MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - Marine non-commissioned officers from across Oahu gathered for softball aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii to play against the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific commander, Lt. Gen. John A. Toolan, Oct. 21, 2015.
The Marines came from various units on MCBH in an effort to build cohesion between senior Marine leaders and NCOs.
Sgt. Tyler Jennings, a motor transport mechanic with Combat Logistics Battalion 3, and a native of Denison, Texas, said he felt motivated seeing his senior leaders playing softball with the junior Marines. He also said he believes activities like this are positive tools when building camaraderie.
According to Toolan, his favorite part of the game was participating and being around his Marines, making some bad calls and seeing his NCOs have fun. Toolan said events like these are necessary because Marines work more than eight hours a day.
"We work very hard, we deploy, and we are gone all the time; so when you get back home it is good to relax and have fun," Toolan said. "I encourage that as much as possible. "
The game was competitive, but gave everyone involved the opportunity to set aside their stresses from the day and get to know each other.
"Just getting out here with the sergeant major and the commanding general is a good time, everybody is having fun," said Cpl. James Decker, a military policeman with the Provost Marshal's Office, and a native of Kingston, N.Y. "It is something a little different that helps build some camaraderie between the Marines."
Despite the difference in rank, Sgt. Maj. Paul McKenna, MARFORPAC sergeant major, believes that the effort to build the relationship between the senior and junior Marines was successful. He could not think of a better way to accomplish this.
"This is just an opportunity for the commanding general, the component commander here in the Pacific, to have a physical event with his NCOs, the small unit leaders, and then afterwards do a side chat about what is professional and personal."