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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NC - Imagine being arrested, tried and found innocent, but still being sent to prison because you couldn't prove what was said at the trial.

In a courtroom, lives are literally on the line, which makes it vital to have proper documentation on the hearing. This is where court stenographers come in.

"An accurate verbatim record of court martial and other disciplinary proceedings produced by a court stenographer helps ensure that the proceedings are unbiased, fair and just," said Staff Sgt. Andrew P. Evans, a court stenographer with Service Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group.

Marine Corps stenographers are called on to make verbatim or summarized transcripts of general and special court martial, board of inquiry, Article 32 pretrial investigations, [Manual of the Judge Advocate General] investigation interviews, officer non-judicial punishment hearings, equal opportunity employment hearings and the occasional wiretap, according to Evans.

The life of a court stenographer on a daily basis consists of typing in a unique shorthand method using state-of-the-art equipment while in the courtroom and later transcribing it to written records, according to Sgt. Marcella Mejia, a court stenographer with Service Co., Headquarters and Service Bn., 2nd FSSG.

"I like being in the courtroom because it's interesting to see the different events that affect the Marine Corps," said Mejia, who was a cook before re-enlisting as a stenographer.
Becoming a stenographer requires that a Marine must be a corporal or sergeant at the end of their first enlistment, have a general technical score of 110 or higher, should be able to type 60 words-per-minute, have a high school or general education diploma and must graduate from the school.

Marines who re-enlist into this military occupation specialty must sign up for another six years because the school is two years long, according to Master Gunnery Sgt. Avril M. King, who has been a court stenographer for more than 16 years.

The Virginia School of Technology, located in Virginia Beach, Va., is a civilian college; hence the Marines wear civilian attire, live off campus and still get paid active duty pay, however, it is also one of the most difficult MOS schools the Corps has to offer, according to King.

"The school is great, but don't let it fool you," King said. "It is very difficult and after you graduate you are still obligated to finish out the four years that you signed up for."
Although the job is difficult in many aspects, the rewards in the civilian sector are more than beneficial, according to King.

"The Marine Corps is the only military branch that has stenographers, which will help once the Marine retires or until the [end of active service]," King said. "Once you finish your time in the Corps, you can get out and make as much as $70,000 a year in the civilian sector."

For those interested in the stenographer field, contact Master Gunnery Sgt. Avril M. King at (910) 451-8059 for more information.

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