The finale to the workups is an exercise with the entire MEU, Langdon said. They come together after being trained as individual units and put all the puzzle pieces together. SOTG evaluates how well they perform and interact in a full-scale exercise. To be an instructor with SOTG, a Marine must have been in a direct-action platoon with a force reconnaissance company , Langdon said. All instructors must be sergeants or above.
Most instructors teach two or three different courses.
The instructors' greatest challenge is maintaining focus and keen evaluation in getting students up to speed, Langdon said. They have a lot to teach in a short amount of time. The courses are also tough for students, he said. Usually, if a student is trying and doing what he is told, he won't be dropped. But some people can't make it and have to be dropped from the course.