Photo By Cpl. Bradley Morrow | A Marine with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, spots a potential...... read more read more
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Members of the Marines’ Memorial Association visited Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, to reconnect with the current generation of Marines and see the advances in training and equipment aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Sept. 19, 2016.
During their visit, members of the MMA participated with Marines in training exercises, received hands-on experience testing rifles and interacted with Marines as they conducted several training events.
Marines’ Memorial Association is an organization that is dedicated to honoring the legacy of military service through a historic hotel that is also a Marine Corps museum. They offer programs that commemorate, educate, and serve veterans of all eras.
Visits like these allow organizations like MMA to better understand what happens on a day-to-day basis in the Marine Corps, which ultimately leads to more public understanding of the rigors of serving one’s country.
This understanding and gained support leads to more opportunities for veterans, said Christopher Starling, vice president and chief development officer of the MMA.
“The Marine Memorial Association serves to educate the public and honor the sacrifices of members of the armed forces,” said GySgt. John Rivera, the G-3 training chief with 1st Marine Division. “The MMA board members were able to reconnect and familiarize with active duty Marines.”
The support MMA offers include programs designed for those who are currently serving in the military, their family members and veterans. Some of these programs consist of scholarships, care packages for deployed troops, gatherings for parents of service members, and commemorative events.
“The importance for us was to reconnect with the young Marines,” said Starling, a retired Marine colonel. “For veterans who have been out of uniform for a few years, or in some cases decades, it is important to re-establish that contact.”
In addition to the hands-on time with Marine weapons, the MMA members had the opportunity to view static displays of modern equipment and witnessed an immediate action demonstration performed by the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines.
“We left inspired by everyone with whom we interacted,” said Starling. “Marines are still tough and they are always learning and finding better ways to accomplish a wide range of missions.”
Many of the members from the MMA are retired senior and flag officers who bring a significant amount of leadership and experience along with them. Giving Marines the opportunity to meet them establishes personal perspectives that could positively affect the Marine Corps.
“It was truly an honor,” said Rivera. “The interaction the board members had with the Marines was insightful and greatly suitable to demonstrate where we are as a Corps, and our future.”
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 09.22.2016 16:47 |
| Story ID: | 210227 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 67 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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