WEBVTT 00:01.529 --> 00:04.050 My name is Captain Monique Allen . I'm 00:04.050 --> 00:07.210 the company commander for 2nd MSB here 00:07.210 --> 00:10.949 aboard Camp Lejeune . I'm currently the 00:10.949 --> 00:14.020 OSCar team member representative for my 00:14.020 --> 00:17.350 unit and my MOS by trade is 0602 , 00:17.469 --> 00:19.469 which is a communications officer . 00:20.409 --> 00:22.979 Oscar is a program that was built by 00:22.979 --> 00:26.659 Marines for Marines . It is combat 00:26.659 --> 00:29.739 and operational stress control first 00:29.739 --> 00:32.479 aid that is administered both downrange 00:32.479 --> 00:34.979 and in the rear to help Marines 00:34.979 --> 00:38.459 identify and mitigate their stress and 00:38.459 --> 00:41.590 to become more lethal warfighters . The 00:41.590 --> 00:44.349 Oscar program is a program that is 00:44.349 --> 00:47.310 built by Marines for Marines . The goal 00:47.310 --> 00:49.360 of the Oscar program is to enable 00:49.360 --> 00:52.139 Marines of all ranks in our formations 00:52.139 --> 00:55.189 at all levels to identify stressors 00:55.189 --> 00:57.759 within themselves and each other , to 00:57.759 --> 01:00.110 help them mitigate those stressors by 01:00.110 --> 01:02.310 providing tools and strategies that 01:02.310 --> 01:04.477 they can utilize to implement in their 01:04.477 --> 01:07.669 daily lives , and to support a holistic 01:07.669 --> 01:10.190 MCTI concept which is Marine Corps 01:10.190 --> 01:13.610 Total Fitness . That is the beauty of 01:13.610 --> 01:15.970 this program and it is one of its most 01:15.970 --> 01:18.970 empowering features because this 01:18.970 --> 01:21.209 program spans every rank in our 01:21.209 --> 01:23.410 formation . Anyone in the Marine Corps 01:23.410 --> 01:25.809 can become an OSCAR team member . This 01:25.809 --> 01:28.889 creates a level of accessibility to 01:28.889 --> 01:31.830 Marines for not only their leadership 01:31.930 --> 01:35.000 but also their peers . OSCAR team 01:35.000 --> 01:37.260 member training is a one day course 01:37.440 --> 01:40.559 that is built on conversation and life 01:40.559 --> 01:43.440 experiences . It is delivered by a 01:43.440 --> 01:46.540 trained and qualified master trainer 01:46.839 --> 01:50.360 for Oscar Gen 4 to a group of Marines 01:50.360 --> 01:52.471 who have come forward to volunteer to 01:52.471 --> 01:54.519 be the ones in their formation that 01:54.519 --> 01:56.575 helped the brother and the sister to 01:56.575 --> 01:58.630 the left and the right of them . The 01:58.630 --> 02:00.839 training focuses on stress first aid 02:00.839 --> 02:04.269 concepts . And focuses on providing 02:04.269 --> 02:06.510 Marines tools and strategies that they 02:06.510 --> 02:08.869 can utilize to help their fellow 02:08.869 --> 02:10.980 brothers and sisters and to implement 02:10.980 --> 02:12.980 in their own personal daily lives . 02:14.630 --> 02:18.110 While both Gen 3 and Gen 4 course 02:18.110 --> 02:21.070 material offers standardization of 02:21.070 --> 02:23.389 concepts and standardization of 02:23.389 --> 02:26.309 delivery , Gen 4 offers command 02:26.309 --> 02:29.740 flexibility . It greatly 02:29.740 --> 02:33.589 increases the focus on 02:34.070 --> 02:37.449 spanning and empowering junior Marines 02:37.460 --> 02:41.220 to . Embrace this concept of combat 02:41.220 --> 02:43.380 and operational stress control first 02:43.380 --> 02:45.699 aid for not only themselves but for 