Today we’d like to introduce you to John Gionet.
Hi John, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I joined the U S Marine Corps in August 1970 and spent the next 30-plus years in the Marines retiring as a Sergeant Major. My duty stations include Marine Corps Base Camp McTerous in Okinawa, Japan, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC, Inspector Instructor Duty Cincinnati, OH, Marine Air Control Squadron 4 in Okinawa, Japan, Marine Wing Squadron 18 in Okinawa, Japan, Inspector Instructor Duty in Fort Wayne, IN, and Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron in Beaufort SC. My last duty station was the Recruiting Station Sergeant Major for Central Florida from September 1996 to Oct 2000. After my retirement, I was a schoolteacher at then, Stonewall Jackson Middle School teaching the Young Marines program, a program for boys and girls ages 8 to 18. Once the school closed the program, I moved them out in town and started the Young Marines, the Orlando Devil Dogs. I was the 1st Florida Regimental Commander for the Young Marines for 10 years before being appointed as the Division Three Commander for the Young Marines covering 7 states. I am a member of the Central Florida Marine Corps Foundation, Lay Leader for the Azalea Park United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 243, The Mayor of Orange County Veterans Advisory Committee, Department of Florida Jr., Vice Commandant for the Marine Corps League, and a Pack officer for the Military Order of the Devil Dogs. My two passions are helping veterans and making today’s youth tomorrow’s leaders.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Most of the time, things went well and as I look back, I know I made a positive difference in the lives I touched. I frequently get calls from former Young Marines and Marines on holidays, like Father’s Day, etc. I feel blessed when someone calls me or sends me an email indicating how I changed turned their life around.
It has not always been a smooth road. As the Sergeant Major for the Central Florida Recruiting station in Orlando. We were not making mission, and I helped institute a risk management program that identified attrition problems. In the end, we ended up Recruiting Station of the Year for the 6th Marine Corps District.
As a youth volunteer, I have the responsibility of risk management and ensuring the youth are protected and that adult volunteers are complying with current regulations. It is not easy to take the steps to remove someone from the program to ensure the safety of our youth.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I consider myself a professional volunteer working with youth programs, primarily the Young Marines and veterans’ organizations such as the Marine Corps League and the American Legion. In addition, I am the Lay Leader at the Azalea Park United Methodist Church..
For the Young Marines, I am responsible for their welfare and wellbeing, and I sponsor leadership training, encampments, training sessions, visit units, stand-up units, and present awards to Young Marines and Young Marine Units. I have planned and executed numerous encampments for up to 350 attendees.
For the Marine Corps League, I am the Jr. Vice Commandant for the State of Florida, overseeing membership and visiting other units within the State of Florida. I am also the Young Marine Liaison Officer, which promotes detachments and Young Marines to work together. I am also the Chapel of Four Chaplains Chairman which writes awards for deserving individuals and conducts award presentation ceremonies. I also travel and visit Pounds in the Military order of the Devil Dogs which is a fun and honor society.
I am known for a person who gets the job done. I also respected as someone they can call for advice. I could say that I am proud of the awards I attained or the promotions/positions I attained. I would say that it is the intangible rewards that make me the proudest. For instance, A former Young Marine calls and says he graduated college, and it was my mentorship that changed his life. I am frequently called on Father’s Day or other holidays wishing me a Happy Father’s Day. Although I am not a recruiter, a significant number of Young Marines have volunteered for military service. Just knowing I made the difference in one life is rewarding, but when numerous adults you touched as a child remember you, is proof you made a difference.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
My advice would be, take it one step at a time. It takes dedication and teamwork to be successful. You cannot be a one-man show; you must be able to delegate responsibilities and follow through and provide feedback when necessary.
It’s funny you should ask; what I wish I knew when I started out. In the Marines, my transition from high school graduate to U S Marine was not what I expected. I had a major culture shock and wished there was some type of training or education to prepare me for boot camp. Although I survived, it made me a better person and contributed to me being a successful and likable person.
My first indoctrination as a schoolteacher with the Young Marines program was great; yes, I was a Marine, and teaching the program, history, physical fitness, close order drill, and leadership was easy, but I wish I also had a mentor. The principal said you are a Marine, and Marines can do anything. However, in reality, I wish I was assigned a seasoned teacher to help and guide me through best teaching practices.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://youngmarines.org/public/page
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SgtMajGionet/
