What High School Coaches Are Learning from the United States Marine Corps

By Scott Garvis C.M.A.A. NHSACA Executive Director

The bus doors swing open and the sound hits like a hammer, boots on concrete, voices in perfect cadence, the unmistakable pulse of precision and pride. For the uninitiated, the yellow footprints at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego are just paint on pavement. But for those stepping onto them as part of the U.S. Marine Corps Educator Workshops, they are the gateway to one of the most transformative leadership labs in America.

This isn’t a recruitment pitch. It’s not basic training. It’s an immersive, boots-on-the-ground experience for the teachers, coaches, guidance counselors, and administrators who shape the future of our nation’s youth. The goal: give educators a raw, unfiltered look into the journey from civilian to Marine—and return them home with a deeper understanding of the discipline, mental toughness, and leadership forged inside the Corps.

The Mission: Awareness Through Immersion

Each year, select groups of high school and college educators are invited to Marine Corps Recruit Depots in San Diego, Parris Island, and Quantico. Over the course of four days, they don’t just observe—they participate.

That means waking up with reveille, eating MREs, navigating obstacle courses, visiting barracks, and firing on simulated rifle ranges. Educators sit in on hand-to-hand combat training, listen to drill instructors break down leadership philosophies, and ask candid questions of active-duty Marines and recent recruits. The experience is visceral, unapologetic, and eye-opening.

For many attendees, it’s the first time they’ve seen military life up close—and it shatters long-held assumptions.

More Than Uniforms and Orders

What the Educator Workshops reveal is a world far more nuanced than Hollywood stereotypes. Yes, there's discipline and structure. But what resonates most with participants is the emphasis on mentorship, character development, and the holistic transformation of young people.

Recruits aren’t simply taught how to march or shoot. They're taught how to lead. How to problem-solve under pressure. How to operate as a team. Drill instructors don’t just bark orders—they shape confidence. Mental resilience is as critical as physical stamina.

By the end of the workshop, educators begin drawing parallels to the classroom, the locker room, the counseling office. They recognize the same growth mindset, the same emotional development, the same drive to prepare young people for high-stakes, high-accountability environments.

The Power of Perspective

For coaches and teachers, returning from the workshop often means rethinking how they frame opportunity. The Marine Corps isn’t for every student—but for some, it might be the perfect path. And unless educators understand that path, they can’t guide their students toward it.

That’s why the workshops aren’t about recruiting—they’re about respect. Respect for what it takes to become a Marine. Respect for the training process. And respect for the doors that military service can open—from technical trades and college scholarships to lifelong leadership skills.

Participants leave with more than stories. They leave with perspective—and the credibility to share it.

A Model of Modern Leadership

In an era where institutions are being questioned and leadership is under a microscope, the Marine Corps model offers something rare: consistency, clarity, and conviction. It doesn’t waver in its values. It adapts without compromising. And the Educator Workshops provide a front-row seat to how that ethos is cultivated.

From the moment the bus pulls through the depot gates to the emotional final graduation ceremony, attendees are immersed in a system that demands excellence—and delivers it.

How to Get Involved

Educators interested in the workshop can request nomination through their local Marine Corps Recruiting Station. The program covers all expenses, including travel, lodging, and meals. Selection is competitive and based on a commitment to student development and leadership education.

• High school educators west of the Mississippi typically attend the San Diego workshop.
• Those east are sent to Parris Island.
• College faculty and coaches often attend the Officer Candidates School experience at Quantico, Virginia.

For details, visit: https://connect.marines.com/educators-workshops/about-the-workshops.html

The Takeaway

What happens in San Diego, Parris Island, and Quantico doesn’t stay there. It ripples outward—into classrooms, locker rooms, auditoriums, and school offices across the country. The U.S. Marine Corps Educator Workshops aren’t just about understanding the military. They’re about understanding what it takes to build leaders from the ground up.

And for those educators lucky enough to stand on those yellow footprints, the lessons echo long after the cadence fades.