CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Leaders with 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group hosted a town hall meeting for servicemembers and their families at the Goettge Memorial Field House here, Jan. 14.
The unit used the meeting to discuss what happened last year, what will happen this year and what support is available to military families stationed here.
“We’re laying down the ground work for how the next year is going to look operationally,” said Lt. Col. Craig C. Clemans, the commanding officer of 2nd Maint. Bn. “It’s never too early to stop and think about what it means to be ready on a personal level and on a battalion level.”
One topic of the night was the positive impact the battalion made by setting an example for safety within the MLG and fixing more than 15,000 pieces of equipment in the past year, said Clemans.
The commanding officer continued his speech by discussing drug use and the Marine Corps’ “zero tolerance” policy.
“This is not a game,” Clemans said. “We don’t need [drugs] in Maint. Bn. If you’re doing drugs and you need help, ask for it. We’ll get you the help you need.”
Clemans also noted that 2nd Maint. Bn. recently went three months with no driving-while-intoxicated charges.
Then, Capt. Steven B. Cole, a Roanoke, Va., native and the operations officer for the battalion, took the stage to review the unit’s 2013 calendar. He explained the upcoming events to the Marines and their families to prepare them for the road ahead.
“You can expect that you will go to the field with your companies,” said Cole. “You can expect that there’s going to be pistol ranges, gas chambers and swim qualifications. The last Friday of every month, we’ll have a [physical training] event, and we’re going to be creative with that.”
Several guest speakers from around the base, such as the battalion’s chaplain, healthcare representatives, the education assistance branch and the base tax center, spoke about their individual services.
The presenters shared information about tuition assistance, different types of tax help and preparation, education opportunities and marriage enrichment retreats.
“It was our first time hosting an event like this,” said Cole. “It’s pretty uncommon for a unit to do a town hall meeting and open the floor up to allow Marines to ask any questions they want straight up to the commanding officer.”
The meeting was a unique opportunity to discuss the hot topics that are out there and it went well, Cole said.
The command of 2nd Maint. Bn. plans on hosting events like field meets and a Jane Wayne Day, which gives family members a chance to experience life in the Marine Corps first hand.