Ops manager still running after 10 years

Courtesy Photo | Bret Schmidt, Marine Corps Marathon Operations Manager, is interviewed aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico in June, 2013. Schmidt has been with the MCM for more than 10 years.  

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA, UNITED STATES

01.28.2014

Story by Lance Cpl. Samuel Ellis 

Marine Corps Base Quantico

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - “People probably describe me as black and white,” said Bret Schmidt, operations manager for the Marine Corps Marathon. Anyone who has participated in a Marine Corps Marathon event has probably noticed the reflective-vest clad, 54-year-old man rushing about, finalizing details and organizing staff.

Although just passing his 10-year mark with the MCM, the deep-voiced, straightforward man didn’t start his service with the Corps as an MCM employee, but as a 23-year veteran of the Marine Corps.

“When they say, if you love what you do, you don’t work a day in your life, that’s kind of what I fell into,” said Schmidt.

The retired master sergeant served domestically in Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., Marine Corps Base Quantico and Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., and among other places, deployed to Japan and Korea. He also served as the platoon sergeant for the silent drill platoon at 8th & I and held the military occupational specialty of Infantry Unit Leader during his career.

“I think his background and experience as a Marine and a runner is a strength of his,” said Tami Faram, public relations coordinator, MCM. “His experience in being both is a huge benefit to us.”

The fourth of seven children from a small town in Minnesota started running, his favorite hobby, as a boy in school and credits much of his motivation and success to his experiences and influences of that time.

“I wrestled and competed in cross country and track against my older brother, Greg,” said the Redwood Falls, Minn., native. “He inspired and proved to me that I could be better than [I was]. I ended up becoming [an] all-conference, district and region [runner].”

Schmidt continued his running career into college and then into the Marine Corps, where he worked with running teams and even had the opportunity to participate with the Olympics.

“I was fortunate enough in 2002 to take 20 days leave and be a security runner during the first 20 days of the torch relay,” said Schmidt. [It started in Atlanta and eventually ended up in Salt Lake City, although I stopped in New York.]”

Those who work with Schmidt say he doesn’t run solely for personal enjoyment.

“Bret has been a real mentor to a lot of Marines,” said Faram.

Schmidt explained what motivates him to coach other people.

“I have been trying to mentor [young Marines and peers] and it keeps my tie with the Marine Corps and my hobby, running,” said Schmidt. “I’m trying to be a positive influence for others.”

Schmidt brings a runner’s determination and endurance to his job.

With more than 60,000 runners expected to participate in the eight 2014 MCM events, (the Crossroads 4-miler is not occurring this year) 2,000 volunteers assisting with the 26.2-mile flagship race plus the untold number of agencies, with multiple and often overlapping duties and jurisdictions, Schmidt has a large role to play.

“Our operations plan is huge and Bret puts all that together,” said Faram. “Operationally, he ties in every command, every aspect from baggage and security to cone teams and road marshals. He is really a good adapt-and-overcome kind of guy and that’s so essential to what we do as an event-planning organization.”

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• Date Taken: 01.28.2014
• Date Posted: 01.28.2014 16:19
• Story ID: 119772
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA, US
• Hometown: REDWOOD FALLS, MN, US