George Washington University Athletics
Softball's Tejcek Completes Marine Corps Leadership Program
9/7/2018 12:30:00 PM | Softball, My GW: Celebrating our Stories
GW senior to be commissioned into Marines after graduation
When it was over, Riley Tejcek didn't try to hold back her tears. The GW softball senior, along with the rest of her Lima Company peers, had passed the final test of the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course to earn her Eagle, Globe and Anchor emblem.
After years of hard work, Tejcek was officially a Marine.
"I remember they asked us what we were feeling," Tejcek said. "The only thing I could say was 'This is bigger than myself. I'm so blessed.'"
Tejcek completed the first six weeks of the prestigious PLC in the summer of 2016 after her first year at GW. The Indiana native returned to Quantico in July for her final six weeks of training, culminating in graduation from the program. She'll be officially commissioned into the Marines following her college graduation in May.
"Ever since my freshman year when I stepped on campus, I knew this was what I wanted to do," Tejcek said. "I definitely think going back again and finally completing (the PLC) has made me even more motivated. Now I can really start thinking about what's next because I never wanted to say I earned it yet until I fully did."
Tejcek stayed busy over the summer preparing for the final piece of the PLC. She remained on campus helping with Colonial Inauguration, so she could continue her military training at her recruitment office in nearby Fairfax, Va. and at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Tejcek felt as prepared as she could be going into the intense test of mind and body at Quantico. As a junior cadet, she learned to handle the early wake-up calls and rhythms of the program, but the senior program took the requirements to the next level.
"Everything's on a much more intense scale," Tejcek said. "Everything is longer, faster, quicker, more demanding."
The toughest challenges included a 3.4-mile obstacle course and the Small Unit Leadership Evaluation in which she was tested to command a group of 13 members of her squad.
Last time, the longest hike stretched six miles. This time, she had to endure one lasting nine miles.
"It doesn't seem like that much of a difference," Tejcek said, "but going nine miles throughout the middle of the night carrying even more weight than last time was really tough."
Tejcek proved up to every challenge, earning her status as a Marine. She called the Eagle, Globe and Anchor ceremony "the greatest moment of my life." Later, she swelled with pride during the graduation ceremony with her parents in attendance.
After her GW graduation, Tejcek will return to Quantico to complete The Basic School, a six-month training program. There, she'll earn her ranking within her class and be given an occupational specialty. She's hoping to find a role working in intelligence.
For now, Tejcek is back at GW, aiming to finish strong academically and close her softball career in style. She knows the qualities that it took to graduate the PLC can make a difference with the Colonials.
"It's that whole mindset of 'It doesn't matter about you. It's about who's next to you,'" Tejcek said. "How I lead my team is going to be great practice for me for how I'm eventually going to lead my Marines."