02:45.699 --> 02:48.220 their peers . Studies have shown that 02:48.220 --> 02:51.639 peer to peer support is more effective 02:52.059 --> 02:55.539 long term . And as a Marine Corps , as 02:55.539 --> 02:57.820 a war fighting institution , we teach 02:57.820 --> 03:00.610 our NCOs on the daily that our NCOs and 03:00.610 --> 03:02.832 junior Marines are going to be the ones 03:02.832 --> 03:05.139 who fight our country's battles and who 03:05.139 --> 03:07.339 are responsible for those to the left 03:07.339 --> 03:09.619 and right of them . This is just one 03:09.619 --> 03:12.419 more tool in their tool kit that they 03:12.419 --> 03:15.059 can take both downrange and keep in the 03:15.059 --> 03:18.820 rear to make them more lethal . Gen 3 03:18.820 --> 03:21.419 training was very standardized . It was 03:21.419 --> 03:25.050 very scripted . Um , while it 03:25.050 --> 03:28.529 delivered key operational concepts , 03:29.210 --> 03:33.029 Gen 4 training focuses on proactive 03:33.029 --> 03:35.729 identification and mitigation at the 03:35.729 --> 03:39.130 lowest possible level . It builds on 03:39.130 --> 03:41.649 itself through delivery and through 03:41.649 --> 03:45.509 action . One key component of the 03:45.509 --> 03:48.830 Oscar Gen 4 curriculum is the action 03:48.830 --> 03:52.419 plan for commands . Gen 3 03:52.690 --> 03:55.559 called the action plan or labeled it as 03:55.559 --> 03:59.309 an activities plan . By rebranding and 03:59.309 --> 04:02.529 relabeling Oscar as an action plan , 04:03.070 --> 04:06.149 it enables Marines to have a bias for 04:06.149 --> 04:09.070 action , to take the action up and down 04:09.070 --> 04:11.126 their formations and their chains of 04:11.126 --> 04:13.869 command , and to take it forward . I 04:13.869 --> 04:16.989 think that the data would suggest that 04:16.989 --> 04:20.519 Oscar saves lives . And it has a 04:20.519 --> 04:23.730 lasting impact on not only Marines , 04:23.739 --> 04:26.600 but Marines' families . These are 04:26.600 --> 04:29.519 concepts and techniques and tools that 04:29.519 --> 04:32.359 the Marines can utilize in uniform and 04:32.359 --> 04:35.570 out of uniform . Not only will it 04:35.570 --> 04:38.329 enable them to become more lethal and 04:38.329 --> 04:40.440 bring the war fighter through a total 04:40.440 --> 04:43.779 Marine Corps concept . In uniform , but 04:43.779 --> 04:46.440 it will also greatly enable them to 04:46.440 --> 04:49.480 return to society as better human 04:49.480 --> 04:52.619 beings , better contributors . Um , to 04:52.619 --> 04:55.410 bring a nation forward . The curriculum 04:55.410 --> 04:57.769 for Oscar G 4 when it's presented to 04:57.769 --> 05:01.070 the class is enabling the instructor 05:01.329 --> 05:03.769 to know their audience , know the 05:03.769 --> 05:06.170 Marines that they're teaching , while 05:06.170 --> 05:09.010 it offers standardization in terms of 05:09.010 --> 05:11.489 concepts that we are required and 05:11.489 --> 05:13.880 should be teaching to the Marines in 05:13.880 --> 05:17.380 our classes . It enables the Marines to 05:17.380 --> 05:19.549 grow from each other . It enables them 05:19.549 --> 05:22.049 to create a safe space for one another 05:22.049 --> 05:24.970 to share personal life experiences that 05:24.970 --> 05:27.170 ultimately impact their operational 05:27.170 --> 05:29.670 readiness through understanding . It 05:29.670 --> 05:33.049 communicates a softer yet 05:34.679 --> 05:37.600 Lethal approach to how we advance the 05:37.600 --> 05:40.119 war fighting concept through Marine 05:40.119 --> 05:43.160 Corps Total Fitness . So OSCAR program 05:43.160 --> 05:47.040 impacts Marines' ability to be better 05:47.040 --> 05:50.160 equipped to manage their stress . Every 05:50.160 --> 05:52.850 Marine , regardless of rank , billet , 05:53.079 --> 05:55.440 unit , and assignment , will experience 05:55.440 --> 05:57.739 stress at some point in their life . 05:58.380 --> 06:00.540 Most Marines have experienced stress 06:00.540 --> 06:03.190 prior to entering the Marine Corps . We 06:03.190 --> 06:05.134 will continue to experience stress 06:05.134 --> 06:07.500 while serving in uniform , and we will 06:07.500 --> 06:10.339 continue to experience stress post 06:10.339 --> 06:12.899 transitioning from the service . It's a 06:12.899 --> 06:16.829 facet of life . OSCA identifies that 06:17.350 --> 06:19.406 it looks at it as a strength through 06:19.406 --> 06:23.109 adversity and we equip Marines to 06:23.109 --> 06:25.890 better mitigate and manage their stress 06:26.200 --> 06:28.350 so they can grow in that and they can 06:28.350 --> 06:30.510 grow their capacity for . 06:32.820 --> 06:35.179 Understanding what their stress is 06:35.179 --> 06:37.579 coming from and how to better handle it . 06:38.660 --> 06:41.820 So Oscar Gen for the COSC program 06:42.220 --> 06:45.339 is a program that was built by Marines 06:45.339 --> 06:47.779 for Marines . Once received by team 06:47.779 --> 06:50.019 members , those team members go back to 06:50.019 --> 06:52.186 their units and they take what they've 06:52.186 --> 06:54.380 learned with them . That's your first 06:54.380 --> 06:56.579 accessibility point , is the brother 06:56.579 --> 06:58.801 and the sister who wears the uniform to 06:58.801 --> 07:01.429 the left and the right of you . After 07:01.429 --> 07:03.207 that , the Marine Corps and the 07:03.207 --> 07:07.029 Department of War have . Greatly 07:07.029 --> 07:09.779 utilize the resources in front of them 07:09.779 --> 07:11.679 to provide marines with stress 07:11.679 --> 07:14.799 mitigation tools . These will range 07:14.799 --> 07:17.040 from the NFLC , the community 07:17.040 --> 07:19.440 counseling programs , the family life 07:19.440 --> 07:22.839 centers , the chaplains . Our resource 07:22.839 --> 07:25.760 list is vast , and the beauty of that 07:25.760 --> 07:28.799 is it will enable each marine to find a 07:28.799 --> 07:31.799 tool and a strategy that best helps 07:31.799 --> 07:35.500 them . To expand upon their Marine 07:35.500 --> 07:37.667 Corps Total Fitness , their physical , 07:37.667 --> 07:39.833 their mental , their emotional , their 07:39.833 --> 07:43.600 spiritual strengths , and to be able to 07:43.600 --> 07:45.940 strengthen those and return to the 07:45.940 --> 07:48.140 formation through progressive and 07:48.140 --> 07:50.500 proper reintegration with the support 07:50.500 --> 07:52.389 of not only their peers but their 07:52.389 --> 07:54.679 leadership . And the support will 07:54.679 --> 07:56.920 continue . It doesn't stop after a 07:56.920 --> 07:59.700 stressful life event . It doesn't begin 07:59.700 --> 08:02.140 once that stressful life event occurs . 08:02.440 --> 08:05.059 It begins far before that and it 08:05.059 --> 08:08.470 continues far after that . The Oscar 08:08.470 --> 08:10.910 training builds on itself through each 08:10.910 --> 08:14.269 lesson , each day if you're going to be 08:14.269 --> 08:16.158 a master trainer or a core master 08:16.158 --> 08:19.350 trainer . It teaches you key concepts . 