Photo By Staff Sgt. Janessa Dugan | Cpl. Nicholas McGuire peers through a cardboard spyglass while showcasing his work...... read more read more
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OKINAWA, Japan - Marines and families gathered for the annual Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron-36 Beach Bash July 2 at Torii Beach on Torii Station, Okinawa.
Marines with MALS-36, Marine Aircraft Group-36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force enjoyed food, fun and camaraderie through team building activities, such as volleyball, soccer and cardboard boat racing.
According to Sgt. Major Shonnell E. Horn, the Sgt. Major of MALS-36, the Beach Bash brought the unit together and provided Marines with a chance to spend time with members of other sections of the squadron and get to know one other on a personal level. The commanding officer and family readiness officer organized the event to provide activities to bring Marines and their families closer.
“It’s important that the Marines and their families have the opportunity to (decompress), spend some time with their families and get to know each other in a non work-related environment,” said Horn, a Baltimore, Maryland, native.
The bash’s main event was a man-sized cardboard boat competition, in which Marines showcased the boats different work sections had designed and constructed in the weeks prior to the competition.
“We are a fairly large squadron with about 500 Marines and sailors, so we wanted to create an event with activities (in which) they can work together and compete in ways they can’t when they are in the work mindset,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Doherty, the commanding officer of MALS-36. “We judge the boats’ construction and appearance, then (conduct) a race to see which boat is the most seaworthy. It’s a great way to spark some friendly competition.”
According to Cpl. Teagan Clark, an administration clerk with MALS-36, Marines from different sections look forward to the annual boat races and prepare weeks or even months in advance. They work together to plan, design and collect materials to build their boats in barracks rooms and their work sections.
Following the judging of the boats, Marines representing their work sections carried the vessels to the sandbar and upon the starting command, paddled furiously in a race against tide and wind. As the water rushed in, many watercrafts capsized. Marines thrown into the shallow water worked together to restore their vessels, board them and continue paddling.
“A lot of the boats immediately (capsized) because the wind and the (tide) were so strong,” said Clark, a Port Orchard, Washington, native. “My boat pretty much folded in half when it hit the water, but we all had fun competing against each other, especially when we worked so hard to build them.”
After the boat races, Marines and families ate lunch under the shade of large tents, played soccer and volleyball, and pummeled their way through inflatable obstacle courses and bounce houses.
“(Our Marines) with MALS-36 work hard to maintain the readiness and support role that the squadron fills,” said Horn. “It is important to us to give back to them and make sure we are doing our part to reach out and make sure they have the time to maintain healthy relationships in and out of the workplace.”
| Date Taken: | 07.02.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.13.2015 23:01 |
| Story ID: | 169931 |
| Location: | TORII STATION, OKINAWA, JP |
| Hometown: | BALTIMORE, MD, US |
| Hometown: | NEWPORT, NH, US |
| Hometown: | PORT ORCHARD, WA, US |
| Hometown: | WAIMEA, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 341 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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