Lance Cpl. Brian Pierrou & 2nd Lt. Cody Pierrou

Brother Marines

Putting it All on the Line,
Leadership by Example

By Karen Clem Fritz

Semper Fidelis

These Latin words meaning “always faithful” are the motto of the United States Marine Corps. Faithful to God, Country, Family and the Corps.

Two Pulaski County brothers have learned much about such faith growing up in this rural community. Both are now members of the U.S. Marines. Lance Cpl. Brian Pierrou leaves home today (June 9, 2007), bound for a 10-month deployment in Iraq. 2nd Lt. Cody Pierrou received his officer commission Memorial Day weekend following completion of the demanding and strenuous Marine Corps Officer Candidate School (OCS).

2nd Lt. Cody Pierrou takes an oath as he becomes a new U.S. Marines officer.

Parents Jim and Rhonda Pierrou are very proud. As with other Marine parents in a time of war, they are also filled with ever shifting emotions.

This story began with the intent to share, through Cody’s experience, information about the Marines’ OCS program. But it quickly became apparent that it couldn’t proceed without mention of both brothers.

What led them to become Marines?

“Cody and his older brother Brian played their share of cops and robbers and “army” growing up, but I don’t think the reality of joining the military happened until college,” dad Jim explains.

“The draw for Cody was observing Marines in action as the ‘tip of the spear’ in the news reports during the initial invasion of Iraq,” he continues. “After learning more through the internet, he made the initial inquiries about the OCS program. He liked what he saw in the Marine program, and the discipline in mind, body, and spirit that the program fosters.”

Brian serves in the enlisted Marines. The brothers joined the USMC within two weeks of each other. Brian, a 2000 West Central graduate and an Ivy Tech grad in engineering technology, had a high school friend in the Marines who interested him in the enlisted side of the Marines. Cody was drawn to the officer side of the Marines because of his desire to lead Marines.

“I have always been interested in the military since a young age,” Cody says. He considered enlisting in the service after graduating from West Central in 2003. But he proceeded to Purdue University instead.

“My sophomore year in college I was glued to the news channels hoping for coverage of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he continues. “I noticed that the Marines were at the 'tip of the spear' (a phrase that comes up often in family conversation) and I thought, I want to do this."

Rhonda and Jim Pierrou pin decorations on son Cody’s uniform following his commission as an officer in the US Marines May 27.

Cody began looking into his options. He had already completed a year-and-a-half in college, so he looked at the officer program.

“Then it came to me what I would pursue, it stood out to me, I felt it was what I had to do. I wanted to lead Marines as an officer in the United States Marine Corps,” Cody explains. “What caught my eye were the words, Ductus Exemplo, the motto of Officer Candidates School for the Marine Corps. In Latin this means, ‘leadership by example.’ This is the kind of leadership that the Marine Corps instills in its officer, to lead from the front. I was going to be an officer in the Marine Corps.”

The USMC reports that for most would-be Marine officers, the road to Marine Corps service begins at OCS at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., where the candidates find out if they've got what it takes to become leaders of Marines.

There, students immerse themselves in some of the world’s most demanding training. They are tested and evaluated for character, appearance, speech, command presence, strength, agility, coordination, endurance and intelligence. Candidates are assigned temporary leadership positions to gauge their abilities to lead other Marines. Upon successful completion of OCS, candidates are commissioned as Marine Corps second lieutenants.

Cody signed up for the program in the spring of 2005 after his sophomore year at Purdue. He participated in the Marines’ Platoon Leaders Course. This program allows students to complete the requirements for a Marine commission without interrupting their academic career.

Cody and Brian in 2000 with Dad Jim inside an Indian Hogan shelter the boys built in the woods near their home.

“I trained for two six-week increments in the summers of 2005 and 2006 at Quantico, for the Marine Corps (OCS),” Cody says. “The training is very difficult and tests you both physically and mentally. The Marine Corps is looking for leaders, and if you do not display the leadership qualities that they want in the Marine Corps, then they send you packing. OCS is a screening process; its mission is to educate, train and evaluate potential Marine Officer candidates to see if they possess the leadership potential to lead Marines. It also requires you possess the moral, intellectual, and physical qualities needed to be an officer in the Marine Corps.”

Dad Jim adds that the discipline also helps form a close bond between the men and women in the program.

“These kids draw from deep reserves in order to complete the challenges given to them,” he says. “They find that it takes teamwork and cooperation in order to survive the training. This, of course, is what it takes on the battlefield to survive and overcome,” Jim continues. “They understand that their very life may depend on their fellow marines working together as a team. Because of that, close friendships are formed and maintained. The Marines have a motto: Once a Marine, always a Marine!”

