The system still has a few bugs to work out, but the main difficulty is
in its repair.

"Since it is relatively new, very few Marines in the battalion know how
to fix even simple problems," Milewski. "Once we train more Marines to
troubleshoot in the field, the time to fix small problems will be a lot
shorter."

The idea for a system of this nature has been around some time.

"I evaluated a similar system when I was an instructor at the School of
Infantry in 1985," said Gunnery Sgt. Patrick Morrissey, Headquarters and
Support Company gunnery sergeant.

Although the system will allow for more gunnery practice without the use
of live ammo, it is not meant as a replacement for actual rounds.

"There is no substitute for the real thing," Milewski said. "PGS can't
duplicate the training required to load rounds and deal with weapons
jams." (Lance Cpl. Matt Hagerman, I MEF) -USMC-

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