Dr. Giani Flies around Manhattan, Tours USS Iwo Jima
Joseph Giani needed to quickly adapt to military time Thursday while participating in the U.S. Marine Corps' Fleet Week educator's workshop. The Huntington School District's assistant superintendent for personnel and general administration was flown around Manhattan in a MV-22 Osprey and the came aboard the USS Iwo Jima for a VIP escort tour.
The Fleet Week educator's program was sponsored by the USMC Recruiting Station New York. "It is our goal that when you leave Manhattan you will have an improved confidence and judgment in your United States Marine Corps," wrote Cyrus S. Pohwala, executive officer of the Marine Corps Recruiting Station New York and program manager of high school and community college program for the New York City and Greater Long Island area, in a letter to Dr. Giani explaining details of the educator's workshop.
Dr. Giani was asked to report to the USMC recruiting headquarters on Stewart Avenue in Garden City between 0600-0630 hours. The Huntington administrator was then taken by shuttle service to the Manhattan Heliport where he underwent a 15-minute safety brief of the MV-22 Osprey, a tilt rotor aircraft that takes off and lands vertically but flies like a plane.
The U.S. Marines use the MV-22 Osprey for amphibious assault, search and rescue, special operations and to transport troops and cargo. It seats 24 combat troops and has a cruising speed of 240 knots.
Following the safety brief, Dr. Giani and other educator's workshop participants were flown by Fleet Marines around Manhattan Island on the MV-22 Osprey. After landing back at the Manhattan Heliport, Dr. Giani was transported to the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), a premier Wasp-class multi-purpose 844-foot amphibious assault ship.
One of the goals of the workshop was to help participants "gain an even deeper understanding of our ethos," Captain Pohwala wrote in his letter to Dr. Giani. "As W.B Yeats once stated, 'Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.' The experiences you will gain through this one day educator's workshop will garner you with a perspective and understanding unique to the Marine Corps ethos."
Dr. Giani was brought on a VIP escort tour of the USS Iwo Jima, which served as the flagship for President George W. Bush during the Hurricane Katrina Joint Task Force. The Huntington administrator met operating forces Fleet Marines and learned about the inner workings of the ship.
Following the tour of the ship, Dr. Giani and workshop participants were transported to the Chelsea Brewing Company at Chelsea Piers - Pier 59 for a festive luncheon in their honor hosted by the U.S. Marines Recruiting Station New York.
Dr. Giani met command staff and additional Fleet Marines and learned more about the higher learning and educational and occupational opportunities that the USMC has to offer young people interested in serving their country. He was later transported back to Garden City after having gained a greater understanding of the USMC.