Deputy commander challenges you to clean up your act

Photo By Lance Cpl. Isaiah Gomez | First Sergeant Ramarie S. Moore (left), India company first sergeant, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Sgt. Aaliyah B. Carbon (right), volunteer to pick up trash along MCB Camp Lejeune’s Wilson Boulevard, Jan. 12, 2019. Senior Leadership with MCB Camp Lejeune’s Headquarters and Support Battalion offered a volunteer opportunity to its Marines and Sailors to assist with trash pickup along the base’s Wilson and Holcomb Boulevards in an effort to sustain the continuing cleanup and to maintain a good state of police of the base. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Isaiah Gomez)  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, UNITED STATES

01.12.2019

Story by Lance Cpl. Ashley Gomez 

Marine Corps Installations East       

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – You see it everywhere. In bushes, in puddles, along roadways and trails. Since Hurricane Florence there seems to be a massive increase in the amount of trash left around the installation according to Col. Scott Baldwin, an avid runner and deputy commander of Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and he’s urging everyone to clean up their act.
“When I’m out running for PT, I take different routes each day (and) I see all sorts of trash like plastic bottles, cans, food wrappers, cigarette butts, plates, clothes wires, plastic bags and much more,” he said adding, “It’s shocking to see the amount of trash in areas that have a heavy foot-traffic pattern.”
While Marines with Headquarters and Support Battalion, MCIEAST, MCB Camp Lejeune, volunteered to start the movement by cleaning up trash on Jan. 12. Baldwin says there other areas that still need to be cleaned including Gonzales, Holcomb and Wilson Blvd, as well as areas around Sneads Ferry Road and Wallace Creek.
“For example, yesterday I was running in the Wallace Creek Area and watched three Marines walk right past a significant amount of easily collected trash as if it weren't there.”
According to Baldwin, the base Public Works team manages a grounds maintenance contract that is funded by the installation, but is not tasked with picking up trash. Picking up trash is the responsibility of every person on the installation, at no cost to the government.
Even Base Order 11100.5A says “area commanders are tasked with exterior police, including police of all roads, and for care of grounds within their designated areas, including areas around dumpsters.”
“Last month I received an email from the Inspector General of the Marine Corps, who I've known for 25 years,” said Baldwin. “He sent me the note as he was traveling back from Camp Lejeune to Washington D.C., and mentioned the amount of trash on the base, especially along the roads. I'm professionally embarrassed for our installation and for all of us who live and work on this great base.”
With more than 47,000 people working on the installation the simple act of taking time each week to help clean up around work spaces seems reasonable, but the still-visible trash that litters the roadways and running trails suggests this is easier said than done. Baldwin sees room for a lot of improvement.
“As one of the premier warfighting installations in the world, we should take pride in our attention to detail and the appearance of professionalism,” said Baldwin. “When leadership is out and about, especially within the garrison and industrial areas, try to be aware of the trash and you'll see.”

• Date Taken: 01.12.2019
• Date Posted: 01.15.2019 13:08
• Story ID: 307089
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US