Marine Corps Air Station New River -- Throughout a Marines career, it is highly likely that he or she will come
across someone who will influence them later on in their military career.
Everyone credits the drill instructor for instilling discipline into a
Marine, but equally as important and often overlooked is the combat
instructor.
One such instructor received an award for his exemplary performance.
This Marine commanded the classroom with his occasional jokes about how he
got his wavy black hair with “juices and berries” and his charismatic
teaching style incorporating the “Spirit Bomb” from the popular animated
show Dragon Ball Z.
Staff Sgt. Shawn Bowman received the Combat Instructor of the Year award
for School of Infantry East aboard Camp Geiger as well as runner-up for
Combat Instructor of the Year for the entire Marine Corps.
“I guess the reason for my attitude towards training Marines would date
back to the ‘combat mindset’ my drill instructors instilled into me at boot
camp,” said Bowman. “I enlisted in 2001 right after the 9/11 attacks and
the mindset in boot camp had shifted to a heightened sense of combat
readiness.”
“He’s got drive,” said Gunnery Sgt. Scott Ginger, School of Infantry East,
Company I company gunnery sergeant. “It’s not very often you run into
someone with the fire and ambition that he has, and that’s what makes him
successful.”
Bowman also contributes his success as a combat instructor to his
leadership.
“I’ve had a lot of people throughout my Marine Corps career who have placed
their trust in my ability to get the job done,” said Bowman. “That’s one of
the most important things a Marine can have when trying to achieve their
goals. A strong leadership staff in my experience was an invaluable tool
and set me up for future successes.”
During Bowman’s career on Camp Geiger beginning in 2010, his gung-ho
attitude, and his enthusiasm for the training of the Marines, fueled his
ambition as well as led to his appointment as platoon commander in only
seven months.
After 14 months in the company, which is two months longer than the average
year spent as a company instructor, Bowman transitioned from a hands-on
instructor, to a primary instructor, teaching weapons systems at the Indoor
Simulated Marksmanship Trainer.
Today, Bowman continues to train Marines with India Company as the chief
combat instructor.
“Now I am able to pass down all of the knowledge that I’ve gathered to the
company instructors,” said Bowman.
Lastly, Bowman gave words of encouragement to those Marines looking to step
outside their military occupational specialty into the job of combat
instructor.
“I was once told that adversity makes or breaks you,” said Bowman “It’s up
to you whether or not you can rise to the challenge.”