08:20.130 --> 08:23.299 To not only help Marines but identify 08:23.299 --> 08:26.850 yourself and challenge yourself to be a 08:26.850 --> 08:28.980 better leader and to rise to the 08:28.980 --> 08:32.869 occasion . Of embracing and taking care 08:32.869 --> 08:36.770 of America's sons and daughters . We as 08:36.770 --> 08:39.750 leaders are entrusted to do that . It's 08:39.750 --> 08:43.229 both an honor , a privilege . And a 08:43.229 --> 08:46.640 burden That needs to be taken very 08:46.640 --> 08:50.200 seriously . The Oscar Gen 08:50.200 --> 08:53.599 4 program challenges me to do that as a 08:53.599 --> 08:55.969 leader . I think that's crucial . 08:57.289 --> 09:00.570 Their requirements as we go through the 09:00.570 --> 09:03.659 ranks only become greater . The number 09:03.659 --> 09:05.840 of Marines that we're responsible for 09:05.979 --> 09:09.849 only rise . They don't lower . And 09:09.849 --> 09:12.969 this program teaches leaders to be 09:12.969 --> 09:16.380 sensitive to that . It teaches them to 09:16.380 --> 09:18.269 know their marines and know their 09:18.269 --> 09:21.460 welfare . It teaches them the 09:21.460 --> 09:25.210 sacredness of life . And it helps 09:25.210 --> 09:28.450 us understand at all levels what it 09:28.450 --> 09:30.650 takes to be a totally fit Marine . 09:32.369 --> 09:34.960 Marines can be physically fit . Marines 09:34.960 --> 09:37.359 can be war fighting ready . Marines can 09:37.359 --> 09:40.260 be the most lethal uniformed 09:40.840 --> 09:43.700 force on a battlefield in another 09:44.200 --> 09:48.020 nation . But we must take care of our 09:48.020 --> 09:51.940 own . And we must start that at home . 09:53.000 --> 09:55.820 What have been my personal experiences 09:56.000 --> 09:58.320 with stress in my career ? 10:00.619 --> 10:02.750 I believe that as a leader in the 10:02.750 --> 10:04.528 Marine Corps , you're called to 10:04.528 --> 10:07.710 something much higher than yourself . I 10:07.710 --> 10:09.909 think that calling is recognized very 10:09.909 --> 10:13.609 early on in our training . But we face 10:13.609 --> 10:16.309 it head on once we enter the fleet 10:16.309 --> 10:19.849 Marine Force . We receive 10:19.849 --> 10:23.820 young Marines . who come to 10:23.820 --> 10:27.650 us and trusted . By American 10:27.650 --> 10:30.719 mothers and fathers . To train their 10:30.719 --> 10:34.250 sons and daughters . To be war fighters 10:34.669 --> 10:37.549 and to also keep them safe . 10:38.609 --> 10:41.289 And when I say safe , I'm referencing . 10:42.700 --> 10:45.619 Physically , emotionally , spiritually , 10:45.700 --> 10:48.250 mentally . To take care of them . 10:50.979 --> 10:53.390 That is a responsibility that is 10:53.400 --> 10:55.799 greater than myself . That 10:55.799 --> 10:58.869 responsibility alone introduces stress 10:59.169 --> 11:00.390 on a daily basis . 11:03.549 --> 11:05.493 I'm also introduced to stress on a 11:05.493 --> 11:07.750 daily basis by intaking my Marines . 11:09.090 --> 11:11.250 And being the open door , being the 11:11.250 --> 11:13.330 safe space , being the security that 11:13.330 --> 11:17.169 they can have to trust . To be 11:17.169 --> 11:20.650 courageous , to come forward and to ask 11:20.650 --> 11:23.309 for help . That's not a small feat . 