Jim finds it interesting to compare the training his sons received.

Following his officer commission ceremony, Cody posed with his grandparents, Beulah Pierrou (left) and Betty and Orvel Podell.

“The enlisted Marines go through 13 straight weeks of ‘hell,’ called boot camp,” he explains. “That is followed with a four-week combat school, and finally their MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) school. By comparison, a candidate for the Marine officer program has a “boot camp” (PLC or Platoon Leader’s Class) lasting six-weeks each summer, as described by Cody.

“There is a lot of similarity between the enlisted boot camp and the candidate’s PLC for the first several weeks,” Jim notes. “After that, the officer candidates are also tested for their ability to think and lead under all kinds of stress, and in all kinds of situations. They are constantly evaluated, and if found lacking in leadership or decision making, are scrubbed from the program. The drop out and cut rate are very high (50 percent during Cody’s second summer of training). When an individual makes the cut to be an officer in the Marine Corps, you can be sure that person has been proven well beyond normal limits.”

After surviving the rigors of the PLC, the candidate has to graduate from college. Cody earned a bachelor’s degree in health and kinesiology last month. After graduation, the candidates then may take part in the commissioning ceremony that makes them second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. At that point, they have officially become Marines.

Cody’s ceremony was May 27, at the Methodist church in Winamac.

At the ceremony Jim notes that “all of the hard work, complete with blood, sweat, and tears has paid off. The goal has been reached, and it is usually a very emotional time for the new Marine (and Mom and Dad).”

The training is not yet over. The next step is called TBS (The Basic School). Here the new Marine officers learn what it takes to lead a group of Marines. The school lasts six months, and is also at Quantico. After TBS, they go on to study in their assigned MOS (Military Occupational Specialty). This school varies in time depending on the MOs complexity and level of skill or knowledge required.

Cody (back center) greets members of his church family who attended his officer commission ceremony at a reception which followed.

“As a lieutenant in the Marine Corps I will likely be in charge of a platoon of Marines (about 43 Marines),” Cody reports. “My hope as a Marine officer is to be more than just a leader for those Marines. I want to be these young Marines’ mentor, teacher and provide them with guidance. I want to be their older brother. I want to make them better not only in combat and training, I want to make them better people as a whole. And this may even mean instilling the strong Christian values and morals that I was raised on.”

There have been some amusing moments around the rural Jefferson Township Pierrou home when the two Marines are in residence.

"Having two Marines around the house required us to “adapt” to some changes," laughs Jim. "We have a full complement of dumbbells, weights, sandbags, and a chin up bar for keeping in shape. Trails through the fields and woods make for a challenging run. Then we have the hand-to-hand combat practice. There is also the obvious interest in guns, knives, and such. When the boys are home a small arsenal of weapons accompany them. Out in the 'back 40' of our farm, we have a practice range set up complete with a dirt backstop that gets a lot of use when the boys and their Marine buddies come out to 'play.' We are never at a loss for interesting things to see and do when the boys are around!"

Dad adds, "We are extremely proud of both of them, and their commitment to serve our country."

These recent days, however, have been emotionally charged for the Pierrou family.

“We know that conflict in today’s world is inevitable.,” Jim notes. “We also know that as a nation we will be involved in these conflicts whether we are a willing participant or not. It is prudent for us to be ready and vigilant to protect our interests and shorelines. Having two sons willing to put it all on the line for a principle is a proud experience for us as parents.”

When their sons made their commitments to the Marines, Jim and Rhonda honored and supported their decision.

“It was not easy for us because we have seen the realities of war,” Jim says. “But we raised our children to think for themselves, and because of that we must trust their judgment. After all, when they reach the age where they are on their own, the only thing we as parents can do is hope our years of influence were fruitful. However, it does not make the burden any lighter when your sons are put in harm’s way.”

Cody and Brian Pierrou

Before leaving for Iraq, Brian told his younger brother that he was going to “clean the mess up over there” so Cody would not have to deal with it after his training was complete.

One of the traditions of commissioning an officer is the “first salute.” Immediately after the candidate is declared an officer, a designated enlisted Marine gives the new officer his first salute. This event is commemorated by a special first salute coin given by the officer to the enlisted Marine.

Brian was to be Cody’s first salute, and Cody had the commemorative coin ready, complete with engraved inscriptions. Big brother saluting little brother, as comrades in arms.

Unfortunately, Brian was called to active duty the week before the commissioning. Cody had to start his career as an officer without the special support and honor from his brother. The first salute instead was from a gunnery sergeant who worked closely with Cody during his time as a candidate at Purdue.

After all, the Marines have a way of dealing with adversities like this ... regroup, adapt, and overcome!

Even so, Brian still received his commemorative coin.