Photo By Cpl. Baylee Boggs | U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Brehm Rhett, ground radio repairman, 1st Intelligence...... read more read more
Subscribe
ZION NATIONAL PARK, Springdale, Utah – Some say Zion National Park in Springdale, Utah is where the sound of silence exists, and when surrounded by its colossal mountains, you realize how small you are in comparison. For a group of Marines traveling to the park with the Single Marine Program (SMP), size and silence certainly welcomed them as they reached the peak.
The SMP’s main goal is to enhance the quality of life for single Marines by offering a variety of different extracurricular activities to keep them physically, mentally and socially active while living in the barracks.
“For $40, we received transportation, tents, beds, food, water and gatorade,” explained Sgt. Jennifer Mendez, intelligence specialist, 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force - Information Group. “It was also nice that we could choose how to spend our time. We were not restricted to a schedule of events at specific times of the day.”
The trip to Zion National Park is one of many trips hosted by the SMP. During their trip to Zion, Marines had the chance to not only hike any trail of their choosing, but also play corn hole, relax around a bonfire, throw a Frisbee or simply mingle with other single Marines.
“Everyone who chose to take this opportunity had at least two things in common – being interested in the outdoors and being in the military,” said Mendez. “Whether or not you were a lance corporal, a sergeant, in the Navy or the Marine Corps – it didn’t matter. We all could relate on at least a small aspect of both of them.”
Single, active-duty service members and those dislocated from their spouses can participate in SMP events. While attending trips, service members are able to get outside, challenge their physical fitness in unique ways, and bond with other service members who are interested in similar activities.
SMP offers a wide variety of excursions including unique volunteer opportunities, tickets to various sporting events, as well as weekend getaways to places in, around and outside of California.
“SMP is looking to get Marines out of the barracks, out from in front of the TV, and give them opportunities that they wouldn’t normally have,” said Jessica Swinson, 22 and 24 Area SMP Recreational Centers manager. “The goal for hiking at Zion National Park was to give Marines the opportunity to hangout with individuals that had common interests and to build friendships.”
For more information on SMP events and trips, please visit http://www.mccscp.com/smp.
| Date Taken: | 08.09.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.09.2018 18:36 |
| Story ID: | 288043 |
| Location: | SPRINGDALE, UT, US |
| Web Views: | 119 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Size and silence welcomes single Marines in Zion National Park, by LCpl Kerstin Roberts, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT