2007年VOA标准英语-Marine Recruiting Program Takes Educators to Sc

By Deborah Block
Parris Island, South Carolina
10 May 2007
 

Instead of teaching school, a group of U.S. educators recently attended school.  They went to Parris Island, South Carolina where they took part in a workshop to learn about U.S. Marines Corps² basic training, also known as boot camp.   VOA's Deborah Block was there.

U.S. Marine¹ Corps basic training is the hardest and longest of all the American armed forces.  Three months of grueling boot camp -- for both men and women -- prepares these young recruits for war, especially in Iraq or Afghanistan. 

Twelve weeks each year, the Marines Corps pays the expenses for groups of high school and college educators to come to Parris Island for several days to learn what recruits go through to become Marines.   The idea is that if they like what they see, then they will recommend the Marine Corps to their students. 

Recently, about 50 educators from the Washington, DC area came to Parris Island.  A few had served in the military or grew up in military families.   Most knew little about boot camp except that it is tough.

The educators watched the recruits' intense training and later tried out a challenging obstacle course.  Special education high school teacher Lisa Ushery from the state of Maryland grew up with a father who was in the U.S. Navy.

"Getting up early and doing some of the exercises that they do was exhausting so I can't imagine what they're doing.  I just have so much respect for the people who train and educate the Marines."

Some recruits ate lunch with the educators, including Angela Jenkins, a high school career counselor³ in the state of Virginia. "The recruits seemed to be very disciplined and it just seems like an awesome⁴ program."

She bumped into 20-year-old Rafael Negron, a graduate from her school.  He says the training is hard but worth it.

Rafael Negron

"It not only builds confidence but extreme discipline. It allows people to show how much they've grown up for the past three months."

The educators watched the drill instructors⁶ yelling at the recruits during training to keep them in line.  The teachers got a taste of what it feels like to get yelled at during their own combat exercise with a drill instructor⁵.

They also learned how to shoot an M-16 assault rifle.

Andrea Lafinara is a career counselor at a high school in Virginia.  "I think it's amazing how they are taking us out here and giving us a look at what goes on here.  And we get to see what the recruits do and actually try some of the things ourselves.  I think it will help us work with our students and that we can explain to the students what goes on here if they have questions."

Mary Ann Shirts, a college administrator⁷, says the Marines Corp may be good for some students who do not know what kind of job they want to do. "You learn a lot of discipline, you learn teamwork, so many valuable things you learn in the military that you take with you your whole life."

Trisha Leggett says while she respects the Marines, she is not in favor of the U.S. being in Iraq. "I don't like the idea of our young men and women being in Iraq.  I don't like the idea at all.  But when they (the recruits) are here I see they are getting the confidence that they need.  They're here because they want to be here."

High school career advisor⁸ Scott Woo is also against the American presence in Iraq.  But after four days of learning about boot camp and attending a recruit graduation ceremony, would he be more likely to recommend the Marine Corps to his students?  "I wouldn't say more likely but I have more knowledge now to share information about what Marine life is all about."

The Marines Corps says it is reaching its annual recruitment goals.  But as the war in Iraq drags on and public support declines, the Marine Corps is hoping educators like these will help bring in new Marines.

1 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

2 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

3 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。

4 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

5 instructor   

n.指导者，教员，教练

参考例句：

• The college jumped him from instructor to full professor.大学突然把他从讲师提升为正教授。
• The skiing instructor was a tall,sunburnt man.滑雪教练是一个高高个子晒得黑黑的男子。

6 instructors   

指导者，教师( instructor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The instructors were slacking on the job. 教员们对工作松松垮垮。
• He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors. 他以校外辅导员身份，被邀请到主席台上。

7 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

8 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。