11:24.869 --> 11:27.289 We as a Marine Corps do a very good job 11:27.750 --> 11:31.270 of teaching strength and we do a very 11:31.270 --> 11:34.869 good job of teaching responsibility we 11:34.869 --> 11:37.489 do a very good job of . 11:38.710 --> 11:42.359 Teaching duty But part of 11:42.359 --> 11:44.880 that is you have a duty to yourself and 11:44.880 --> 11:47.239 you have a duty . To your brother and 11:47.239 --> 11:49.295 your sister to the left and right of 11:49.295 --> 11:51.517 you . And part of that is understanding 11:51.729 --> 11:54.650 where stress can impact you and your 11:54.650 --> 11:58.140 peers negatively and positively . I 11:58.140 --> 12:00.140 think I strive daily to be a better 12:00.140 --> 12:02.450 leader , to bring that to fruition with 12:02.450 --> 12:05.169 my Marines . To be the one that they 12:05.169 --> 12:07.859 can come to and ask for help . To be 12:07.859 --> 12:10.659 the one that they can rely on to . 12:11.530 --> 12:13.641 Cover them and to connect them with a 12:13.641 --> 12:15.641 resource that works for them to get 12:15.641 --> 12:17.752 them back into the fight . Ultimately 12:17.752 --> 12:20.200 that's my job . is to ensure that the 12:20.200 --> 12:22.256 Marines in my formation are ready to 12:22.256 --> 12:24.840 fight . They're ready to answer our 12:24.840 --> 12:27.950 nation's call when required . And that 12:27.950 --> 12:30.109 starts with themselves . 12:31.950 --> 12:34.309 They need themselves , they need their 12:34.309 --> 12:36.420 minds , they need their physicality , 12:36.420 --> 12:38.500 they need their spirituality . They 12:38.500 --> 12:42.039 need , they need their stability . For 12:42.039 --> 12:44.000 me to be able to trust them with a 12:44.000 --> 12:46.349 weapon in their hand and to go forward 12:46.349 --> 12:48.571 and to make ethical and moral decisions 12:48.571 --> 12:50.859 downrange . And that's my 12:50.859 --> 12:52.970 responsibility is to prepare them for 12:52.970 --> 12:56.479 that . And I do not take that 12:56.479 --> 12:59.909 lightly . As a leader . Because each of 12:59.909 --> 13:02.076 my marines comes from a different walk 13:02.076 --> 13:04.020 of life , they come from different 13:04.020 --> 13:06.020 cultures , they come from different 13:06.020 --> 13:08.187 backgrounds . I really have to know my 13:08.187 --> 13:10.187 marines . I really have to know who 13:10.187 --> 13:12.469 they are beyond just their name and 13:12.469 --> 13:14.747 their rank . I have to understand them . 13:15.549 --> 13:17.160 And I have to appreciate the 13:17.160 --> 13:19.299 differences and build upon their 13:19.299 --> 13:21.188 strengths and their weaknesses to 13:21.188 --> 13:25.099 create . This amazing lethal 13:25.099 --> 13:27.043 fighting force that we have in the 13:27.043 --> 13:29.340 Marine Corps that is the best of the 13:29.340 --> 13:32.950 best . And I think the Oscar program 13:32.950 --> 13:35.710 will only enhance that , and I think we 13:35.710 --> 13:37.821 as leaders need to embrace the stress 13:37.821 --> 13:40.030 and the responsibility that induces on 13:40.030 --> 13:42.429 ourselves because that only makes us 13:42.429 --> 13:44.750 better , it makes us strive and 13:44.750 --> 13:47.820 continue to reach for our why . 