BayStars visit MCAS Futenma, tour MV-22B Osprey, dine with Marines, Ginowan City Mayor

Photo By Sgt. Jessica Collins | MCAS FUTENMA, OKINAWA, Japan- AYokohama DeNA BayStars hat sits on a table Feb. 24 at the Habu Pit on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan. The Yokohama DeNA BayStars baseball team had the chance to tour an MV-22B Osprey and visit with Marines while on MCAS Futenma. “Events like this enhance the already strong community relations MCAS Futenma enjoys with the surrounding City of Ginowan,” said Lt. Col. Bob Sweginnis, the executive officer of MCAS Futenma. “This event in particular allowed those who live and work aboard MCAS Futenma to meet and interact with professional baseball players from a prominent Japanese Big League team that conducts spring training every year in here Ginowan City, just outside the gates of Futenma.” (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Jessica Collins)  

GINOWAN, OKINAWA, JAPAN

02.23.2017

Story by Cpl. Jessica Collins 

Marine Corps Installations Pacific

MCAS FUTENMA, OKINAWA, Japan– Players and staff with Yokohama DeNA BayStars toured an MV-22B Osprey and dined with Marines Feb. 23 on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
The team toured the air station to gain a better understanding of the station’s capabilities and meet the Marines who work there.
“Events like this enhance the already strong community relations MCAS Futenma enjoys with the surrounding City of Ginowan,” said Lt. Col. Bob Sweginnis, the executive officer of MCAS Futenma. “This event in particular allowed those who live and work aboard MCAS Futenma to meet and interact with professional baseball players from a prominent Japanese Big League team that conducts spring training every year in here Ginowan City, just outside the gates of Futenma.”
After a tour of the Osprey, the team headed to the Habu Pit where they were greeted by Marines with the Single Marine Program along with the Ginowan Mayor.
“I think it’s great the Marines can meet and talk with the foreign players,” said Ginowan City Mayor Atsushi Sakima. “I hope the Marines become big fans of the BayStars. We have a group that travels to Yokohama in the summer to cheer for the team; it would be great if Marines wanted to travel with them.”
The players and Marines spent the rest of the evening getting to know each other during a Mongolian Barbeque dinner.
“Events like this help create a sense of pride in the local community among Marines, sailors and civilians who live and work aboard MCAS Futenma,” said Sweginnis. “They go a long way toward knocking down boundaries, dispelling myths and building mutual appreciation and understanding between those on both sides of the air station gates.”

• Date Taken: 02.23.2017
• Date Posted: 02.27.2017 01:06
• Story ID: 224937
• Location: GINOWAN, OKINAWA, JP
• Hometown: GINOWAN, OKINAWA, JP