Commanding Officer, 8th Marine Regiment
Col. Kenneth M. DeTreux
Colonel DeTreux, a proud native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was born on 7 May 1965. Upon graduation from Cardinal Dougherty High School, he attended Temple University while enrolled in the Naval Reserve Officer Training (NROTC) Program at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated in May 1988 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant.
Following completion of The Basic School (TBS) and the Infantry Officer Course (IOC), 2d Lt DeTreux was assigned to 3d Battalion, 6th Marines serving as a rifle platoon commander, 81 mm mortar platoon commander, and company executive officer. He participated in ground combat operations during Operation JUST CAUSE in Panama (’89-90) and Operation DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait (’90-91) and deployed to Okinawa, Japan in 1991-1992.
In July 1992, 1st Lt DeTreux reported for duty to Recruiting Station Albany, NY as the Officer Selection Officer (OSO). He was promoted to Captain in May 1993. Captain DeTreux was reassigned to the Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MCRC) as the Head, Officer Selection Training and Assistance where he served from 1994 – 1996.
Graduating from Amphibious Warfare School (AWS) in May 1997, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3d Marines and served as a Company Commander, Battalion S-3 and Battalion Executive Officer. He was promoted to Major in July 1998. During this time, he deployed for two seven month deployments to Okinawa, Japan participating in various exercises across the Western Pacific.
From June 2000 to June 2003, Major DeTreux served as the Inspector-Instructor, Londonderry, New Hampshire for Company B, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines. Major DeTreux was then reassigned to the I MEF staff in Kuwait/Iraq as an Individual Augment (IA) in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF 1).
In July 2003, he was reassigned to II MEF as a ground watch officer in G-3, Current Operations. In February 2004, he was reassigned as the Operations Officer, 6th Marine Regiment and frocked to Lieutenant Colonel on 6 February 2004. From February to July, he deployed to Afghanistan ISO Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF IV-V) where the Regiment participated in combat operations serving as a Brigade Headquarters for CJTF-180/76. In April 2005, he was assigned as the Regimental Executive Officer. In November 2005, LtCol DeTreux assumed command of 2d Battalion, 8th Marines and deployed the Battalion to Iraq for OEF 0507.2 from July 06 – Feb 07 relinquishing command in May 2007.
Following attendance at the U.S. Army War College, he was assigned to the U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, CO for a joint assignment serving in the J5 from 2008-2010. He was reassigned to 2d Marine Division(Forward) to serve as the G3 and deployed to Afghanistan ISO Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF 11) from Feb ‘11 – Mar ‘12.
Colonel DeTreux’s personal awards include the Bronze Star w/V, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon with two gold stars in lieu of third award. He and his wife, Kathleen Donohoe DeTreux, also from Philadelphia, have four children; Brigid (16), Logan (15), Katie (13), and Aidan (7).
Sergeant Major, 8th Marine Regiment
Sergeant Major David L. Jobe
Sergeant Major Jobe enlisted in the Marine Corps in April 1988, and attended recruit training at MCRD San Diego, Calif. After graduation in July of 1988, Private Jobe attended the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Upon graduation he received orders to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he served as a machine gunner and team leader. During this time Lance Cpl. Jobe participated in two Unit Deployments to Okinawa, Japan, and also served aboard the USS Vancouver and participated in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, as well as Operation Sea Angel in Bangladesh.
In December 1992, Corporal Jobe was transferred to Marine Combat Training Battalion for duty as a Troop Handler. In June 1994, Sergeant Jobe received orders to Recruiter School, MCRD San Diego, Calif. Upon graduation he was transferred to Recruiting Station, Salt Lake City, Utah. Sergeant Jobe was assigned as a Canvassing Recruiter at RSS East Salt Lake City. In May 1996, Sergeant Jobe was reassigned to RSS West Salt Lake City as NCOIC of a four man Recruiting Station. He was meritoriously promoted to Staff Sergeant in July 1996.
In September 1997, Staff Sergeant Jobe executed orders to K Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, Calif. Where he served as Platoon Sergeant, Assistant TRAP Force Commander, and Platoon Commander. While there, he participated in one Unit Deployment with the 31st MEU. In March 1999, Staff Sergeant Jobe executed orders to the Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy, Okinawa, Japan where is served as Chief Instructor/Faculty Advisor for the Career Course.