13:48.859 --> 13:50.859 Which is what we joined for to lead 13:50.859 --> 13:54.820 Marines . I think Oscar has helped 13:54.820 --> 13:57.940 me in two ways . One on a personal 13:57.940 --> 14:01.500 level , it's helped me by 14:01.500 --> 14:04.299 equipping me with different tools such 14:04.299 --> 14:07.309 as box breathing , grounding techniques , 14:07.340 --> 14:10.419 introducing me to new resources that I 14:10.419 --> 14:13.250 may not have known about before . To 14:13.250 --> 14:15.969 help me mitigate my stress , to help me 14:15.969 --> 14:18.049 become a better person , to help me 14:18.049 --> 14:22.000 invest in my MCTF . On a professional 14:22.000 --> 14:25.000 level , Oscar continues to challenge me 14:25.000 --> 14:27.929 as a leader . He continues to propel me 14:27.929 --> 14:29.960 forward . It continues to grow my 14:29.960 --> 14:32.520 relationship with my Marines by 14:32.520 --> 14:35.359 creating those moments where I can not 14:35.359 --> 14:37.415 only be vulnerable with them , but I 14:37.415 --> 14:40.330 can be honest with them . I can show 14:40.330 --> 14:42.552 them that even though I'm an officer in 14:42.552 --> 14:45.369 the Marine Corps , even though I have a 14:45.369 --> 14:49.159 degree , even though . I have a 14:49.159 --> 14:51.320 marriage that's successful does not 14:51.320 --> 14:54.219 mean that I don't have my own stressors . 14:55.489 --> 14:59.179 Um , I think that resonates with 14:59.179 --> 15:01.719 Marines when you can sit there and go 15:01.719 --> 15:04.659 kneecap to kneecap with them . I think 15:04.659 --> 15:08.200 that resonates with Marines when You 15:08.200 --> 15:11.960 can . Look them in the eye and tell 15:11.960 --> 15:14.599 them the truth . You can sit with them 15:14.599 --> 15:17.309 and be raw . That's what the Marine 15:17.309 --> 15:21.260 Corps is built on raw , lethal 15:21.559 --> 15:24.619 war fighting . We focus 15:24.719 --> 15:27.830 and We embrace that 15:28.440 --> 15:31.750 downrange . We don't shy from it . And 15:31.750 --> 15:35.070 I think Oscar implores us to be 15:35.070 --> 15:37.989 courageous and not shy away from what 15:37.989 --> 15:40.330 stresses us in our personal life . 15:41.179 --> 15:45.010 That's not Requiring us to take 15:45.010 --> 15:46.843 a step back and take a knee in a 15:46.843 --> 15:49.770 negative way , it's requiring us to 15:49.770 --> 15:52.090 take that knee , interlocking arms with 15:52.090 --> 15:54.809 those around us , and to move forward 15:54.809 --> 15:57.969 together . I would just offer that 15:57.969 --> 15:59.636 courage takes reps and sets . 16:01.609 --> 16:04.469 It's not a skill that you learn 16:04.809 --> 16:07.359 overnight . It's not something that 16:07.359 --> 16:10.099 you're born with . I think that's why 16:10.679 --> 16:12.901 Marines joined the Marine Corps because 16:12.901 --> 16:15.070 it challenges them to rise to a higher 16:15.070 --> 16:18.489 bar . We are our nation's warfighters . 16:18.599 --> 16:21.450 We are the first to fight . And that is 16:21.450 --> 16:23.669 a driving factor of our motivation , 16:24.090 --> 16:26.450 but I think that the Oscar program , I 16:26.450 --> 16:28.849 believe that the Oscar program . 16:30.369 --> 16:32.258 Implores Marines to have the same 16:32.258 --> 16:34.609 amount of mental courage to face 16:34.609 --> 16:37.979 themselves . To face their mentality . 16:39.080 --> 16:41.136 To face the skeletons that may be in 16:41.136 --> 16:44.039 their closet . And to turn to their 16:44.039 --> 16:46.372 brothers and sisters and to do the same . 