Camp Clark welcomes future Marines for special training event
NEVADA, Mo. — Hundreds of future United States Marines paid a visit to Camp Clark in Nevada – this weekend.
“A poolee is somebody who has already raised a right hand and taken an oath to serve our country as a United States Marine,” said Maj. Rick Hayeck, U.S. Marines Commanding Officer of Recruiting Station – Kansas City.
Over 400 are taking part in the United States Marine Corps All Hands Pool Function Training Saturday at Camp Clark in Nevada.
Camp Clark welcomes future Marines for special training event
Excitement builds as Nevada Speedway prepares for dirt racing season
Debate over future of Nevada Regional Medical Center heats up
“So, I think the most significant thing about this training is that my one responsibility is to ensure that they’re prepared mentally, physically, emotionally for the rigors of recruit training down at Marine Corps, Recruit Depot, San Diego. And so, what this does is this gives them an opportunity to interact with drill instructors firsthand – so that they’re not surprised by anything that occurs on the depo,” said Hayeck.
Future Marines will spend the next three days going through various written and strength tests.
“I’m a drill instructor and our job is basically to take poolees that are participating in this event and transform them from civilians to Marines,” said Sgt. Camila Melendez, U.S. Marine Drill Instructor.
Saturday’s training isn’t exactly like the actual Marine boot camp is like – but almost close.
“It’s challenging in the sense that I physically don’t believe that it’s all that challenging to be completely honest. This is a this is a mental toughness game. It’s going to require a lot of mental resiliency, which is what we’re trying to build out here. There’s a lot of repetitive things that occur throughout the training evolutions, a lot of learning that occurs with just simple commands,” said Hayeck.
The training gave the future Marines a chance to eat, sleep, and also train together – something many aren’t used to.
“And a lot of these young individuals have never been in team sports. Believe it or not, this isn’t. These aren’t your football players, your volleyball players, where they’re used to being engaged in team activities. So, a lot of these individuals have been operating kind of independently on their own as a youth. And so, this is their first time in a team concept,” said Hayeck.
