Telegram - Serving Metropolitan Detroit Since 1944

n the year 1977 there was a young man who had a dream. A motive outside of his hometown of Des Moine Iowa. This young man had lost his father as a child, and lived under the leadership of his mother until the age of seventeen. After then, and only with his mother's permission, he was able to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.

He was growing up, becoming his own man, and putting himself in the places he felt he needed to be. Despite his mother's worries and wishes, he signed up to be an infantryman. She was the furtherest thing from happy about it, but she trusted him with the lessons she taught, and knew it was his time to share them with the world. His original plan was to stay in the military for four years. That changed as his point of view was influenced by Marine leadership.

In the time it took your eyes to move from the sentence above to this one, four years turned to twenty-four. The Marine performed his duty all around the world and there was one consistent variable that motivated him. He was blessed that the men and women who were placed in front of him set a shining example. With this leadership instilled in him it was impossible to fall behind, become sloppy, or lose sight of good character. At seventeen he placed his trust in the hands of those leaders. That trust led him to a long and fulfilling career, and led him to the man he is today.

In any occupation the Marine had, he knew the lives of others, in the biggest or smallest ways would be impacted. From infantry, logistics, to even delivering instruction. The Marine did his job with the care, intensity, and passion of all the leaders before him. Becoming the beacon of hope that he once had to follow.

The Marine was working on his sixth enlistment, and was sure it was going to be his last. As he worked his way to retirement, he organized, and instructed obstacle courses for Marines and high school students to train on.

He was approached by another Marine, Colonel Pfeiffer. He worked as an ROTC instructor, and brought high school students to participate in the courses. The Colonel offered him a post retirement role, working with him and the students. He turned it down, and assumed the position would be filled. . Two years later, in 2000. The Marine had retired, and visited the Colonel at the seniors honors assembly. It turns out the position still was not filled. That changed when the Colonel announced that the position would be filled next school year. The Marine had gotten the job.

This man, Marine, and leader is no other than Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) Robinson. Who is also referred to as Gunny, or The Gunny. Gunny has been with River Rouge since Colonel Pfeiffer introduced him twenty-one years ago. GySgt Robinson stepped into the program, and completely stepped it up. He worked side by side with the Colonel to ensure the cadets of River Rouge operated under success and leadership. Winning drill competitions across the country, and becoming famous for the ones cadets hosted.

The River Rouge Marine Corps ROTC program is the only one in Michigan, and is surviving in a league on it's on. The program has produced a myriad of professions out of it's cadets. From military officers, teachers, police officers, the program even sent a student to the Naval Academy. Most importantly, GySgt Robinson, and the River Rouge ROTC have constructed a system that turns kids into productive adults. Adults who can be trusted with responsibility.

Although Gunny hasn't worked infantry, or logistics in years. He still has a profession where someone's life is on the line. Whether next month, or next year. It's The Gunny's duty to prepare cadets for their next stage of life. Those same students will work to prepare the students under them, and the ones gone will inspire the world. Continuing the cycle of leadership that was placed in GySgt Robinson in 1977.

Xavier Jones - What influenced you to stay in the Marine Corps for so long?

GySgt Robinson - Instruction. Listening to the right people, following their guidelines, and of course following all of the guidelines that are mandated as a Marine. My original intentions were to stay in the Marine Corps for one four year term. But I got a chance to watch people and see what they do. I kept reenlisting, when I stopped to look up I was on my twenty fourth year in. That's when I decided that enough was enough.

Xavier Jones - What made you come to that decision?

GySgt Robinson - The job demands a lot. Your time, mental energy, and there is always something you have to prepare for. There is constant physical and mental labor in that. I've made clear skies through the fogs of leading people, all of the expectations, and undesirable things that came with it. Without a question I'd do it again. But I'd have to be seventeen again!

Xavier Jones - What was the most rewarding part of your service?

GySgt Robinson - Being an instructor in the Marine Corps. Being able to visit different parts of the world. I was able to meet so many people from so many backgrounds. I was privileged to be a leader and help many people accomplish their own personal mission.

Xavier Jones - How does it feel when you see students of the past succeeding, and taking their own leadership positions in life?

GySgt Robinson - I feel great! Trust me! When they come back to speak to me I don't see them as students any longer, I see them as adults. You can see that they're successful, and that success is going to continue. It's great knowing that myself and the other staff members in the building instilled those positive traits into them. We all know that if they stay home, or move a thousand miles away, that they will be an asset to their community.

Xavier Jones - What can be done to change the negative stigma ROTC classes face?

GySgt Robinson - It's an elective first of all, so students would have to want to get the feel of it. We do that by getting the younger kids involved. I don't know them, but my cadets do. My cadets have to show the proper leadership and information to make the younger kids want to participate. If they try it for a semester and like it, great. The cycle will continue. If they don't like it, that's fine too. They've got to learn something from it, and are certainly free to try something else.

Thank you GySgt Robinson for helping to develop the young people of Southeastern Michigan.