Mini Marines kicks off aboard MCAS Beaufort

Photo By Staff Sgt. Benjamin McDonald | A child participates in a modified Combat Fitness Test during the Mini Marines Program aboard marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, June 10. The event was hosted by Marine Corps Community Services Beaufort to promote a family atmosphere and teach children of Marines about what their parents do at work. The event also featured a confidence course, a team building station and a Marine Corps Martial Arts Program station.  

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC, UNITED STATES

06.10.2017

Story by Lance Cpl. Benjamin McDonald 

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

Marines volunteered at the Mini Marines program aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, June 10. The family event was organized by Marine Corps Community Services South Carolina to build camaraderie amongst the Marines and promote a family atmosphere for the military children in the Tri-command.
“I am impressed by all the Marines that are out here to volunteer for the families of the Marines in the Tri-command area,” said Staff Sgt. Omar Caraballo Pietri, the career planner for MCAS Beaufort. “It shows that these Marines realize they are a part of an organization that is bigger than them. To me volunteering is one of the most important things a Marine can do to give back to their community and the Marine Corps.”
MCCS holds mini Marines quarterly. The children were split into different platoons and given different colored hanker chiefs to identify their group. Each platoon was led by two Marine volunteers and cycled through different activity stations.
“I love getting opportunities to volunteer here,” said Pfc. Craig Wilk, an operations clerk with Head Quarters and Head Quarters Squadron. “Being relatively new to this command and the Marine Corps
in general I had no idea what kind of volunteering opportunities there were. I was taught volunteering and giving back is crucial in the Marine Corps and that’s what I want to do. I can’t wait for my next chance to do so. ”
Set up and orientation began at 7:30 a.m. to prepare for a 9 a.m. kick-off. The Marines at the activity stations planned how to run their station and the platoon leaders began learning about their mini Marines in stretching and warm-up exercises. The platoon leaders lead the exercises and made sure their troops were ready for the round-robin of obstacles. The event featured a toy rifle range, team building challenges, Marine Corps Martial Arts lessons, a modified Combat Fitness Test, and a display by the Expeditionary Fire Fighting Marines.
“This event and others like it is really important because it builds camaraderie amongst the Marines,” said Wilk. “The children get to see some of the things their parents do on a daily basis. It gives them an understanding on what Marines have to do to stay well trained and physically fit to remain ready for anything. ”
At the end of the event, the platoon leaders give each Mini Marine their dog tags and the parents greeted the children with home-made banners. The Marines also receive letters of appreciation for their volunteer efforts.
“Volunteering is an essential part of developing as a leader,” said Caraballo Pietri. “But for me it is also an essential part of being a Marine. It gives Marines a foundation to build off of as they further their military
career or in the civilian world. Volunteering shouldn’t be for advancement, it should be to give Back to the community that supports us, and everything we do.”

• Date Taken: 06.10.2017
• Date Posted: 06.15.2017 12:52
• Story ID: 238050
• Location: MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, SC, US