In January 2001, Gunnery Sergeant Jobe was reassigned to the Future Operations Section, G-3. III MEF. Where he served as the MEF future Operations Chief, and Participated in UFL 2001. In October 2001, Gunnery Sergeant Jobe executed orders to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division, 29 Palms, California. Where he served as Company Gunnery Sergeant and First Sergeant for B Company, he participated in a Unit Deployment to Okinawa, Japan, and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom one.
In March 2004, First Sergeant Jobe executed orders to Inspector - Instructor Duty. With B Company, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Frederick, Md., where he served as the Inspector - Instructor First Sergeant, in May 2006 he mobilized the company and served as the company First Sergeant of the Dam Security Mission, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 5-07. In July 2007, Sergeant Major Jobe executed orders to assume the duties as the Sergeant Major of Recruiting Station Dallas, Texas. In June 2010, Sergeant Major Jobe executed orders to assume the duties as the Sergeant Major for Eighth Marine Regiment.
Sergeant Major Jobe’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal and one gold star in lieu of second award, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat “V” and three gold stars in lieu of forth award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V” and three gold stars in lieu of fourth award, and the Combat Action Ribbon with one gold star in lieu of second award.
For us to be a successful unit, we must do two simple things; MAKE MARINES and WIN BATTLES --that's it. This document serves as our aim point. Leaders at all levels should read it and take it to heart so that we are all operating under the same principles, and with the same basic ideas of how we will accomplish any mission we receive.
MAKE MARINES
The task of making a Marine, or a Sailor, is not finished at the end of recruit training. It is an ongoing task that lasts for the duration of active duty. We can't win on the battlefield until we forge a strong individual Marine. Remember to "Give the Marine what he needs, not what he wants." This means to do the right thing, not the popular one. The items listed here are expected of all hands, but are not an all inclusive list. They are directive in nature, meaning they are not a suggestion.
a. Fitness. All hands are responsible for being fit to fight. Men who are in shape are more lethal on the battlefield and are more likely to survive a serious wound. PT should be done during the normal work day whenever possible. We work hard enough without adding a 0500 PT session to our schedules.
b. Uniforms. In garrison; sleeves properly rolled up, no bracelets or necklaces visible, hands out of pockets, clean boots, and fresh haircuts. When in the field, no blouses tucked into trousers (FROG is fine), chinstraps buckled, PPE worn as directed, no "cuffed or half rolled sleeves, no sunglasses propped up on heads, and when a helmet comes off, a soft cover goes on. Uniformity is the bedrock of our discipline and will sustain us when all else fails.
c. Courtesy. If a SNCO or officer comes into a room, conversation and activity (movie, X-BOX, etc) stops. Get on your feet and greet them. Go out of your way to be respectful to our NCOs. "Sir" is used for any rank to show respect.
d. Conduct. Cut down on the profanity, tighten up the civilian attire (there is an order about attire in the PX, etc), turn down the car stereos and stop the liberty incidents. The 98% of you who already do this, help me convince the other 2%.
f. Discipline. Barracks rooms will receive a weekly field day, trash will be picked up from our area, and men will shave 7 days a week (leave and liberty included). No gear will be written off. You lose it, you buy it unless an IED destroyed it.
g. Treatment of fellow Marines. There are no "boots" in this Regiment. New men will be welcomed aboard and treated like gold; they are our lifeblood. There is no place for hazing (tagging on stripes, "incentive" PT etc). All new joins will be mentored by an NCO and will not stand duty for their first 30 days. They need this long to get acclimatized. We can't trust each other to provide covering fire if we can't trust each other to show dignity and respect.
WIN BATTLES
Once we have made the Marine, he'll win the battle every single time. Our philosophy is "brilliance in the basics." All hands need to be able to execute a short list of standard tasks under any circumstances. From there, we will build our squads, platoons, companies and battalions. We do not need to execute complicated training events which require days of preparation. We need to constantly repeat a basic set of tasks until we can do them at night and under fire. Simple things like setting the frequency on a radio, placing an M240 into action, using a tourniquet, conducting a basic security patrol, and running a proper guard mount will keep us alive in the worst of conditions. Many men may think they have already mastered these tasks, but when under accurate machinegun fire, they will wish they had practiced just once more. A detailed list of basic tasks will be developed based on unit mission.
