Photo By Master Sgt. Bryan Peterson | More than 20 Marines with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis...... read more read more
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NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy – Keep calm and “nerf” on.
It was anything but the former for more than 20 Marines as they tirelessly battled it out against more than 100 energetic children aboard the gymnasium during Naval Air Station Sigonella’s “Nerf Battle,” Feb. 8.
Outfitted in full combat gear, the Marines were preparing for a full frontal assault before the battle began, thinking their training and experience were advantageous for victory – they were wrong.
Staring each other down from both ends of the gym, once the whistle blew, both aggressors bolted forward to covering positions with strays of impenetrable nerf bullets flying over each other’s heads.
Before the Marines could assemble and execute their plan, the children, aged between five and 13, surprised the Marines with flanking attacks from both sides of their positions, instantly taking out more than half of the Marines.
“They tired us out from the get go,” said Sgt. Aaron Mossor, a motor transportation operator with Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa. “They were quick and didn’t show any signs of slowing down. They got us good, today.”
For the third time since SPMAGTF-CR-AF’s presence at NAS Sigonella, Marines and sailors with the unit participated in what is becoming a popular engagement with the air station community.
The Marines and sailors with SPMAGT-CR-AF are deployed to NAS Sigonella where they stage and prepare for theater security cooperation missions and, should one occur, crisis response operations in Africa. This specific iteration is manned by Marines and sailors from Combat Logistics Battalion 6 and 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, both permanently based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Dating back to November 2014, the base held the first-ever event, drawing parents and their children to form a new relationship and understanding with the Marines.
Eric Barge, the youth sports director for NAS Sigonella Morale, Welfare and Readiness, came up with the idea at U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, in 2014, where American children faced off against Marines with Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team Yokosuka in similar fashion.
Navy Capt. Christopher Dennis, the air station commanding officer, also attended the event and duked it out alongside the Marines.
“The Marines in Yokosuka, much like here, were a part of the community and we thought [the nerf battle] was a great way to bring everyone together to get to know each other,” said Barge. “Today was exciting to see them battle it out. The smiles on the kids’ and Marines’ faces said it all.”
Lance Cpl. Heather Ruano, a landing support specialist with SPMAGTF-CR-AF, said the Nerf battle was different than the normal, everyday routine and was a great way to “share the smiles and laughter with the kids.”
“Once we started integrating the teams a bit, the battle intensified,” said the visibly exhausted Ruano. “I wish we could do more of these because it shows the community who we are while having fun doing it.”
Barge agreed. He said the interaction is something the children love to do and MWR has plans for future events.
“It’s not an everyday occurrence when a kid can put on the Marines’ combat gear and ‘go to battle’ so to say,” said Barge. “This is something that the kids will talk about for a long time and never forget.”
While the first Nerf Battle drew a sizable crowd in 2014, according to Barge, “today’s battle was the biggest by far and we can’t wait to do the next one.”
| Date Taken: | 02.09.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.09.2016 05:20 |
| Story ID: | 188316 |
| Location: | SIGONELLA, IT |
| Web Views: | 492 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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