Virginia Peninsula community leaders meet with FAST Marines

Photo By Cpl. Kayla Cox | Business leaders across the Virginia Peninsula gather with Marines from Bravo Company Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST), Marine Corps Security Force Regiment, for a photo with the LEAD Historic Triangle program class of 2015, April 9, at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Virginia. The LHT program is sponsored by the Triangle Chamber of Commerce and is designed to educate the public and better understand their community. In this segment of the program, the event was designed to educate the public on the military’s economic impact in communities surrounding military installations on the Virginia Peninsula.  

NAVAL WEAPONS STATION YORKTOWN, VA, UNITED STATES

04.15.2015

Story by Cpl. Kayla Cox 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

NAVAL WEAPONS STATION YORKTOWN, Va. – Business leaders across the Virginia Peninsula gathered with Marines from Bravo Company Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST), Marine Corps Security Force Regiment, for an event with the LEAD Historic Triangle program class of 2015, April 9, at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Virginia.

The LHT program is sponsored by the Triangle Chamber of Commerce and is designed to educate the public and better understand their community. In this segment of the program, these local leaders learned about the military and economic development within their community.

“Today, what they got to see was the impact of the military and the federal government on the region, but then we try to narrow it down to one organization which is Bravo Company FAST Marines,” said Col. Darrin Denny, who works at Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation, Naval Support Annex Norfolk, Virginia, and is a former commanding officer of Marine Corps Security Force Regiment.

Tempy Barbru, a member of the class of 2015 LEAD program, explains her appreciation of the program, and more importantly the emphasis on the military in this portion of the program.

“I think it’s critical, we have learned so much here today, and it was great to get all the facts and the data and the information like that,” said Barbru. “But it was really neat was being able to speak to all the Marines that were here, because they’re giving us their personal viewpoints; it’s a direct standpoint.”

These participants conversed with the Marines over lunch and learned a few of the situations service members face throughout their career.

According to Barbru, she is familiar with the military, being a native of San Diego, but there are still things the public isn’t aware of that military families face today.

“I had no idea how expensive energy was on base. I was so surprised by that, and also how often people are being moved to new locations,” said Barbru, “I keep thinking you know that must be very hard on military families, and that there’s so much more we can do for them.”

Affiliates of the program were given a chance to ask questions to better understand the lifestyle of the military, and to gain additional knowledge on the mission and tasks of Bravo Co. Marines.

Some of the leaders said they were willing to open their homes to military families during the holidays, as well as provide support for military spouses and their children when their partner is deployed.

During the questioning, Marines discovered how eagerly people in their community were willing to help. The members of the program learned various ways to provide assistance to these Marines and their families.

“Marines come from their community; they come from society as whole. [The program] serves to better introduce them to each other so they could help each other out. I think that’s a pretty good relationship we have in this region,” said Denny.

In addition to a presentation and question and answers session, Marines from Bravo Co. provided static displays as a bonus for the class of 2015 to experience. The displays included Humvees, several individual weapon systems, packs ranging between 40 and 60 pounds and Marines in full combat gear.

“Talking to a Marine about why he drives the Humvee and seeing the pride and the recognition that all of us gave him for being successful in doing the things he wants to do for his country is priceless,” said Barbru.

According to Denny, the displays foster “military appreciation” when people of the community see how heavy the gear that these Marines have to wear is and learn how complex their daily job and tasks can be.

“It’s always nice for people of the community to see what wonderful people these young Marines are, whether they’re in Bravo Co. here or anywhere else because when people meet young Marines they can’t help but to be impressed with them. They’re just good people by and large,” said Denny.

• Date Taken: 04.15.2015
• Date Posted: 04.15.2015 17:39
• Story ID: 160100
• Location: NAVAL WEAPONS STATION YORKTOWN, VA, US