Camp Pendleton hosts Marine Corps Executive Forum

  • Published
  • By Sgt. Keenan Zelazoski
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. --  Fourteen executive leaders attended the Marine Corps Executive Forum hosted by Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Aug. 5.

The Marine Corps Executive Forum is a day-long program that provides executive leaders an opportunity to experience the Marine Corps firsthand.

During the tour, the MCEF attendees arrived in a CH-53 Sea Stallion, shot the M16A4 Service Rifle, and received a class on Meals, Ready-to-Eat, which they had for lunch.

“It was an awesome experience,” said Reed Latourette, a MCEF attendee and president of a logistics company in Los Angeles. “We were hooked onto a tether and we were able to walk around the helicopter a bit, we then got to shoot the M16s and I actually managed to hit the targets.”

The attendees then received a tour of the Infantry Immersion Trainer, a training facility for practical application of tactical skills and decision making in a scenario-based training environment.

“I think it’s a great tool for the Marines to prepare them to go into combat, both for their safety and the safety of others,” said Latourette.

Marines and other subject matter experts guided the attendees through the different events.

“I could really tell that the attendees are type-A personalities with positive outlooks, that they’re open to learning new things and that they’re always looking for ways to maximize the potential of whatever they see,” said Robert Thielen, IIT Site Manager and one of the tour guides.

The event culminated with Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Killea, Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations – West, MCB Camp Pendleton, meeting the attendees afterwards at a conference held at the Del Mar Beach Resort here.

“You can tell that they’re at the forefront of the industries, they see things and realize the capabilities,” said Thielen. “They understand exactly what we’re trying to do here and the potential of our training to save lives of Marines and others in an expeditionary environment.”