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by Lance Cpl. Geoffrey P. Ingersoll
I Marine Logistic Group PAO
CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq -- December is a holiday season filled with family, fun and festivities, or for some Marines here, unit cohesion, competition and the 'dizzy-izzy.'
Service members with Headquarters and Service Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward) participated in a company field competition Saturday, Dec. 6.
The dizzy-izzy was one of many events that had Marines cheering each other on. During the event, service members spun around ten times with their heads down and then attempted to run. The resulting off-balanced race triggered laughter from the Marines watching.
"(The field meet is) something fun to do while we're out here to get our minds off home," said Sgt. Jennifer M. Garay, a 22-year-old administration supervisor from Bluffton, S.C.
"They can't be home with family, so at least they can have a little time to have fun and relax," said 1st Lt. Rich W. Dawson, an intelligence officer.
"Most of these Marines work long hours, it's good for them during the holiday season to get out of the office," continued Dawson, 24, from Huntington Beach, Calif.
The Marines left the office behind for a day, competing in seven scored events. Almost every competition incorporated skills learned during boot-camp, whether it was transporting the 'wounded' to safety with the fireman's carry or just a test of strength and endurance.
"It's all about motivation and going back to the basics of the Marine Corps," said Lance Cpl. Kayla M. Hughes, a 19-year-old intelligence analyst from Yuma, Az.
"It builds unit cohesion because we all have to work together with our teams to complete the activities, we have to motivate each other," she said.
A judge tallied the scores when the dirt-caked Marines finished the day's competition. The final scores were read aloud while the competitors feasted on grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and listened to music.
These service members work behind desks all day, it can become very monotonous, said Gunnery Sgt. Eric E. Harris, company 1st Sergeant.
"(the field competition) gets us outside and gets us tighter not only inside the office but outside of work," said Harris, 38, from Louisville, Texas.
There are senior Marines competing next to junior Marines, junior Marines motivating senior Marines, and they are all outside getting dirty together, said Harris.
"It shows that even though we're all out here (in Iraq) working in different shops, we're still out here as an H and S Company family," said Harris.
| Date Taken: | 12.06.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2006 09:19 |
| Story ID: | 8518 |
| Location: | AL TAQADDUM, IQ |
| Web Views: | 197 |
| Downloads: | 133 |
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