Marines march into Boston tradition

Photo By Sgt. Calvin Shamoon | Marines take a moment during a stop in the St. Patrick's Day Parade to face the crowd for picutres in South Boston, Massachusetts, March 15. The Marines from U.S. Marine Forces Command and II Marine Expeditionary Force and sailors with the USS Arlington (LPD-24) amphibious transport dock ship sailed to Boston to participate in the parade, conduct community relations events and to experience ship life.  

BOSTON, MA, UNITED STATES

03.17.2015

Story by Lance Cpl. Calvin Shamoon 

Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command

BOSTON, Mass. - More than 100 Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Boston sailed aboard the USS Arlington (LPD-24) amphibious transport dock ship to Boston to march in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade and participate in various community relations events March 13-17.

As the Iraq and Afghanistan wars took the Marine Corps’ focus away from traditional amphibious operations to primarily land operations, the Corps is now shifting back to its naval roots.
While the trip is meant to give the people of Boston a glimpse of the Corps’ mission and capabilities, the voyage also gives Marines who have never been on a ship a chance to experience life at sea.

Staff Sgt. Donald Vaughn, a weapons platoon sergeant with Company A, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, said the trip, while fun, is a time to learn about where the Marine Corps is going – even for those who have been around for a long time.

“My Marines and I have had a good time so far,” said the Raleigh, North Carolina, native. “It gives them a chance to learn about Navy traditions such as boarding the ship, going ashore and just basically the way ship life is.

“I tell the Marines it’s not just about going to the field week in and week out,” said Vaughn. “We are more so moving back to amphibious operations and just this short amount of time on the ship gives the Marine a glimpse of what is to come very soon.”

While underway for three days, the Marines spent time learning about the ship, while engaging sailors during their daily activities. They also spent time conducting physical training and tactical training on various weapons systems.

Once the ship arrived in Boston, the Marines were able to show the Boston public, during ship tour hours, Marine capabilities, assets, and what a SP-MAGTF is and how it works with the Navy.

A SP-MAGTF is a uniquely structured organization composed of air, ground, logistical and command elements, capable of deploying within 72 hours and operating independent of local infrastructure.

Corporal Justin Baldwin, a supply administration operations clerk with 2nd Supply Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Corps Logistics Group, and a Tampa Bay, Florida, native said it’s his first time aboard a naval amphibious vessel and said he enjoyed his time so far, especially getting to know his peers and being in a different environment.

“Being on the ship built camaraderie, it just brought us more together,” said Baldwin. “Going from Camp Lejeune to Boston, you get to bond with other Marines and learn about what the sailors do and how we work together.”

After two days of getting to know the city and interacting with the public, the Marines made their way to the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade.

The day began with chilling temperatures and strong winds. This, however, didn’t phase the Marines. They marched in unison in a sharp, crisp fashion. After a quarter of a mile, with nearly two miles to go, the rain came, then the snow, then the sleet – they kept marching. Undaunted by Mother Nature’s cruelty, the Marines kept their bearing as they were cheered on by South Boston residents that totaled in the tens of thousands.

Vaughn, who discussed with his platoon commander how the Marines would look during the parade, would they wave into the crowds and shake hands, decided the Marines needed to march in step.

“We decided to look sharp in our strut because that is the image of a Marine,” said Vaughn. “It showed a whole other level of professionalism instead of hooting and hollering. We looked sharp today. We represented.”

While in Boston, the Marines will also spend time volunteering at the Greater Boston Food Bank and Cradles to Crayons charities.

• Date Taken: 03.17.2015
• Date Posted: 03.17.2015 11:15
• Story ID: 157217
• Location: BOSTON, MA, US
• Hometown: RALEIGH, NC, US
• Hometown: TAMPA, FL, US