WIXLIB

CHEVRON AROUND THE CORPS JUNE 20, 20143Lance Cpl. Kyle McNicholas, an infantryman with Black Sea Rotational Force 14 from 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, fires an AT-4 light anti-armor weapon during exercise Agile Spirit aboard Vaziani Training Area, Georgia, June 11, 2014. Agile Spirit 14 is an annually-scheduled multilateral engagement hosted by Georgiathat began in 2011 in order to strengthen the two countries by conducting brigade and battalion-level training engagements, to include small-unit interaction between the Marines and Georgians that demonstrates their commitments toward collective, global security.Marines and sailors, Georgians conclude live-fire portion of Agile SpiritStory & Photos byLance Cpl. Scott WhitingBlack Sea Rotational Force Public AffairsOfficeVAZIANI TRAININGAREA, Georgia – ExerciseAgile Spirit 14 started with a“bang” as Marines and sailorswith Black Sea RotationalForce 14, from 3rd Battalion,8th Marine Regiment, firedon various weapon rangeswith soldiers of the GeorgianArmed Forces in the VazianiTraining Area, Georgia, June10-11, 2014.Agile Spirit 14 is an annually-scheduled bilateralengagement hosted by Georgiathat began in 2011 in order tostrengthen interoperabilitybetween the two countriesby conducting brigade andbattalion-level training engagements, to include smallunit interaction between theMarines and Georgians thatdemonstrates their commitments toward collective,global security.“The ranges were prettywell-paced,” said Lance Cpl.Patrick Phelan, a forwardobserver with 81mm Platoon,Weapons Company. “It gavesome Marines the opportunity to fire a lot of weaponsystems they don’t normallyfire. There were known rangeshoots, which is always goodpractice for us. The machinegun range builds familiaritywith those of us who don’ttypically get time to fire(heavy machine guns).”The Marines and Georgiansfired the M2 .50-caliber heavymachine gun, the M249 lightmachine gun, the M240Bmedium machine gun, theAT-4 anti-tank weapon systemand the light armor weapontrainers, along with theirstandard service rif les, the M4and M16, and M27 InfantryAutomatic Rif le.“These are weapons organicto an infantry unit,” Phelansaid. “These are all thingswe should be familiar with.We won’t always be using ourservice rif les; we may have topick up a machine gun andknow how to use it.”These live-fire weaponranges set the tone for the restof the exercise.“This really joins the Marines and Georgian soldiers atthe hips,” said Capt. ThomasPerna, the platoon commander for the CombinedAnti-Armor Team, WeaponsCompany. “The more exposure we have to each other’stechniques, we can integrateand operate more effectivelyand focus on the nuts andbolts of making a cohesiveunit together.”Next on tap forthe Marines and Georgiansis lane training, where they’lltrain together in reacting todifferent scenarios, to includeimprovised explosive devices,cordoning and searching andsecurity patrolling.“I think (Agile Spirit) isa great opportunity to buildthose relationships,” Pernasaid. “We’re teaching themthings, and they’re teachingus a lot as well. They do somethings differently, which isgood because it exposes us toa different mindset. I’m excited to see what happens duringthe rest of the exercise.”Black Sea Rotational Force14 is a rotational contingentof Marines and sailors positioned to build robust militaryrelations with partner nations,increase regional stabilityand enable interoperabilitywhile providing the capability for contingency response,as directed by U.S. EuropeanCommand, in the Black Sea,Balkan and Caucasus regionsof Eastern Europe.PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTORMaj. Neil A. RuggieroE S TA BL I S H E D 1942COMMANDING GENERALBrig. Gen. James W. BiermanSERGEANT MAJORSgt. Maj. James K. Porterfield.Lance Cpl. Aaron Keene, Black Sea Rotational Force, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, fires anM-249 light machine gun during a course of fire that also included the M-4 service rifle and theM-2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun during exercise Agile Spirit 14.Gunnery Sgt. Matthew J. Richey, Black Sea Rotational Force 14, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, explains the components and functionality of the AT-4 light anti-armor weapon to Georgiansoldiers during a live-fire exercise. This fourth iteration of the Agile Spirit exercise will run untilJune 21.PRESS CHIEFSgt. Walter D. Marino IIPUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPUTYJanice M. HagarCOMBAT CORRESPONDENTSCpl . Tyler ViglioneL ance Cpl . Jericho CrutcherPUBLIC AFFAIRS CHIEFGunnery Sgt. Jennifer M. AntoineEDITORRoger Edwardschevron/public affairs office1600 henderson ave. #120san diego, ca. 92140(619) 524-8722WWW.MCRDSD.MARINES.MILThe Chevron is published on the internet at the above address by MarineCorps Recruit Depot San Diego personnel. Opinions and views expressedherein are not necessarily those of the Marine Corps or the Department ofDefense. The Chevron is promulgated for informational purposes only andin now way should be considered directive in nature. All photos are officialUSMC property unless otherwise indicated.

