Photo By Kristen Wong | Participants check Fort Hase Beach for trash, April 22, 2015. Marines, Sailors and...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - More than 50 Marines, Sailors and civilians gathered beneath the scorching hot sun to collect trash at Fort Hase Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, April 22, 2015. The Single Marine & Sailor Program hosted the cleanup to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Single Marine Program.
“The Single Marine & Sailor Program would like to thank all the volunteers (who) came out to help clean Fort Hase Beach in celebration of the Single Marine Program’s 20th anniversary,” said Karley Peterson, the SM&SP coordinator.
Marine Administrative Message 146/15 encouraged the Single Marine Programs aboard all installations to do community service in honor of the anniversary.
“The effort to continue this capability during the 20-year anniversary celebration benefits both the Marine Corps and the community adjacent to Marine Corps installations,” the MARADMIN reads.
According to Peterson, last year, SM&SP provided 144 programs benefiting more than 4,300 service members aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Maness, the officer in charge of Aircraft, Rescue and Firefighting, Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, was one of the service members participating in the beach cleanup.
Maness, of Havelock, N.C., said the SM&SP keeps Marines and Sailors active in the community. He said because Hawaii is a small place, the service members might otherwise have to “fend for themselves,” which could lead them to make bad decisions. He also said there should be more community service projects like the beach cleanup available for the single service members.
“I’ve always highly encouraged (SM&SP),” Maness said. “It keeps them out of trouble.”
According to the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve website, the SMP has three pillars in its mission: Quality of life, recreation and community involvement. The SMP was established in 1995, according to the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma’s Marine Corps Community Services website.
In the April 25, 1996, edition of the “Hawaii Marine,” the SMP aboard MCB Hawaii announced that it had opened a new center. By the Aug. 26, 1999, edition, the base SMP had announced its name was changed to the “Single Marine/Sailor Program.”
Today, SM&SP is located at Kahuna’s Recreation Center, building 1629, and offers amenities such as computers, TVs and desks. The SM&SP also hosts various activities and offers volunteer opportunities, on and off base, for MCB Hawaii’s single and unaccompanied Marines and Sailors.
Activities vary, from hikes around Oahu to luaus. The program also coordinates trips to outer islands.
The SM&SP volunteer opportunities vary throughout the year. Marines and Sailors can sign up for activities such as feeding the homeless with Institute for Human Services, assisting Habitat for Humanity and supporting athletes with Special Olympics Hawaii.
Sgt. Ruben Diaz, the truck master of ARFF, MCAS, remembered his first volunteer effort with the SM&SP, when he was chosen as the unit’s representative in 2012. Diaz, of Pembroke Pines, Fla., said he and other volunteers brought trees to The Officers’ Club to decorate.
Diaz has since taken an interest in volunteering and helps SM&SP at various events every weekend. In 2013, he became the SM&SP president. Whenever there are events, Diaz approaches the commands on base and sends emails out about the events to garner interest and attendance.
Through the SM&SP, Diaz said he was able to meet new service members from other units.
“You build camaraderie with the people you go out with,” Diaz said. “It’s really fun. I recommend that people should at least try it once. You’d be surprised at how much fun you actually do have, whether (participating in a) recreational or volunteering (activity).”
Diaz said he recommends that the SMP continue no matter where Marines are stationed. He said the program is beneficial for Marines, providing them cost-friendly activities in a new area. He added that joining SM&SP introduced him to new places he never considered going or activities he never considered doing.
“(Service members) don’t really know what beauty lies in those parts of the world (they are stationed),” Diaz said.
Events and volunteer opportunities are posted on the SM&SP calendar at www.mccshawaii.com/smsp. Call 254-7593 for more information.
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2015 14:59 |
| Story ID: | 161971 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, US |
| Hometown: | HAVELOCK, NC, US |
| Hometown: | PEMBROKE PINES, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 57 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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