16:47.200 --> 16:49.940 Have the courage to tell someone , hey , 16:50.520 --> 16:52.576 you need some help and I'm gonna get 16:52.576 --> 16:54.631 you that help . I'm gonna be the one 16:54.631 --> 16:57.239 that can help you . Just being the one 16:57.239 --> 16:58.960 courageous enough to have the 16:58.960 --> 17:00.960 conversation and ask the question . 17:01.869 --> 17:05.689 Ultimately that can save a life . And 17:05.689 --> 17:07.930 some circumstances are not as extreme 17:07.930 --> 17:10.869 as that . It varies on the stress 17:10.869 --> 17:14.030 continuum . But some circumstances are . 17:15.418 --> 17:18.109 And we as Marines might never fully see 17:18.109 --> 17:21.188 the impact that Oscar program has on 17:21.188 --> 17:24.680 our peers or on ourselves . But I think 17:24.680 --> 17:27.599 that the result of this program is 17:27.599 --> 17:29.660 going to be a more lethal , holistic 17:30.439 --> 17:34.020 war fighting institution . That is the 17:34.020 --> 17:36.099 continued example for America . 17:38.140 --> 17:40.307 How have I learned to manage stress in 17:40.307 --> 17:44.160 my life ? The first key thing that 17:44.160 --> 17:46.729 I learned to do is identify it . In the 17:46.729 --> 17:48.896 Marine Corps we have a lot of stress . 17:49.719 --> 17:53.119 That ranges from personal requirements 17:53.119 --> 17:55.341 to our physical fitness standards every 17:55.341 --> 17:58.400 year to our billet descriptions and 17:58.400 --> 18:00.680 what our job entails to the looming 18:00.680 --> 18:03.579 deployment . Stress compounds on itself . 18:04.439 --> 18:06.719 The more that you build upon it and the 18:06.719 --> 18:09.079 more that you set it aside , I believe 18:09.079 --> 18:11.246 that Oscar has taught me to not set it 18:11.246 --> 18:14.630 aside . Oscar has taught me to identify 18:14.630 --> 18:18.380 it . To take hold of it , to embrace 18:18.380 --> 18:21.699 it , and to work through it with 18:21.699 --> 18:23.979 emotional regulation , with a 18:23.979 --> 18:27.660 steadiness , with courage , with 18:27.660 --> 18:30.020 resources that are there to help me . 18:31.920 --> 18:35.439 So I would say as a leader , the Oscar 18:35.439 --> 18:37.161 program has first and foremost 18:37.161 --> 18:39.829 challenged me to continue being better . 18:40.119 --> 18:43.579 It has continued to require of me to 18:44.280 --> 18:47.040 push to a higher standard . It supports 18:47.040 --> 18:49.680 me remembering my why each and every 18:49.680 --> 18:53.520 day . Taking care of Marines is my 18:53.520 --> 18:55.687 calling that I joined the Marine Corps 18:55.687 --> 18:59.670 to do . It was my original why when I 18:59.670 --> 19:03.040 signed the papers . It continued to be 19:03.040 --> 19:05.900 my why when I raised my hand and swore 19:05.959 --> 19:08.839 my oath as an officer in the United 19:08.839 --> 19:11.550 States Marine Corps . In December of 19:11.550 --> 19:14.229 2020 , and this program continues to 19:14.229 --> 19:16.750 drive that forward for me because it 19:16.750 --> 19:20.500 puts Marines at the forefront . It is 19:20.500 --> 19:24.099 a program by Marines for Marines that 19:24.099 --> 19:27.619 continues to be fostered and taken 19:27.619 --> 19:31.119 forward by the same Marines . That made 19:31.119 --> 19:33.310 it That's awesome 19:35.079 --> 19:37.979 And it spans the entire formation , so 19:37.979 --> 19:40.760 it's a calling for not only the junior 19:40.760 --> 19:42.982 marine in the formation but also for me 19:43.459 --> 19:46.369 as a leader . So it continues to 19:46.369 --> 19:50.099 develop me . I continue to change for 