CHEVRON FEATURE JUNE 20, 201445Recruits complete first CFTStory & Photos bySgt. Walter D. Marino IIChevron staffAlthough no form of training can completely replicate thestrains of combat, there are someexercises that can come close.Recruits of Hotel Company,2nd Recruit Training Battalion,finished their first combat fitnesstest at Marine Corps RecruitDepot San Diego, June 11. TheCombat Fitness Test includes a880-yard run, ammunition-canlifts and a maneuver under fire.The CFT is a 300-point physical fitness test with an emphasison functional fitness related tooperational demands such ascombat.The 880-yard run kicks off thebeginning of the CFT, the ammunition-can lifts are the secondexercise and the maneuver-underfire concludes the CFT. All stagesof the CFT are conducted in bootsand camouflage utilities.Some of the combat-relatedexercises are conducted in themaneuver-under-fire portion ofthe event. In this section, recruitsare required to perform a fireman’s carry and throw a dummygrenade to a designated area.“I think the CFT is beneficialbecause things like the fireman’scarry are techniques you woulduse in combat, and that gives us adifferent outlook on what a combat experience could be like,” saidRecruit Tristan B. Butler, Platoon2163.Each section of the CFT wasgraded, but because it was therecruit’s introduction to the exercise, it was not recorded.Half way through the CFT,some recruits showed signs offatigue and pain. Some recruitssaid they were trying hard despitebeing sick and others spoke of theminor injuries they were fightingthrough.“My calf is killing me, and I’mpretty sure I pulled it,” said Butler,Platoon, a Show Low, Ariz., native. “But I just visualize my wifeand son waiting for me at the endof the exercise, and it gets me toperform better.”Recruit Hunter D. Buley,Platoon 2162, said his goal for theexercise was to get a perfect score.Each event is worth 100 points fora total of 300.“To get a perfect score wouldgive me a sense of pride becauseit takes a lot to accomplish that,”said Buley. “If you push yourself,it’s very difficult and even if youdon’t, the CFT is still difficult.”Although neither Buley norButler received a perfect score,they both explained it’s not a failure but rather a new goal to worktoward.“I’m going to continue workout and get stronger,” said Buley.“Every CFT after this my scorewill get better.”Hotel Company recruits, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, begin their 880-yard run during the Combat Fitness Test at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, June 11. The recruits were told the requirements and techniques for each section of the CFTbefore they started the test.Hotel Company recruit Josue Torres, Platoon 2167, conducts ammunition-can lifts during the CombatFitness Test. Torres is a Santa Maria, Calif., native.Hotel Company recruit Hunter D. Buley, Platoon 2162, waits for the command to start the maneuver-under-fire portion of the Combat Fitness Test. The maneuver-under-fire exercise is the last exercise conducted in the CFT. Buley is a Harrah, Okla., native.Hotel Company recruit Tristan B. Butler, Platoon 2163, conductsa fireman’s carry during the Combat Fitness Test. Partners for theevent must weigh within 10 pounds of each other. Butler comes fromShow Low, Ariz.

