globe november 23, 2011

GLOBE WWW.CAMPLEJEUNEGLOBE.COM WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2011

First of fi ve new childcare development centers opens

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VOLUME 73 EDITION 47

Grand Prix Turkey Trot race offers

something for all ages

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Serving Camp Lejeune and surrounding areas since 1944

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 23, 20

Festival of Trees celebrates by giving back

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LEJEUNE SPORTS 1BINSIDE LEJEUNE 1CCLASSIFIEDS 4CCAROLINA LIVING 1D

INSIDE THE GLOBE

VICTORY IN NAWA: VOICE OF PROGRESS PAGE 9A

Photos by Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez(Left) Cpl. Samuel Escutia Jr., a combat engineer with Company A, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, cuts through a wing wall, recently. (Right) Cpl. Eric McMullen, a combat engineer with Company A, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, guides a bulldozer to fi ll a culvert. The Marines are currently repairing the support structure on a bridge located at a major intersection that connects Marjah and Nawa Districts.

LANCE CPL. ALFRED V. LOPEZRegimental Combat Team 5

Combat engineers with Com-pany A, Combat Logistics Battal-ion 1 and local workers improved road conditions by repairing a key bridge, Nov. 12.

The bridge, which needed crit-ical foundation repairs, is vital for both local travel and military missions on a major intersection between Marjah and Nawa.

Todays project involves a bridge which has wing walls that are eroding, said 1st Lt. Steven Thomas, a platoon commander

with Company A. Our goal is to replace those wing-walls to make them last longer and make the bridge more stable for the ci-vilian and military traffic.

Wing-walls provide the bridge with structure to the heavy sup-port foot and vehicle traffic pass-ing through the intersection.

The water flowing through here also provides water for the farmers, and this bridge is vital to the locals traveling to the ba-zaar, added Thomas.

By improving this intersec-tion, the travel conditions will improve for the locals, as well as

our convoys that come through, said Cpl. Logan Homstad, a fire team leader with Company A.

The combat engineers man-aged to control local civilian traffic while completing their work, leaving local commerce unaffected.

The biggest challenge is that its right next to a bazaar, said Homstad. Theres a lot of traffic moving around the area.

We have to keep the locals out of the way because theres a lot of heavy equipment mov-ing around, explained Thomas. We dont want any of them to

get hurt, as well as impede our progress.

Some of the locals even lent a helping hand to the Marine engi-neers, as they clearly understood repairs to the bridge would be beneficial to the local commu-nity, Thomas added.

The mission was easier be-cause of the support and man-power of the locals, said Cpl. Travis Dye.

The Company A Marines worked expediently, digging out the existing structure with heavy equipment, and emplacing the new wing-walls that will keep

the bridge supported in the years to come.

My Marines were outstand-ingThey had to wade into the water, sometimes getting waste deep into the mud, explained Thomas. Some even had to get pulled out with the help of a few Marines, because the mud was so thick.

The bridge is one of Company As many projects supporting in-frastructure development here in southern Helmand.

Were happy to be here, said Homstad. Were happy to do projects that matter.

MARJAH DISTRICT, AFGHANISTAN

CPL. KATHERINE M. SOLANO2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward)

Like those before them, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (For-ward), made a concerted effort to put together a well-rounded group of Marines to create their Embedded Partnering Team.

The EPT is responsible for training, mentor-ing and advising Afghan National Army units as they work to become independent from coalition forces, a priority of 2nd MLG (Fwd.) as they pre-pare to transfer authority to 1st MLG (Fwd.) in the coming months.

According to 1st Lt. Owen Finnegan, the CLB-1 EPT assistant officer in charge, not only were the individual Marines handpicked, but their pre-deployment training was crafted, planned and carried out over the span of multiple months.

There was a real attempt by the leadership of CLB-1 to ensure there wouldnt be anything we werent ready for, so we wouldnt be caught un-aware or unprepared, Finnegan said.

For Marines on partnering and advising teams, the survivability training they receive, in-cluding advanced medical and combat readiness

courses, is crucial because they often conduct op-erations without coalition support as they work to increase the ANAs independence.

The particular unit that the CLB-1 EPT is mentoring is the 5th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, and thus far they have shown they are ready and willing to learn and operate without assistance, according to Finnegan.

Our (ANA) unit is actually rather proficient, Finnegan said. They run all their convoys on their own.

Despite the units ability to operate on many tac-tical levels on their own, there are still challenges that the EPT faces while mentoring the Afghan soldiers.

Our major issue is now that the Afghans can do a lot of these things on their own, how do we step away? Finnegan pointed out. Now they dont even want us to go on the convoys with them. They do that on their own and they are proud of it and they should be. This ANA kandak has become a success story very quickly.

Finnegan added, once the Marines finish sup-ply and maintenance training with the ANA, their job will be even closer to being complete.

Its our goal to work ourselves out of a job, so we arent in this business anymore, he said.

