Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON -- To strengthen their role in the command decision making while restoring lost "luster," the noncommissioned officer's of 1st Force Service Support Group formed an executive NCO committee, the only such committee to exist in the Marine Corps.

January last year, 1st FSSG held an NCO symposium.  During this time, the group sergeant major decided a committee of NCO's and petty officers needed to be constructed to voice the concerns of junior Marines.  This team was dubbed the noncommissioned officer association.  However, interest was soon lost in this venture, rendering the entity unable to maintain the momentum to keep functioning.  Then, in September, with a new group sergeant major, another NCO symposium was held.  After this meeting, SgtMaj. Sanchez decided that a permanent committee needed to be founded.  From this the ENCOC was born.

Six planners, five sergeants and one petty officer second class, were tasked with forming the committee.   The primary goal of this group is providing NCO's and Petty Officer's a forum in which to voice recommendations on enlisted issues, leadership, training, and troop welfare in addition to planning educational excursions. This time Marines were appointed to the committee and held accountable for active participation in both the committee and keeping junior Marines informed on its actions.

"The committee currently has four members on the executive board and 60 representatives from the various battalions," said Petty Officer second class, Melissa Whitfield, vice-president ENCOC and education service officer.

"The board consists of the president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary.  This core group meets together once a week, the entire committee meets once a month, planning committees meet as needed and the symposium takes place once-a-year," said Sgt. Mark Hrycyk, president ENCOC and supply administrative chief, 7th Engineer Support Battalion.

The board members are nominated from within the committee and serve a term of one year, said Whitfield.

Since the committee is new, ideas are constantly being formed in regards to guidelines by which the group will be governed.

"While we need basic rules to maintain order, bylaws will be too constricting to the committee's growth," said Hrycyk. 

This means that aside from getting accountability, each meeting takes a personality of its own.  There is no one set regimen that a session must follow.

"This, we hope, will encourage the committee to continue to grow and excel," said Whitfield.

Since its inauguration, the committee has planned several events to include an etiquette dinner and fashion show in April. 

"Too often we see young Marines and sailors wearing inappropriate civilian attire, simply because they can buy such items at the exchange," said Whitfield.

The fashion show is being coordinated with Marine Corps Community Services.  The upcoming line of clothes for the exchange will be modeled.

"The idea is to show Marines exactly what acceptable attire is and that they can afford such items at our own exchange," said Hrycyk.

In addition to the show, the committee has also scheduled a meeting with MCCS and the people who purchase the goods that will be sold in the exchange.  Although they may not make decisions as to what is bought and sold, the Marines will have some voice in these matters.

Next year, the committee has several ideas to expand upon what it has already accomplished. 

One of these ideas is to add more training related activities to the schedule. 

"Giving the Marines an opportunity to do some submarine training or helo-casting would be great.  This way they can tell junior Marines, I've done these things, and lead by example," said Hrycyk.  Another is administrative in nature - to change the planning schedule from quarterly to yearly.  A big goal is to get each battalion within 1st FSSG to form its own NCO committees and have these functioning with the same purpose as the ENCOC, but on a smaller level.  Finally, the committee would like to design and choose a logo to signify its representatives.

"This is something we want our members to be proud of - to cherish as an honor and not just another assigned billet.  The logo we decide on will represent this belief and be on display as often as possible," said Hrycyk.

Being the only such committee in the Corps, the ENCOC has drawn huge praise and support from not only its command, but from other units throughout the Corps.

"We have an open door policy with both the group sergeant major and commanding general.  Without their full support we would never have been able to get this thing up and running," said Whitfield.

"With this support, we are truly starting to make a difference and this has not gone unnoticed.  A sergeant from Headquarters Marine Corps called us the other day and wanted everything I have on our committee.  Apparently, their command has heard about us and wants them to get one started as well," added Whitfield.

"The one thing I can say is that we are making a difference.  We as NCO's have an opportunity to have a huge impact on the military we work for and reclaim some of our lost luster.  Our voices need to be heard and this is the forum through which we will come across loud and clear," said Hrycyk.