MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- “Intensely motivated”, “Everything a Marine should be” and
“A little crazy, but in a good way” are just some of the ways U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command Marines and Sailors describe Staff Sgt. Trevor S. Wargo, an instructor with Marine Special Operations Advisor Group’s Standards and Training section.
Wargo, a 32-year-old native of Sulphur, La., ensures Marines and Sailors in MSOAG’s 6-month student pipeline are at their peak physical condition upon graduation.
According to S&T’s staff noncommissioned officer in charge, Gunnery Sgt. Jeffrey T. Sundermier, the pipeline consists of 20 training packages to prepare the students for a variety of special operations missions in foreign countries. These packages include hundreds of hours of weapons, language and culture training, as well as instruction on teaching techniques needed to pass skills on to friendly foreign nations.
Wargo believes that in order to perform the way U.S. Special Operations Command needs them too, they must be in shape physically, as well as mentally. His role in the pipeline as the team-skills trainer, combat conditioning specialist and Marine Corps Martial Arts Program instructor is to ensure the students’ bodies work as well as their minds.
During Wargo’s seven months with MSOAG, he implemented a combat conditioning program.
“Being with the pipeline gives me the opportunity to make a strict schedule to ensure these students are physically fit to deploy,” explained Wargo. “The physical training they receive is more intense, faster-paced and has more variety then the average Marine Corps unit gets.”
“On average, we see around a 35 to 40 point increase on these students’ physical fitness test,” said Wargo. “My personal goal is to have a class average of 290 [on the PFT] and have all sergeants and above wearing a black-belt in MCMAP.”
Before being assigned to MARSOC, Wargo honed his close-combat skills at the Martial Arts Center of Excellence at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., where he served as a MCMAP instructor from 2002 to 2004. Now, he shares his knowledge, skills and experience with his students and MARSOC as a whole.
“It’s important to take one’s strengths and share them with other Marines,” said Wargo. “I feel it’s my responsibility to spread the experience and knowledge I obtained at the Martial Arts Center of Excellence to my unit and to these students.”
While stationed in Quantico, Wargo also passed the Certified Military Personal Trainers course, which helped him create the physical fitness program that S&T integrated into its training pipeline.
Wargo’s extensive training and experience shaped the way he teaches his students. Wargo believes leading from the front isn’t just an expression, it should be the way everyone leads.
“I think the best way to teach someone is rolling around with them in the dirt and showing them how to do something, rather than standing over them telling them how,” explained Wargo. “Whether it’s MCMAP, a five-mile 50-pound pack run or any other exercise, I’m right there with them sharing the pain.”
This teaching style has garnered Wargo praise from Sundermier, who has worked with him since Wargo arrived to S&T in 2007.
“I think the way he teaches the students is the best way for them to learn,” said Sundermier. “You can see the way he affects the students. They feed off of his motivation and truly respect him.”
Sundermier believes the reason Wargo is a great instructor is not only his knowledge and experience, but how approachable he is.
“Wargo will go out of his way for anyone,” explained Sundermier. “He takes immense pride in his job and, if someone fails or isn’t excelling in a certain area, he will do everything in his power to help that Marine or Sailor succeed.”
Wargo believes being in MSOAG is a challenging but rewarding experience.
“These students have volunteered to be here. They all want to excel in everything they do,” said Wargo, who plans to coach wrestling after he retires. “Being around these types of Marines makes my job the best in the world.”