MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – More than 500 Marines from various engineer units from across the East Coast came together to celebrate and compete amongst each other in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Field Meet on Ellis Field in Courthouse Bay aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, March 13.
Of the nine units competing in the meet, Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 272’s Engineer Company represented Marine Corps Air Station New River.
Engineers can tie some of their roots back to St. Patrick who in history had a background in construction.
To kick off the day, a chariot race took place in which the Marines built their own chariots, and had to run their respective commanding officer across the field in their uniquely built chariots.
Points were given to each unit based on how well they placed in each contest.
The day was setup with 15 various engineer-related challenges and competitions for the Marines to show their unit and job’s pride.
Throughout the competitions, shouts of encouragement motivated their fellow Marines as they strived to beat the other engineers.
“It really instills unit pride anytime there is competition against someone else. It really brings out and enforces the brotherhood,” said Lance Cpl. Brian Mejiamorel, a combat engineer with MWSS-272.
Most of the competitions were designed around engineering ranging from speed hammering drills and stake driving to relays carrying a water hose.
The most intense competition was the “find the rebar.”
Contestants had to break up a three-foot concrete block with a sledgehammer in order to find a one-inch piece of rebar hidden inside.
Not all of the competitions were engineer based. To lighten things up and finish the field meet, the “Engineer Idol” had Marines singing and dancing to karaoke songs.
“At the end of the day, it’s always good to get out there and reunite with and meet other guys in our field and just have fun,” said Cpl. Cee Saechao, a combat engineer with MWSS-272.