Area Marines head abroad

February 18, 2008 —

Several United States Marines, who are also students attending SVSU or Delta College, will head to the Dominican Republic or Brazil to fulfill their annual two-to-three-week training commitment.

The platoons of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines will leave toward the end of March, and spend a duration of about three weeks training.

According to Major William Clark, the company's inspector and instructor, they are going down to train some of the Caribbean nations, which he says involves teaching basic infantryman skills.

"I want to make sure it's clear that it's not something special that popped up that we had to mobilize them for another three weeks. It's just part of their annual requirements," Clark said. "The marines who don't go out of the country will go to Camp Grayling, Michigan."

Corporal Aaron Mowen, who is an exercise science senior at SVSU, is part of a platoon destined for Brazil.

"I'm excited. It's going to be a great experience training with the Brazilian Marines. Plus, the opportunity to see the world doesn't come everyday," he said.

"We will be training with the Brazilian Marines and spending some time helping out the community. For example, we will be painting a schoolhouse," Mowen continued.

Heading to the Dominican Republic with his platoon is SVSU criminal justice junior Jeremy Tatum.

"Overall, I believe this will be a good experience. It will allow us the opportunity to become more culturally diverse, represent our country, and receive good training," Mowen said. "This is an experience not many people will have an opportunity to take on, so I'm pretty excited."

Also going to the Dominican Republic is Delta College business sophomore Jesse Harwood.

"I'm looking forward to working with the Dominicans," Harwood, a Lance Corporal said. "Also, in our spare time, we'll get to play baseball with them, which should be fun."

Since the scheduled travel period does not coincide with either Delta or SVSU's spring breaks, these students will miss nearly three weeks of in-class instruction.

"In the first week of classes, I mentioned to my instructors that I would be missing two weeks toward the end of the semester," Mowen said. "They were all okay with it because I've had each of them multiple times.

"Even if they weren't okay with me missing class, I would just have to present a copy of official military orders, and I think then we would have to work something out," he added.

Tatum also spoke with his instructors.

"For the most part, I have not had any objections from instructors at Saginaw," he said. "Most of the teachers are understanding and are desirably working with me to make sure I get everything I need done. The hardest part is not catching up, it's actually getting the work done before we leave since it is the end of the semester."

Harwood, who became a Marine in August 2007, feels similar pressures at Delta.

"At times it can be tough juggling school, work, and the Marine Corps, but I love what I do, and I am happy to have the opportunity to work abroad with my fellow Marines," he said.

Additionally, both Mowen and Tatum were recently deployed in Iraq on a tour that lasted from September 2006 to April 2007.

"There's no talk about us redeploying in the near future," Mowen said, "but we are Marines in a combat time, and as Marines, we are ready to go at a moment's notice."