CHEVRON FEATURE JUNE 20, 20146Haiti native becomes a U.S. citizen and U.S. MarineStory & Photo byLance Cpl. Jericho W.CrutcherChevron staffFor centuries the U.S. hasbeen a melting pot for peopleof all races, colors and religionswho are searching for betteropportunities for themselvesand their families. For one newMarine, America offered muchmore than the hope of opportunity. The Marine Corps gavehim the brotherhood for whichhe’d been searching, and thecountry offered him citizenship.Pvt. Jean G. Volcy, Platoon3243, Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, participated in a ceremony yesterday,and was naturalized as a newcitizen of the United States. Today he and his Lima Companybrothers graduate from recruittraining as U. S. Marines.Volcy recruit trainningwas born and raised in Haiti.While he enjoyed living there,Haiti suffers from deforestation,which causes frequent, massiveflooding, leaving the countrylacking in natural resources.“It’s a tropical environment,and I like that, but resources arevery limited there,” said Volcy.“Water would only come to us afew days out of the week, so wewould store as much as we couldin jugs or anything else thatwould hold water.”Volcy learned great disciplineat an early age. He believes thatis something that developedwhen he started catholic school.“I’ve always been drawn tothings that take great disciplineto get through, and I knew byattending a catholic school Iwould have to stay very disciplined due to the strictness,”said the native of Port-AuPrince. “I think the disciplinethe Marine Corps displays isultimately what sealed my decision to join.”His discipline was reinforcedby his parents, who he said arehard workers, who always madesure he and his siblings hadeverything they needed.“My mother has always beendisciplined, even when it comesto her job. She has worked at abank for 30 years,” said 25-yearold Volcy. “My father is anaccountant and received his education in New York City, whilemy mother attended school inHaiti.”By the time Volcy turned 15,the political environment ofHaiti was a hotbed of corruptionand safety was a major concernfor many families. His parentsmade the difficult decision tohave him and his younger sistermove to America to live with hisolder brother, a member of theUnited States Air Force.“Haiti became politicallyunstable and kidnappings werestarting to occur very often,”said Volcy. “My mother fearedsomething would happen tome and my sister if we stayedin Haiti, which is why she sentus to live with my brother inAmerica.”The children began school inFayetteville, N.C., where Volcyparticipated in sports such assoccer and track. He was interested in anything that took agreat amount of discipline.The three siblings lived inNorth Carolina for a year, andthen moved to San Antonio,Texas when his brother becamean Air Force instructor at Lackland Air Force Base.“My brother took me to workwith him a couple of times whenhe became an instructor, and itwas cool to see how they trainedtheir recruits to become airmen,” said Volcy.The high school senior knewhe wanted to join the military,but did not take the step rightaway, choosing to further hiseducation instead.“At first I wanted to go to college. I couldn’t get the financialaid I needed to help pay for it,so I just got a job and went towork,” said Volcy. “After sixyears, I decided I was tired ofdoing the same thing. I felt likeit was my calling to join theLt. Gen. Terry G.RoblingParade Reviewing OfficerLt. Gen. Terry G. Robling is thecommander, U. S. Marine Corps Forces,Pacific.Robling entered the Marine Corpsin 1976 after graduating from CentralWashington University with a degreein business administration. Followinggraduation from the Basic School inApril 1977, he began flight training andearned his wings in November 1978.Upon completion of F-4 Phantomtransition training at Marine CorpsAir Station Yuma, Ariz., he reported toMCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and joinedthe “Lancers” of Marine Fighter AttackSquadron (VMFA) 212. As a “Lancer,”Robling attended the United StatesNavy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructorprogram (Top Gun), and participated intwo Western Pacific (WestPac) deployments to Iwakuni, Japan. During histhree-year tour with VMFA-212, he heldvarious billets including maintenancecontrol officer, assistant maintenanceofficer, and aircraft maintenance officer.In June 1983, Robling reported toAmphibious Warfare School at Quantico, Va., and upon graduation returnedBefore Pvt. Jean G. Volcy, Platoon 3243, Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, receives hisnaturalization papers following a naturalization ceremony aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot SanDiego, Calif., June 19. Volcy was born and raised in Haiti before coming to America. For centuries theU.S. has been a melting pot for people of all races, colors and religions searching for opportunitiesfor themselves and their families. For this new Marine, America offered much more than the hope ofopportunity.Marine Corps, so I talked tothe recruiter, and he told meabout the amount of discipline itwould take and the brotherhoodthe Marine Corps offers.”Volcy explained he is a manwho is committed to his familyand the Marine Corps reinforcesthat trait.“My recruiter told me if I waslooking for brotherhood anddiscipline, then I was joiningthe right branch of military,”said Volcy. “Honor, courage andcommitment are things I reallycherish close to my heart.”to MCAS Kaneohe Bay for duty withVMFA-235. As a “Death Angel,” he heldassignments as the assistant operationsofficer and aircraft maintenance officer,completed two more WestPac deployments and attended the Weapons andTactics Instructor Course.In June 1987, Robling reported toHeadquarters Marine Corps where heserved as aviation programs officer forthe Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation. During this tour, he was one of24 officers selected for training on theF/A-18D Hornet on the first “Delta”transition board. In August 1989, he reported to Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 101 at MCASEl Toro for F/A-18 Hornet transitiontraining. When he completed training,Robling he remained with the “Sharpshooters” as the aircraft maintenanceofficer as well as a pilot and weaponsystems officer instructor.In December 1990, Robling reportedto the newly redesignated MarineAll- Weather Fighter Attack Squadron(VMFA - AW) 242 and assumed theduties as executive officer. In June 1992,he was reassigned as the commandingoOfficer of the unit and completed another WestPac deployment to Iwakuni,Japan. As the commanding officer, Robling was selected as the Marine CorpsNaval Flight Officer of the Year in 1993.In August 1994, Robling reportedAfter going through recruittraining, Volcy realized hefound the brotherhood he hadbeen looking for.“We’ve all experienced a lotin the few months we have beenat recruit training,” said Volcy.“The thing I love the most is thefact that I can look to the Marines on my left and right andknow they will always be thereno matter what. We look out foreach other.”Now that Volcy has graduatedrecruit training, he will attendfour weeks of Marine Combatto the National War College where heearned a Master of Science Degree inNational Security Strategy. Followinggraduation, he reported to the chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington,D.C., for duty as the current operationsofficer, Central Command Division ofthe Joint Operations Department.In August 1998, Robling was selectedfor a foreign affairs fellowship, andattended Johns Hopkins University atthe School of Advanced InternationalStudies in Washington, D.C. Uponcompletion of the fellowship, he wasreassigned to the Director of Expeditionary Warfare, Office of the Chief ofNaval Operations, as the resource andrequirements officer for unmannedaerial vehicles.In January 2000, Robling assumedcommand of Marine Aircraft Group 11.In August 2001, he assumed the dutiesof chief of staff for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at MCAS Miramar, Calif.In June 2002, Robling assumed theduties of assistant wing commander forthe 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.In January 2003, Robling deployedfor Operation Iraqi Freedom. He wasdesignated commanding general, 3rdMAW Forward in June 2003, and returned to Miramar in September 2003.In July 2004, he assumed duty as chiefof staff, Striking and Support ForcesNATO, in Naples, Italy.Training at Marine Corps BaseCamp Pendleton, Calif., forfurther training. Once that iscompleted, he will continue tofollow-on training to learn hismarine occupational specialty asa motor transportation operator.Volcy has his future goals sethigh. Upon completion of hisfour years as an enlisted Marine,he would like to attend the U.S.Naval Academy in Annapolis,Md., to become an officer andMarine Corps leader. He hasaspirations of making the Corpsa career.In July 2006, Robling was assigned toserve as the director, Strategy and PlansDivision in Plans, Policy and Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.In July 2007, Robling assumed command of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing,where he served until August of 2009.In September 2009, he assumed command of the III Marine ExpeditionaryForce and Marine Corps Bases Japanuntil he transfered to Headquarters Marine Corps in January 2011, as DeputyCommandant for Aviation.Robling took command of MarineForces Pacific in August 2012.

CHEVRON GRADUATING COMPANY JUNE 20, 20147Platoon 2111Platoon 3245COMPANY HONOR MANPfc. G. A. CruzGriffith, Ind.Recruited bySgt. R. JimenezPlatoon 3243SERIES HONOR MANPfc. D. C. BakerPhoenixRecruited bySgt. J. C. ChavezHONORPLATOONCOMPANY LCommanding OfficerCapt. D. J. EckerlyCompany First SergeantGunnery Sgt. M. RamirezPlatoon 3241Platoon 3242PLATOON HONOR MAN PLATOON HONOR MANPfc. C. B. MoatesHoustonRecruited bySgt. W. A. RudisillPfc. A. M. HottingerCheyenne, Wyo.Recruited bySgt. S. SandordPlatoon 3246PLATOON HONOR MANPfc. K. R. ShackelfordWillowbrook, TexasRecruited byStaff Sgt. W. RudisillPlatoon 3247PLATOON HONOR MANPfc. S. H. BreslinFlint, Mich.Recruited bySgt. A. L. SullivanPlatoon 3243HIGH SHOOTER (347)Pfc. N. Alvarez-Ramire

Jun 20, 2014 · ner during Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, June 13. Recruits are expected to learn the basics of MCMAP during their 12 weeks of recruit training aboard. MCMAP training teaches hand-to-hand combat skills hand-to-hand combat. Because Marin