Neller's words resonate with local Marines

Leveraging technology. Combating drunk driving. Communication between senior and junior Marines.

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller's remarks were centered around those three main points during a town hall meeting Feb. 12 at Conmy Hall on the Fort Myer portion of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. His discussion on those topics resonated with Marines assigned to Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Henderson Hall.

Technology

In his discussion, Neller said that technological advances will help bring the Corps into the future and that examining the ways technology can be used to deceive the nation's enemies will help to give American forces an edge in combat.

Henderson Hall Marines like Cpl. Joshua L Bettis, who is assigned to the battalion's Distribution Management Office, said the use of technology in warfare will only grow in the years to come and that the Corps has to be ready to face that challenge. Before he joined the Corps, posting on social media was a relatively risk-free task, he said. Now, he views everything he posts through the lens of operational security.

"As the nation's force in readiness, we constantly strive to hold that edge on our enemies that wish us harm," he said. "As technology progresses and times change, our Corps must be ready to change with them to maintain that edge."

Staff Sgt. Francis Garcia is a career retention specialist who has been in the Corps for nearly nine years. He said recent technological advances have impacted his career in a myriad of ways.

"Not only does it aid in my work-life balance, it also allows me to look up orders and directives much quicker than my Marine forefathers had to," he said. "I can't imagine having to rely on printed materials and publications to get through the day."

Garcia said that the nation's enemies are always looking for ways to exploit any technological vulnerabilities they may find.

"I think that educating the older generation of Marines is paramount in the success of keeping our networks strong," he continued. "One click on a hyperlink in an email and the entire network can be infiltrated. This needs to be emphasized more and through education, I think it can happen."

Drunk driving

During Neller's presentation, Marines heard from Elizabeth Davis, whose husband, 1st Lt. Matthew Davis, 30, was killed by a drunk driver in at crash at Camp Pendleton, Calif., in November 2014. His widow delivered a heartfelt plea for Marines to consider their actions before drinking too much and getting behind the wheel of a car.

Cpl. Bridget H. Winglass, who is assigned to the battalion's Distribution Management Office, has been in the Corps nearly two years, said the Corps needs to identify potential risk factors so it can prevent Marines from driving after drinking.

"Drunk driving puts lives at risk on the home front and us as Marines need to be worried about enemies foreign and domestic instead of seeing the Marine to the left and right of them."

Pfc. Daniel O. Rosas of Headquarters Company, said drunk driving is not only an issue for the Corps, but for the country as a whole.

"[The Corps] can do its best to prevent it from happening, and I don't mean death by PowerPoint, but by Marines doing what they do best and looking out for the guys and girls to their left and right," he said.

Communication

During his presentation, Neller encouraged senior Marines to have compassion for those they lead and to assist junior Marines who approach them for help.

Sgt. Alan Flores, who has been in the Corps for nearly five years, agreed with Neller and said that senior leaders set the tone of the relationship between themselves and junior Marines.

"As senior leaders, we have to ensure that we are doing everything we can to make ourselves approachable, attentive and trustworthy so that the junior Marine may have no second thoughts about coming to us when they need to do so," he said. "We have to continue to learn as much as we can about our Marines so we can better read their changes in personalities."

Flores also stressed that junior Marines need to be honest with senior leaders and "understand that they are here to help us."

Pentagram Staff Writer Julia LeDoux can be reached at jledoux@dcmilitary.com.