Making a Marine enables us to win any battle. Think back to the pride you felt as you marched across the grinder on graduation day. You felt it because you knew you had done something special, but also because you had accepted that there were things worth dying for. We must be ready to lay down our lives for our constitution, our Corps and each other. That is an awesome responsibility, but we are honor bound to do it. Older men, take the younger men under your wing and teach them something every day. I need you to be father figures. Younger men, treat the older men with the respect they have earned and learn from their experience. We will soon be called upon to fight once again for this nation. Be ready.
Equal Opportunity is a fundamental right we all receive at birth. We do not have to pay for it, and we do not receive it as a result of superior performance. Simply put, we don't care about your ethnicity, religion, gender or age; everyone receives a fair deal in this Regiment.
Every leader will, by their personal example and active enforcement of this policy, ensure that all hands are fairly treated and protected from sexual harassment. If you need something to help you remember what is expected of you, try this "You can't be a good Marine if you're a bad citizen."
The history of our Marine Corps demonstrates that we strive to live to a higher moral standard than others. We move to the sound of the guns and have sworn to give our lives in defense of our way of life. Why then, would allow our fellow Marines and Sailors to be harassed or treated unfairly? It just does not make sense.
Let's speak plainly about sexual harassment for a moment. It does happen in our ranks and we must stamp it out. This regiment is 99% male, so we will address how to stop sexual harassment against women. Every woman on this base; active duty or civilian; guest or family member is someone's mother, sister or daughter. I expect every member of the Regiment to treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve. Juvenile comments, physical intimidation, locker room pranks have no place in this professional organization. Those who wish to continue to re-live their high school days will be shown the door.
When we make our next deployment, we will fight and die together as a family. Trust me, when the shooting starts, you won't care if the Marine who brings you ammo is black or white, and you won't worry if the voice on the end of your MEDEVAC call is male or female. Let that sink in for a moment and then ensure you conduct yourself accordingly.
If you need help in this area, contact me personally (451-1800). This issue is important enough that I am willing to stop what I'm doing and engage. If you prefer, contact Staff Sergeant Gregory Cozart (451-1150), the Regimental Equal Opportunity Officer, or Petty Officer 1st Class Gregory Hadley (451-2793), the Uniformed Victim Advocate. Commanders, remember that the appointment of these two professionals does not relieve you of the responsibility to personally create a positive Equal Opportunity environment in your units.
Semper Fidelis,
Eric M. Smith
Col USMC
Hazing is conducted by cowards who need to bring others down to their level. Those who willingly allow themselves to be hazed, or are too weak to report hazing, are equally cowardly. If a man is so immature that he tries to "pin on a rank" by punching another Marine's arm until it is damaged or who tries to force another Marine to do "incentive PT" cannot be trusted with a battle rifle. This isn't high school, it's the United States Marine Corps, and we swore to "obey the orders of the President and the officers appointed over me..." Let me issue a very clear order-- Do not haze or allow yourself to be hazed, and if you see it, report it to the first officer or SNCO in your chain of command. That is as clear as I can make it. Leaders of all ranks are required to counsel their Marines about the reduction in combat effectiveness caused by hazing, and to actively work to prevent it within our Corps.
Hazing seems to pop up when we receive new joins from the School of Infantry or some other MOS producing school. Somehow a few gutless "wanna-be" tough guys think they are entitled to abuse these new Marines. It is my personal promise to show all hands just how mistaken they are. New joins will be treated like gold, received by officers or SNCOs and assigned an NCO to watch over their first 30 days in the unit. We will make them feel welcome and confident that they have joined the finest regiment in the world. These new men are our lifeblood.
Let me be clear, officers who pretend to "pin on" new rank to a collar by leaving the backings off set a terrible example, and will be relieved and disciplined. Any Marine who attempts to degrade another Marine will be disciplined as fast as the law allows. I feel no sympathy for those who haze and neither should you.
Recently, US Marines actually pointed their weapons at one another, pulled the trigger, and asked "do you trust me?" A Marine died as a result. Is anyone proud of this? Is this what we signed up for? These men made a mockery of our warrior ethos.
I know that the 98% of you already do the right thing, but I need you to help me weed out the 2% of cowards in our ranks. We joined the Marine Corps because it was the most professional fighting force on the planet, and we despise cowardly behavior. Work with me to eliminate hazing from our ranks once and for all.
Semper Fidelis,
Eric M. Smith
Col USMC