MCCS brings home recreation

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Dengrier Baez | Along with several other recreational activities, Marine Corps Community Services provides soccer team tournaments for all ages.  

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

08.20.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Heather Johnson 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

"MCCS Semper Fit Athletics hosts a wide variety of sporting activities for our Marines and their family members on island. Some of the events are football, basketball, volleyball and a soccer team tournament," Carter explained, adding that there are several other activities available as well.

"We also host individual competitions like racquetball, triathlons, five-kilometer and 10-kilometer fun runs, half marathons, power lifting, bodybuilding, tennis, wrestling and arm wrestling matches to name a few," said Carter.

While these sporting events help Marines relieve stress built up from work and being away from loved ones, they also provide a boost in unit morale, Carter said.

"I believe that hosting recreational sporting events here on island for our Marines plays a huge role in the morale of the units," Carter said. "It gives the Marines that much-needed break from regular work duties, and time to concentrate on having fun and being competitive with one another."

According to Randy Mitchell, director of the Single Marine Program and retired sergeant major, these programs serve a larger purpose as well.

"I think it most definitely helps boost morale on the island," he said "We can provide opportunities for the Marines to do something productive and keep them busy. I believe it directly impacts the amount of negative off-base incidents in a positive way."

"I've been here on Okinawa since 1995 and a lot has changed," Carter said. "The variety [of recreational activities] has increased big time. We just need our services members to take advantage of the variety of things there are to do with MCCS."

According to Carter, MCCS will continue to enhance recreational programs in the future.
"It is now as it will be in the future; the customer determines where we go." Mitchell said. "I can assure you we are always changing and trying to provide better activities."

For more information about recreational activities offered by MCCS, call 645-3522.

• Date Taken: 08.20.2010
• Date Posted: 08.19.2010 23:22
• Story ID: 54871
• Location: CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP