Marines mentor Young Marines during Single Marine Program event

Photo By Sgt. Melissa Lee | Marines and members of the Young Marine Program compete in tug-of-war during a Big Marine Little Marine event held by the Single Marine Program aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., July 28. This is the second annual Big Marine Little Marine event held by the Single Marine Program, where a Marine volunteer is paired with a child from the Young Marine Program for various physical competitions.  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CA, UNITED STATES

07.28.2012

Story by Pfc. Melissa Lee 

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. – The Single Marine Program hosted the annual Big Marine Little Marine event, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., July 28.

Members of the Young Marine Program, a group of children ages seven to 16 who practice drill and physical training, visited Miramar for a fun-filled day interacting with the air station’s Marines.

Each Marine volunteer was paired with a Young Marine and split into teams for obstacle courses, relay races and tournaments such as dodge ball and tug-of-war.

The event was created to foster morale and unity between Marines and aspiring Marines in the local community.

“I love volunteering and giving back to the community,” said Cpl. Nicholas Burkhardt, an intelligence specialist with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, and a Boise, Idaho, native. “I’ve done a lot of volunteering but I love giving back to these kids.”

After the morning events, Marines and children sat down for lunch together, giving children time to ask various questions about the Marine Corps way of life.

Before being awarded completion certificates, each of the children had an opportunity to throw water balloons at the participating Marines.

While for many Marines, volunteering is an opportunity to give back to the community, for Young Marines this event is an opportunity to learn what being a Marine is all about.

For more information on upcoming events please contact Johanna Jones at 858-577-6283.

• Date Taken: 07.28.2012
• Date Posted: 07.30.2012 19:55
• Story ID: 92405
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, CA, US
• Hometown: BOISE, ID, US