Photo By Cpl. Naomi May | Marine Brigadier Gen. James Glynn, the Eastern Recruiting Region commanding general,...... read more read more
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CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – Bright white hats, scarlet stripes, a sea of blue and mirror-shined shoes swept through the streets September 4-9. It was the U.S. Marine Corps celebrating Marine Week with Charlotteans.
For nine years, Marine Week has visited different communities within the United States to promote engagement and the Marine Corps’ relationship with the public. This year’s event in Charlotte saw more than 750 Marines visit the city to share the Marine Corps’ message.
Marine Week provides opportunities for Marines to connect with and give back to America’s communities, demonstrate its military capabilities, share their stories with prospects and influencers, and show how they harness the fighting spirit to win battles for the nation, their communities and themselves.
“One of the things Marines put extreme emphasis on is our connectivity with the American people,” said Maj. Gen. James Bierman, Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruiting Command (MCRC). “It keeps us humble, and it keeps us focused. We never miss a chance to remind ourselves that the only reason we exist is because the American people want a Marine Corps.”
Marine Week showcases the pride and professionalism of the Corps through a weeklong series of events that generate awareness to a wide audience, honor the sacrifices of Marines and their families, and develop and maintain a positive image of the Marine Corps to the local populace.
“We want people to see that Marines are people too,” said 2nd Lt. Jamel Johnson, a logistics officer with the United States All-Marine Wrestling team. “We try to find a common ground for people with different backgrounds, so they realize that we actually do have a lot in common. It helps to bridge the gap between citizens and the Marine Corps.”
MCRC planned key events to interact with the Charlotte population, looking to share its message of opportunity with a diverse audience of people who in many cases had little exposure to the culture of the Corps.
Marines kicked off the week visiting three high schools in the Charlotte area. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band visited and performed for Nation Ford High School in Fort Mill, South Carolina – a nearby suburb of Charlotte – while the Martial Arts Center of Excellence (MACE) visited Mallard Creek High School in Charlotte and the Silent Drill Platoon performed at Sun Valley High School in Monroe, North Carolina. The night ended with a Community Leaders Reception featuring special guests like Jacqie McWilliams, a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association commissioner, and retired Marine and former Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James Amos.
The next day opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of Marine Recruiting Station Charlotte. Influential community leaders were also invited to Wilson Air Center, where Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 invited them to take flight aboard a MV-22 Osprey high above the “Queen City.” Piedmont High School in Monroe, North Carolina, was also visited by Marines with the MACE, who performed a martial arts demonstration.
On the third day, Queens University’s Royal Swimming Team faced water survival training led by Force Fitness and Marine Corps water survival instructors.
“My perception of the Marine Corps has definitely changed,” said Queens University of Charlotte senior, Mitchell Harwood. “I had known that Marines did some water training, but I never realized it was to this extent. This experience has given me a whole new level of respect for them.”
Gunnery Sgt. Quiam Woody, a food service specialist with Marine Corps Detachment Fort Lee, Virginia, participated in a cooking competition at Johnson and Wales University with its students and local populace the next day, Friday. His team – which featured one culinary student and one local chef – won the competition, which required participants to use components of ‘meals, ready to eat’ military field rations.
“In the end, I hope people take away that there is more to the Marine Corps than combat [military occupational specialties], Woody said. “I hope this cooking competition shows everyone that we have another, more technical, less rough-and-tough side.”
Friday ended at the Dwight Howard Boys and Girls Club, where All-Marine Wrestlers and USA Wrestling (USAW) representatives participated in community service and spent time with local youth.
Saturday memorialized 9/11 with a stair-climb challenge. A Wrestling Clinic was also hosted by the All-Marine Wrestling team and USAW, who share a national-level partnership aimed at elite athletes and their influencers. Marines also engaged with locals at Providence Day School during a lacrosse clinic and a Lake Swim with the Royal Swimming team.
MCRC Marine Week events concluded with a second lake swim.
Throughout the week, static displays were present at First Ward Park, to include several different types of vehicles, aircraft, vendors and displays. The Marine Corps Battles Won Trailer, an obstacle course consisting of a mesh rope climb, a vertical rope climb, knowledge tests, and a series of pull-up, crunches, and push-up challenges was also operating in First Ward Park all week, simulating physical and mental fatigue so participants experience a snapshot of Marine training.
“This week, we had the chance to tell our story, who we are, and how we bring value to the defense of our nation, and the three things we really do for the American people; we make Marines, we win battles, and turnover great American citizens,” Bierman said.
| Date Taken: | 09.10.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 09.10.2018 10:31 |
| Story ID: | 292035 |
| Location: | CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 115 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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