Out of office onto beach; MWHS-3 holds annual family get-together

Photo By Cpl. Christopher Johns | Sgt. Maj. Javier Esparza, the Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 sergeant major and a Detroit native, tries to save himself from being dunked by a participant in the dunk tank challenge during the annual MWHS-3 Breakers Beach Party aboard Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., July 27. Marines and families voted on who they wanted to be dunked. The list included the sergeant major, the commanding officer of the squadron and a corporal who was popular with his fellow Marines.  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

07.27.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Christopher Johns 

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND, Calif. – Marines with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 held their annual MWHS-3 Breakers Beach Party aboard Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., July 27.

Marines and families went to the beach to raise morale, family togetherness and unit cohesion by spending the day together playing games in an environment where rank wasn’t an issue.

“It seems to me there is a lot less stress, everyone is out of uniform and having a good time just interacting with each other,” said Lance Cpl. Matt Parker, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist with MWHS-3 and a St. Louis native. “This shows that everyone is a person too, not just a scary boss who needs to be feared. It’s also less destructive than going out drinking.”

Families of Marines, including those of Marines forward deployed, were invited to the beach gathering which featured carnival games, a bounce house, barbeque and a dunk tank.

“It’s a chance to get all of our families together to interact,” said Don Wallace, the family readiness officer with MWHS-3 and a Lawton, Okla., native. “They have fun together, dunk the people they voted into the dunk tank, play fair games and eat good food. It get’s the families out of the house and out to the beach.”

According to Wallace, other than its holiday party held at Sea World, this yearly event is the second largest event the unit holds and those who gathered really seemed to enjoy themselves.

For more information on next year’s event contact Don Wallace at [phone].

• Date Taken: 07.27.2012
• Date Posted: 07.30.2012 20:12
• Story ID: 92407
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US
• Hometown: DETROIT, MI, US
• Hometown: SAN DIEGO, CA, US