Photo Information

First Sgt. Denise M. Ruiz, the Headquarters Company first sergeant, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, calls on a Marine during a noncommissioned officer discussion aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Feb. 11, 2010, to explain what he would do if he caught a Marine drinking underage. During the class, the NCOs were given various situations in which they would face moral dilemmas and asked how they would handle them. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Melissa A. Latty)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Melissa A. Latty

What would you do?

18 Feb 2010 | Lance Cpl. Melissa A. Latty 2nd Marine Logistics Group

What would you do if you knew a Marine was doing drugs? What would you do if you found child pornography on a Marine’s computer?  What would you do if you caught a fellow Marine drinking underage?

These are all questions that were asked of the noncommissioned officers of Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, during a guided discussion held here, Feb. 11.

Senior leaders from each of the five companies within the regiment led the Marines in discussions about various situations where they may face moral dilemmas.

The purpose of the class was to get the NCOs thinking about what they would do in the situations and to provide them with the resources they need to resolve the issues the right way, said Sgt. Maj. Herbert W. Wrench, the CLR-27 sergeant major.

“A lot of times NCOs don’t actually put themselves in these circumstances, such as discovering that a Marine they know is abusing their spouse or children,” said Wrench.  “It’s impossible for them to know what they would actually do, but the more they think and prepare themselves, the better they will react.”

The Marines’ answers dictated the discussions. This allowed the Marines to bounce ideas off of each other and get some of their questions answered from the real-life experiences of other NCOs.

First Sgt. Denise M. Ruiz, the Headquarters Company first sergeant, asked the NCOs what they would do if they found out a fellow Marine was doing drugs.  A lot of their answers were similar.

“I would turn him in,” said one Marine.

“I would get him help and notify his command,” said another.

“I would take the Marine to the substance abuse control officer,” said the last Marine.

This was the answer that Ruiz was looking for.  She explained to the NCOs that the SACO is the expert in this area and would be able to provide the Marine with the most help.          

These guided discussions were among many classes given to the NCOs of CLR-27. Every month the NCOs attend classes of professional military education to enhance their leadership skills.

“It’s all about NCO development,” said Wrench.  “It’s what every unit needs.  We are teaching our NCOs how to solve problems on their level.”

Previous classes included accountability, suicide awareness and sexually transmitted disease awareness.  Although these topics are frequently discussed in the Marine Corps, CLR-27 goes a step further.

“The classes are usually about things we already know,” said Cpl. Ryan P. Hatch, a comptroller clerk with Headquarters Company, CLR-27.  “But it’s taught differently and I always leave knowing something that I didn’t know before.”

Next month the regiment’s NCOs will receive a class about taking care of their junior Marines. It will focus on areas such as finances and available base facilities like the recreation center, education center and library.