UGA senior earns top Marine officer training award
5 days ago
Tripp Koenig stands in front of the Chapel. (Photo by Stephanie Schupska)
George “Tripp” Koenig of Atlanta puts boots on the ground when it comes to leading and inspiring. A University of Georgia senior, he spent six weeks over the past two summers in Quantico, Virginia, tackling the task of U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidate School.
He didn’t just survive the process. Koenig thrived, rising to the top of his class and earning the Marine Corps Commandant’s Trophy, an honor presented to the candidate with the highest aggregate score in leadership, academic performance and physical fitness during the six-week Platoon Leaders Class.
but you all have the strength to show that. how will you demonstrate that in your military career? how do you plan to demonstrate that in your career? well, sir, i think our class is ready to demonstrate that as a whole. being one of the most diverse classes to graduate from here. we are ready, we ve interacted with each other in positive ways through training and classes and we ll continue to do that in our careers and when we re platoon leaders and going forward. i think we have an immense opportunity, sir, to change the army and just continue to make an impact in that way because of the people in this class. so tuga, if i may call you that, to you next, what do you want to accomplish now as you graduate the academy? well, as a future leader of this academy i want to make sure that i can lead everyone as i need to and i think that s something they do a great job of
here, we are ready. i think we interact with each other through positive ways just through training and classes, and we ll continue do that in our careers, when we re platoon leaders and going forward. i think we have an immense opportunity just to change the army and continue to make an impact in that way because of the people in this class. tuga, if i may call you that to you next, what do you want to accomplish as you graduate the academy? well, as a future leader of this academy i want to make sure that i can lead everyone as and i need to, and i think that s something they do a great job of instilling here. making sure you re responsible for those around you, those you re in charge of, and it s an incredible opportunity to do it. because now we ll be able to go out in a few months and we ll have our own platoons, and it s something that we could never
korea s summer training cycle, freedom guardian, a combined us south korea headquarters exercise which is critical. we need to have our generals, their generals, our platoon leaders understag each other and knowing what to do in war. the next big exercises are not until march,t e end of the summer. jillian: still to be determined if kim jong un follows through with his end of the bargain. can we stop these exercises and just to play devil s advocate say he doesn t follow through where does that leave us? we would resume them agn. kim jong un does it hurt us to have appear go without them? it does because it erodes readiness and if these negotiations take a long time, they are moving in the right direction to take a long time that means our readiness gets to the point we become a hollow otr thing that is important is nor korea if it didn t have nukes would still
working with him, wanted him on their team. he was a sold yore that wanted to take the fight to the enemy and also had high moral values and a problem with his platoon leaders and he wanted to get the attention of a neighboring general at a post about 20 miles away. so he came up with this scheme to leave his post, knowing that that would cause an intensive search party and when he was discovered or made his way to the other post, he would be able to air his grievances with the higher command. didn t work out that way. sergeant bergdahl was captured by the taliban and held for five years. he said that he gave away his possessions, sent them away because he knew he was going to get in trouble if he got to the other side and was able to talk to the general. he knew he would be in trouble but he thought it was the best thing to do for his platoon at the time. francis? all right. charles hadlock for us, with an answer to what many are asking, why did he leave the post? thank you. we ll