The Marine Corps Flag flies proudly over a new facility on Stu Segall’s Production lot in San Diego, California. Here our Marines who were wounded in the War on Terror will be trained in skill sets that will enable them to carry out a vital mission; to tell their story. The Wounded Marine Careers Foundation opened up it’s doors, and has started their first semester of classes, this past Wednesday the 9th. 19 wounded Marines will be the first to graduate from a career center designed specifically for them. Upon graduation from this school, these Marines will be able to obtain jobs in the movie and television production industry, as well as the photography and editing fields. Their focus is to not only give Marines an education in the entertainment industry, but to place these Marines as card carrying union members, functioning in society in a job, after 10 weeks of intense training. The first class includes students missing limbs and a paraplegic. Feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness are stomped out in true Marine Corps fashion here.

Chandler’s Watch had a tour of the facility, and we brought some friends along. We thought it would be appropriate for Duncan D. Hunter, a former Marine Corps Captain and Congressional Candidate for the 52nd District of California, Lonnie Moore, the Western Area Director of the Wounded Warrior project and a former Captain in the U.S. Army, who himself was wounded in the War on Terror, as well as Major Cory Cunningham of the Marine For Life Program to come together and see how we could network everyone together to support our wounded brothers and sisters.

Chandler’s Watch would like to extend a heart felt “Thank You” to Mr. Hunter, Mr. Moore, and Major Cunningham for their time and support to the school and America’s wounded! These three are true American heroes!

The Foundation is an amazing place. With an operating budget of over $2 million per 10 week session, the Marines and Navy Corpsman are recieving the best training money can buy. The faculty includes experts in the field of production and entertainment with professors from NYU and USC on the staff. The founder of the school has won three Emmy’s alone! Combined the school boasts roughly 26 Emmys from its faculty alone!

The graduates of this school will be well armed to join the work force and be productive members of society. The union representing the production staff of the movie and television industry is IATSE, or International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, has granted each student a union card upon graduation with the entrance fees waived. Entrance fees into the union could be as high as $5000! IATSE has also said that they would allow the 50 days of the school to count toward work experience needed to obtain a position on a major production (the requirement is 30 days experience). Each graduate will also earn a Panasonic digital movie camera, an Apple IBook laptop, and a professional grade still camera. These will be the tools of the trade to get them started.

By next year, the school plans to open its doors to all branches of the military, but for right now the class sizes are keep small to perfect the curriculum and class scheduling. The students are afforded a “make up” day on Saturday for any classes that they missed during the week due to doctors visits and physical therapy.

Stay tuned to this website for updates on the school and how the students are doing. Also tune into Chandler’s Watch radio show on Saturdays at 5pm Pacific time for interviews with the founders of the school as we check in with them from time to time.

Stay motivated and Semper Fi!