DVIDS – News – Marine Finds Purpose in Mentoring the Next Generation at Guard Academy

MARINE BARRACKS WASHINGTON, D.C. – For U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jack M. Clark, being an instructor at Guard Academy is more than a billet. It’s personal.

Clark, the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the academy at Marine Barracks Washington, says his inspiration came from his own time as a student.

“I was still part of the academy, working with Marines who didn’t have the tools they needed,” Clark said. “I wanted to reset the training and give them what I had. I’ve always loved mentoring

junior Marines. That’s what keeps me going.”

Since arriving at the Barracks in May of 2021, Clark has grown not only as a Marine, but as a leader. He says the environment reminds him daily how important the Marine Corps’ mission really is.

“When you’re surrounded by high-ranking leadership and held to a high standard, it makes you step up,” he said. “You want to do good at work and outside of it. It holds you accountable.”

Clark’s journey to becoming an instructor started with standing post. After 18 months, he became a squad leader, worked special events, and eventually served with the White House Communications Agency as a section leader.

“That billet pushed me,” Clark said. “It challenged me to be my best. That experience is what set me up to be an instructor.”

At Guard Academy, no two Marines learn the same way. Clark believes training is about adapting.

“You can’t treat every Marine the same,” he said. “Some need a hands-on approach. Others need space. Your job as an instructor is to find what works and help them succeed.”

When Marines start to doubt themselves, Clark focuses on connection.

“As a Guard Marine, you’re standing post for eight hours a day,” he said. “It’s tough. But if they know there’s someone to talk to, someone who cares, it changes everything. I’ve trained most of

the Marines here. I always tell them their job matters. If they ever need anything, even something personal, I’m here.”

Clark sees mentorship and discipline as inseparable.

“To mentor a Marine, you have to instill discipline,” he said. “Sometimes it means pulling them aside for a quiet conversation. Other times, you have to be firmer. But discipline should

never be seen as a punishment. It’s about helping them live and thrive as Marines.”

He tries to teach his students more than just tactics. For him, learning how to learn is the most valuable skill.

“The academy is short, just 15 training days, and there’s a lot of information,” he said. “Not everything clicks the same way for everyone, so teaching them how to learn is key.”

A typical day at Guard Academy starts early. There’s physical training about three times a week, followed by chow and uniform changes. Then the classroom work begins.

“We go over homework, the Standard Operating Procedures, the appendices. Then it’s hands-on training,” Clark said. “By the end of the course, they should know the SOP like the

back of their hand.”

Clark is proud of the standards the academy holds. Marines must pass pistol qualification, taser exposure, and Oleoresin Capsicum spray. The program includes six written exams, a

practical application test, and a 45-question oral board. Even grooming standards are monitored closely.

“A lot of other training pipelines skip over things like haircut regulations or shaving,” he said. “We don’t. Everything matters here.”

The hardest part of the job, Clark said, is knowing that the example starts with him.

“You’re responsible for every Marine that comes through here,” he said. “You have to represent the standard yourself. That takes time, and it’s not always easy. But you have to lead from the

front.”

One Marine’s transformation has stuck with him. The Marine wanted to go back to a victor unit, which is an infantry battalion. And he didn’t see the value in Guard Company. Clark told him to

give it time.

“Six months later, that same Marine stopped a potential stabbing in front of the Commandant’s house,” Clark said. “He realized this job is important. It changed how he saw everything. That

meant a lot.”

Mistakes happen during training, and Clark doesn’t expect perfection. What matters is how they respond.

“They’re going to mess up,” he said. “That’s part of learning. My job is to help them see where they went wrong and give them the tools to fix it next time.”

Clark wants Marines to leave the academy with more than just technical skills. He wants them to understand the weight of their role.

“Physical security is a tough job. It’s long hours doing the same thing every day,” he said. “But it’s incredibly important. The Commandant’s safety, the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, the

people we see walking down the street and we’re protecting all of that. For some civilians, the first Marine they’ll ever see might be one of us.”

If there’s one lesson Clark hopes sticks with them long after they leave, it’s this: be a good person.

“It sounds simple, but we need more good people,” he said. “Being a good Marine starts with being a good human. Ask someone how they’re doing. Be kind. That matters just as much as

anything else.”

Not every Marine passes the course on the first try, and that’s something Clark understands well.

“The academy isn’t easy. Some Marines need extra time,” he said. “Telling someone they didn’t make it right away isn’t easy, but what matters is helping them believe in themselves. That

they’re still capable. Still valued.”

Clark knows that what happens at the academy shapes lives. He takes that responsibility to heart.