Officer candidates from the Officer Candidate School (OCS) wade waist deep in water as they perform a log carry on the Montford Point Challenge obstacle course at Marine Corps Base Quantico. The challenge was designed in 2011 to give candidates a taste of the hardships of the first African-Americans allowed to enlist in the Marine Corps. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Thomas DeMelo/Released)More here, here, and here.
Is this really what you need to build combat leaders in the second decade of the 21st Century? Why is this struggle so important for leaders now? Why does this in-your-face grievance self-criticism exercise important for building leaders, promoting unity, and executing the mission of the USMC?
Marines should be taught about what it means to be a Marine - not a this or that Marine, much less pick at a clean skin until you open a sore that you can later pic at the scab over and over and over.
Pathetic - but not shocking. Patronizing to both the Montford Marines' barrier breaking efforts, and the Marines of the 21st Century. Perhaps the first week everyone should wear hair-shirts.
