Photo By 1st Lt. Tatiana Zappardino | Special-Purpose Marine-Air Ground Task Force Africa 13, is demonstrating the 240B...... read more read more
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NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy - Marines and sailors with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa 13 participated at the National Night Out event with the residence of Marinai government housing at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, Aug. 6, 2013.
“We are a primarily reserve unit, so there is a hand full of us that have law enforcement backgrounds,” said Gunnery Sgt. Francisco Alvarez, a motor transport chief with the task force and a police officer on his civilian side. “So this [event] hit very close to home.”
National Night Out is an annual event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watches who assists in building positive relationships between local and host law enforcements with the surrounding community.
“The Marine Corps is such a small group, so to come out here and interact with our sister services and the Italian community helps build good relations,” said Alvarez, a Murrieta, Calif., native.
The event began with a parade of emergency and military vehicle through the residential area. As a group of Marines drove down the streets in an Internally Transportable Vehicle, the rest of them were setting up a static display of weapons alongside the Italian law enforcement.
“We displayed different types of weapons, both lethal and non-lethal, and demonstrated their different capabilities,” said Gunnery Sgt. Octavius Shivers, the logistics chief in the task force.
While weapons were being displayed, a K-9 demonstration by a security force, a martial-arts demonstration by the Local National Karate Masters, and plenty of fun-filled activities for the children were occurring.
This experience gave the Marines and sailors a chance to teach young-minds while enjoying the company of the local children. The task force had the opportunity to showcase how they contribute to safety on a daily basis.
“Some of us are parents so it is nice to come out here and see all the kids,” said Alvarez. “It really helps coping with being away from our own families.”
It was not all work and no play; Marines chose to get involved with the dunk tank and watermelon-eating contest to really engage with the neighborhood. One of the biggest hits was the riot suit that gave the kids a chance to test out some non-lethal weapons such as a baton and shield on it.
“My favorite part was laughing and enjoying the kids attempt to take down the Marine in the riot suit,” said Shivers, a Jackson, Ga., native.
Special-Purpose MAGTF Africa continues to build relationships with the community while simultaneously strengthening U.S. Marine Corps Forces Africa and U.S. Africa Command’s ability to assist partner nations in addressing security challenges in the region.
| Date Taken: | 08.06.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.09.2013 14:13 |
| Story ID: | 111676 |
| Location: | SIGONELLA, IT |
| Hometown: | JACKSON, GA, US |
| Hometown: | MURRIETA, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 224 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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