Color Guard Makes History

Detachment 1120 fielded two (2) Color Guard units for the first time in its history on Saturday morning, February 28, 2015.  

Our Marine Corps League successfully met requests for Color Guard participation at both the dedication ceremony for the new $750,000 Clermont Boathouse as well as opening day of the 2015 South Lake Little League season.   

Photo albums, thanks to Bob Kane, of these two (2) events may be found HERE on the Detachment FLICKR account.

Many local VIP's attended the Boathouse event providing good exposure for the Detachment.  Lake County Rowing Association took additional photo's HERE.

Congratulations to our dedicated Color Guard team members.

Photo's Now Available

Because of the skillful work of dedicated Member Bob Kane, the Detachment now has a wonderful photo history of the many events recently.

You may view them by clicking HERE for the Detachment FLIKR account. 

Over time we will try to integrate the albums directly into the website media page.  But for now just click over to FLIKR and enjoy.  As future albums are posted, you will receive an email notification.  Thank you.

Your Web Sergeant  

Leadership

My fellow Marines, Associate Members, and friends of the South Lake Detachment are you an inspired leader?  Did you know there are eight (8) key leadership principles that every leader at every level should know?  Each month I will publish two (2) of these principles for everyone to read.  Thank you, Sgt. Maj. Collin Cotterell, USMC (Ret), Detachment Commandant.

Principle 1

Great leadership begins with the person, not the position.  Before you can lead others, you must first manage yourself.  Leadership is not so much a position you hold as it is a set of disciplines and behaviors you practice.  The first and most fundamental of which is self discipline.  A leader without self discipline is a disaster waiting to happen.

Principle 2

Great leadership is about your level of influence, not your level of authority.  People follow the leader first and the vision second.  If people aren't committed to you, they will not be committed to the vision you communicate.  Always seek to have your level of influence exceed your level of authority.  Indeed, your influence is your authority. You establish your personal credibility and authority by consistently living your core values and demonstrating that you are a person other people want to follow.

CALL TO JOIN US.

Members of the South Lake Sgt. I.W. Hatcher Detachment 1120 join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving the traditions and promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps.

This is accomplished by banding together those who are now serving in the United States Marine Corps, and those who have been honorably discharged from that service; voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines, FMF Navy Corpsmen, FMF Navy Chaplain and their wives, widows and orphans; and by perpetuating the history of the United States Marine Corps through fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines.

We welcome you to join us.

New Tricks for Old Dogs ...

Came across an exciting new educational opportunity for vet's looking to re-enter the workforce with some new skills.

VAe’s Skills TRaining And Certification (STRAC) program, newly extended to the Orlando training complex, is an intense five month course that gives graduates the skills and knowledge to enter the industry as electronics technicians. Training is fully funded by the VA; there is no cost to the veteran. Also, while attending training, veterans receive a stipend that varies by the number of dependents.

Contact Dan Seeley about the program via phone: (770) 296-3431 or e-mail dseeley@vaellc.com

Toys for Tots

170 families will have a merrier Christmas this year courtesy of the South Lake County Marine Corps League Toys for Tots program.  For the first time distribution will be here in our area at the Clermont #1 Fire House on Hwy 50.  The Toy Drive is ongoing.  We started on November 3rd and will go through December 11 and look forward to even more toys this year.

Help Them ... Help Us

At a recent Detachment meeting over 1/2 the room, including me, raised their hands when asked who felt they were suffering with PTSD.  The VA and many other outstanding organizations want to provide aid and comfort.  The question becomes "What can we do to help them, help us?".

1.  Learn their language.  All professionals use jargon.  We do it in the USMC.  So do they.  Study the symptoms of PTSD, and communicate those you are experiencing in the exact same terms.

2.  Come prepared.  As Marines we are trained to come prepared.  For help-givers to engage they need a full and complete understanding of your prior medical history.  You should collect these records using a Form 10-5345 for each location where you received treatment.

3. Come as you are.  Help-givers need to see you as you live your normal life.  Avoid "Marine Proud".  Just come as you are on any other day.

Please contact me (info@southlakemcl.org) or share your experiences in the comments section.