presents
The Marine Experience and Civic Institute
"The Draft" Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 2 January 2020
The Marine Experience and Civic Institute

We understand the importance of preserving the legacy of Carolina Marines and Sailors and are excited to enhance that mission with The Civic Institute - an educational component founded by General Al Gray, 29th Commandant - that will teach citizens of all ages about the core values of our founding fathers as so ably demonstrated by Marines since 1775. Courses will be offered on location at schools and businesses, online and - when the museum is completed - onsite.

Honoring the legacy, preserving the values,
keeping the flame burning
for future generations.
In Honor and Memory of
General Paul X. Kelley, USMC (Ret)
28th Commandant, American Patriot

General Paul X. Kelley, 28th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, passed away Sunday, December 29, 2019. General Kelley had strong ties to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

“With the passing of our General Paul Xavier Kelley last month, our Nation's Corps of Marines bid farewell to a very special Marine and a great American Patriot," says General Al Gray, USMC (Ret), 29th Commandant.  "General PX, as he was universally known by his Marines, served with utmost distinction in many challenging assignments and was our 28th Commandant.  

"His first assignment after The Basic School at Quantico was with the 2d Marine Division at Camp Lejeune. He again served with the Carolina Marines as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of the 2d Force Reconnaissance Company.  PX commanded a British Royal Marine Company in Malaya. He also commanded both the 2d Battalion, 4th Marines and the 3d Marines in Vietnam. He was picked to be the first commander of the US Rapid Deployment Force which became the US Central Command.  As Assistant Commandant, he led efforts to acquire the Maritime Preposition Force capability. As our Commandant, he oversaw substantial improvements in equipment and overall combat readiness.”

Current Commandant General David Berger posted on Twitter,  “We should honor Gen Kelley’s lifetime of service to the Corps and to the nation. From his service in Vietnam, to leading our Corps through the Beirut bombing aftermath, Gen Kelley served with honor and distinction.”


Leaders Can Be Made

Meet the graduating class of "Leaders Can Be Made" , the pilot program developed by Major General Mel Spiese, USMC (Ret) and introduced by ethics professor, Jim Danielson, PhD at Swansboro High School, Swansboro, NC. "I learned critical thinking skills," says student Rodolfo Heredia, " and that really helps when I'm making decisions ." The Marine Experience and Civic Institute thanks Swansboro High School principal, Dr. Helen Gross, and teacher, Mr. Erik Matticola, for hosting this exciting pilot project.


Congratulations, Swansboro High School Team Captains and Club Presidents!
Well done!
Students in the semester-long course learned "how to think, not what to think", active listening skills, clear communications, strategic thinking, and ethical applications for everyday decisions. The course, originally designed for adults in university or corporate settings, is being adapted for younger students as "Leading Self". Plans include expanding the geographic reach of The Civic Institute.
Core Value: HONOR

verb: to pay great respect
Lejeune Memorial Gardens, Jacksonville, NC
Civics Quiz!
Judge Judy: Supreme Court Justice?

N ews in late December quoted yet another study highlighting the erosion of civics knowledge in our nation. Forty-six percent of those surveyed believe that Judge Judy sits on the Supreme Court. Judy Sheindlin is, in fact, a former family court judge and star of a popular "reality TV show". Supreme Court Justice? No.

How will you score? Take the American Bar Association's Survey of Civic Literacy.
The Many Firsts of
Carolina Marines and Sailors

Follow this column in our monthly newsletter as we feature the many firsts of Carolina Marines and Sailors beginning with...
The Marine Phantom
LtCol Lynn "Kim" Kimball, USMC (Ret)

Generations of spectators have been enthralled and left spell-bound by the aerial, seemingly death-defying, aerobatics of the world’s premier fight demonstration teams, the Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds. However, to the U.S. Marine Corps most go the honors, once again, of being the first: in this case creating the world’s first jet aerobatic flight demonstration team. [1] And, it should be noted, these were Carolina Marines...
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