19:50.099 --> 19:52.300 the better as a leader through the 19:52.300 --> 19:54.319 Oscar program . Being an Oscar 19:55.099 --> 19:58.010 representative for my unit continues to 19:58.010 --> 20:01.890 change me as a person . In a 20:01.890 --> 20:05.770 good way It helps me understand 20:06.030 --> 20:08.910 the stressors that my Marines and their 20:08.910 --> 20:11.920 families are going through . It helps 20:11.920 --> 20:14.319 me understand how to better proactively 20:14.319 --> 20:17.880 identify what could be coming down the 20:17.880 --> 20:21.189 path for me and my marines and to 20:21.189 --> 20:24.589 proactively mitigate that . In more 20:24.589 --> 20:27.229 serious situations , it helps me to 20:27.229 --> 20:29.910 take a knee with that marine . It has 20:29.910 --> 20:33.270 developed my perspectives . It has 20:33.270 --> 20:36.670 broadened my scope of how to deal 20:36.670 --> 20:40.229 with situations and how to understand 20:40.390 --> 20:43.150 the totality of the circumstances as a 20:43.150 --> 20:45.709 leader and to make intentional 20:45.709 --> 20:48.569 decisions for the welfare of the marine 20:48.569 --> 20:50.736 and for the welfare of the institution 20:50.910 --> 20:54.910 as a person Oscar has helped me 20:54.910 --> 20:58.300 become more emotionally regulated . It 20:58.300 --> 21:01.040 has developed me in my character . 21:02.010 --> 21:04.890 It has brought me forward from things 21:04.890 --> 21:08.089 in my past that I did not necessarily 21:08.089 --> 21:10.256 think that I could overcome , and I am 21:10.256 --> 21:12.829 now able to share those experiences 21:13.170 --> 21:17.010 with Marines around me . To help them 21:17.989 --> 21:20.699 And it resonates . And I think that's 21:20.699 --> 21:24.060 the goal . Is that when we are able to 21:24.060 --> 21:26.180 overcome our own individual life 21:26.180 --> 21:28.699 circumstances , we should want to help 21:28.699 --> 21:31.569 those around us overcome theirs . And 21:31.569 --> 21:33.680 the beauty of Oscar is you don't have 21:33.680 --> 21:35.680 to have gone through the same exact 21:35.680 --> 21:37.680 circumstances someone else is going 21:37.680 --> 21:40.780 through in order to help them . What 21:40.780 --> 21:42.979 your circumstance gives you is the 21:42.979 --> 21:46.900 courage to help them . It gives you the 21:46.900 --> 21:49.329 knowledge on how to help them . Which 21:49.329 --> 21:52.540 is huge . But it requires no 21:52.540 --> 21:55.810 qualifications . It just requires you 21:55.810 --> 21:58.130 to be a good human being and a good 21:58.130 --> 22:01.880 marine . I think the one thing that I 22:01.880 --> 22:05.689 would offer in conclusion to any marine 22:05.689 --> 22:08.209 watching . Is be the one 22:09.829 --> 22:13.550 Be the one . We're told to be that from 22:13.550 --> 22:16.709 day one . From the moment we step on 22:16.709 --> 22:18.709 the yellow footprints to the moment 22:18.709 --> 22:21.750 that we pin chevrons or rank on our 22:21.750 --> 22:25.209 collars . We're driven forward to be 22:25.209 --> 22:29.099 the one for our nation . Be 22:29.099 --> 22:32.229 the one for yourself . And be the one 22:32.410 --> 22:34.689 for your brother and your sister to the 22:34.689 --> 22:37.810 left and right of you . It could save 22:37.810 --> 22:41.280 you And it does save those to the left 22:41.280 --> 22:44.699 and right of you . And it's OK if 22:44.699 --> 22:48.109 you're the only one . But be the one .