2nd Marine Logistics Group Marines build camaraderie during barracks bash

II Marine Expeditionary Force
Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler Andersen

Date: 08.28.2014
Posted: 09.03.2014 08:06
News ID: 141011
2nd Marine Logistics Group Marines build camaraderie during barracks bash

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Marines and sailors with 2nd Marine Logistics Group participated in their 2nd MLG Barracks Bash at the Goettge Memorial Field House aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Aug. 27, 2014.

More than 1,500 Marines and sailors participated in the event including 2nd Dental Battalion, 2nd Medical Battalion, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, and Combat Logistics Regiments 2, 27, and 25.

The events included golf, volleyball, flag football, soccer, track and field, softball, a weight lifting competition, a pull-up competition and other competitive events including rock wall climbing, hacky sack, cornhole, and a tug-of-war game to finish it all off.

According to Gunnery Sgt. Mark McBride, the barracks bash coordinator, the overall goal of the barracks bash was to maintain unit cohesion and build camaraderie amongst Marines and sailors.

“We try to create camaraderie between the units through sports,” said McBride. “In the future we would like to see this become a year-long event, where we have a season for each sport.”

In addition to the sporting events, there was a car show which had several Marines’ vehicles on display and a disk jockey that played music.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Darrell Shen, a dental technician with 2nd Dental Battalion, said some service members really don’t get out a lot, and events like this help people get to know others in the barracks.

“Today was all about having fun for the Marines,” said McBride. “The goal was most definitely achieved, providing camaraderie for the Marines and esprit de corps; People left with new friends, a new found love for some sports they used to love back in high school, and Individuals have asked when we will do an event like this again.”

By reintroducing familiar pastimes, and keeping the Marines actively engaged, events like the barracks bash can bring down a lot of alcohol related incidents and other negative occurrences, said McBride.