Photo By Cpl. Casey Bonestroo | U.S. Servicemembers pose for a group photo at a Washington National’s baseball game...... read more read more
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Nationals Park, Washington D.C. – U.S. Marine Corps Col. Jenny Colegate, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Quantico, attended the Washington Nationals baseball team’s Nats on Base Leadership Summit with other regional military installation commanders April 25.
Held annually, the Nats on Base Leadership Summit helps maintain key leader engagements between the National Capital Region’s military installations with the Washington Nationals’ leaders, featuring leadership discussions that reflect the similarities between Major League Baseball and military service.
While there, Colegate and the other military installation commanders from various branches of service met with key Washington Nationals leadership: Senior Vice President of Government and Community Engagement Gregory McCarthy, Valerie Todryk Krebs, the VP of communications, Mark Scialabba, the assistant general manager, and the Director of Military Affairs Sean Hudson.
“We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support and recognition the Washington Nationals show to our military community.” Colegate said. “The relationship between Marine Corps Base Quantico and the Nationals exemplifies their dedication to recognizing the military men, women, and their families both on and off the field.”
A Frontline Forum panel featuring Washington Nationals leadership was offered to military leaders to discuss topics of leadership shared between a MLB team and the military, which provided insights on talent management.
“It’s long term goals and short term actions in baseball,” Mark said.
He further explained how each player is assessed on their biometric data, which boils down to how well they perform in terms of numbers, but emphasized that knowing each player’s personal and professional background is just as important. Knowing these two aspects of each player determines the best fit for the team or when to employ them on the field at any given time for the best outcomes of the game.
His explanation reflects the same emphasis of the Marine Corps’ Talent Management Update released November 2024, where talent management is vital for mission success and accomplishment.
“At the end of each game, we are playing for the name on the front of the jersey rather than the name on the back, ”Mark expressed.
Valarie added that it’s about maintaining a positive and productive work environment, explaining, “We understand the commitment of everyone in the office, on the field, or in the weight room,” emphasizing, “that [our team members] are people.”
Also discussed at the panel were leadership challenges, specifically insights approaching how to bridge generational gaps, another shared consideration between the MLB and military industries.
Leaders discussed how the two industries mirror one another in terms of the younger generations making up a majority of both organizations. They spoke of the importance of acknowledging and employing their unique perspectives and skillsets that add to the mission and goals of the organization.
Ahead of younger populations are the seasoned veterans, who are inherently tasked with maintaining the core values and traditions of the organization, one being the tradition of what they all wear—jerseys or camouflage utilities.
Through the lens of baseball, Valerie added, “we aren’t the jersey you inherited, we are the jersey that you chose,” something echoed in sentiment in the Corps, as each present-day Marine volunteered to wear the uniform donned by warriors past.
Colegate explained, “As a Marine, it isn't just about the uniform you wear — It's about the identity you embrace, the values you choose to live by, and the commitment you make to serve something greater than yourself. It's a lifelong dedication, not inherited, but earned with pride, honor, and purpose."
The Washington Nationals are uniquely positioned in the NCR, and so they focus on the military community they are surrounded by through military-focused programs and initiatives, with an emphasis on supporting military families, a cornerstone of the Washington Nationals’ community efforts. Through expanding access to baseball in military communities across the National Capital Region, the Washington Nationals aim to supplement areas of morale, welfare, recreation, and professional development to servicemembers and their families.
“There is shared inherent value [between the military and the Washington Nationals] in giving back to our communities,” Gregory said during the final portion of the Nats on Base Summit.
The Washington Nationals give to the military community in other ways, such as their Uniform Program, Base High-intensity interval training, Salute to Service, Patriotic Series, Branch Days, the Frontline Forum, event space availability, and employee recognition programs.
This past year, the Washington Nationals hosted a Battle of the Bases Tournament, pitting the NCR’s military installations against each other—a unique opportunity to involve the military community in baseball.
In fact, this tournament was the first time where both Marine Corps installations were in the finals—MCB Quantico and Marine Barracks Washington; MCB Quantico ended up winning the tournament that September, 2024.
“Supporting the military is one of the three main pillars of the Washington Nationals,” said Sean Hudson. “We are so grateful and honored to be able to support the military and their families in the heart of our nation through ‘America’s pastime:’ baseball.”
To learn more about the military involvement of the Washington Nationals, please visit: https://www.mlb.com/nationals/community/military-initiatives.
| Date Taken: | 05.02.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.12.2025 15:35 |
| Story ID: | 497427 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Hometown: | WILLIMANTIC, CONNECTICUT, US |
| Web Views: | 59 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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