Extensive training leads CLB-1 EPT to success with ANA

Photo by Cpl. Katherine M. SolanoSoldiers with the Afghan National Army participate in relay races with weighted ammunition cans brought to them by the Marines with the Embedded Partnering Team, Combat Logistics Battalion 1, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), on Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Nov. 16.

PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS JONATHAN CHANDLERRegional Command Southwest

The inaugural running of the Tacti-cal Leaders Course, a training program for small unit-level Afghan officers, has begun aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province.

During the nine-week course, the Joint Sustainment Academy Southwest will host 21 lieutenants and captains from various Afghan

National Security Forces and provide advanced training in skills key to small unit success.

The students come from all branch-es of the ANSF in Helmand province, including the Afghan National Army, Police and National Security Director-ate, said 1st Lt. Joshua Oresko, an in-structor at JSAS.

We want to make successful squad leaders, platoon commanders, com-pany commanders and staff officers, said Oresko. Just like every course at

JSAS, the TLC is joint in order to pro-vide all services' officers with a com-mon knowledge and skill set.

The course will provide training packages in map reading, land naviga-tion, weapons skills, tactical leader-ship, driving, tactical communications and dismounted and mounted patrol-ling. Students will also be exposed to operational planning and consider-ations for running operations centers.

The result is a training package similar to that U.S. forces experience

during pre-deployment and basic offi-cer courses.

This class will benefit the students because we incorporate so many new ideas that few of them have mastered, or even been exposed to, said Oresko. We want the students to walk away from this course being able to train their men properly, receive a mission, process that information, plan an op-eration, prepare and issue an order, and make tactical decisions all the skills that a good officer should have.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

Marines launch tactical offi cers course at Helmand academy


THE GLOBE, CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. 2A NOVEMBER 23, 2011

This Department of Defense newspaper is an authorized publication of the DOD. Contents of The Globe are not necessarily the offi cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the DOD, or the Public Affairs Offi ce, Camp Lejeune, N.C. The Globe is published by Land-mark Military Newspapers of N.C., a private enterprise not connected with the DOD or the U.S. Marine Corps, under exclusive written con-tract with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement of these products or services by the DOD, the U.S. Marine Corps, or Landmark Military Newspapers of N.C.Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affi lia-tion, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confi rmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The editorial content of this pub-lication is the responsibility of the Public Affairs Offi ce, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Any questions may be directed to: Commanding General, (Attn: Public Affairs Offi ce), Marine Corps Base, PSC Box 20004, Camp Leje-une, N.C. 28542-0004. For distribution and advertising inquiries, call 347-9624. Mail subscribers: Any notices to report a change of address need to be sent to: Landmark Military Newspapers - NC, 1122 Henderson Dr., Jacksonville, N.C. 28540. For advertising questions or to submit free trader ads, call 347-9624, ext. 101.

Commanding Offi cer, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune

Col. Daniel J. Lecce

Marine Corps Installations East Public Affairs Offi cerNat Fahy

MCB Camp Lejeune Public Affairs Offi cer1st Lt. Nicole Fiedler

nicole.fi [email protected]

MCB Camp Lejeune Public Affairs Chief Staff Sgt. Kristin S. [email protected]

PublisherJames M. Connors

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Sports EditorJessie Heath

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MAN ON THE STREETWhat do you think about the way the Marine Corps has

changed and evolved?

Lance Cpl. Michael Brigandi 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine DivisionHaverhill, Mass.

Were more prepared to handle anything that we take on. Weve learned from past conflicts and

wars, and we continue to learn and improve to keep

us ahead of the game.

Retired Master Sgt. Howard Luckenbaugh Gettysburg, Pa.

I think overall, the Marine Corps is a lot stronger than

what it was when I was in the Vietnam era. Just

technology alone has made the Corps a lot stronger, but the discipline might not be the same as it used to be.

Cpl. Carl Kaasik Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, Marine Wing Support Group 27, 2nd Marine Aircraft WingSouth Plainfi eld, N.Y.

Many things have change. Some of our

uniforms have changes, but the things that

havent changed are our values and morals.

We still have our honor, courage and

commitment.

Staff Sgt. Christopher Augustine 2nd Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics GroupMarksville, La.

Weve grown stronger as a fighting force. The

technology that we have now has helped in our

training. Ive been in the Marine Corps for 20 years,

and its easy to see how weve improved.

Sgt. Tierra Watson Company B, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp LejeuneRed Oak, Va.

The Marine Corps as a whole has grown a lot. There have been many changes, but they were

for the better. Were more prepared for the mission.

Marines are more educated and the Marine Corps

supports that.

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Traffi c violations aboardCamp Lejeune

This graph represents traffi c violations and driving while intoxicated / driving under the infl uence refusals for Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune during the week of Nov. 14 through Nov. 18. Traffi c violations are defi ned as: driving while license revoked; speeding in excess of 15 mph or more; traffi c crashes; seatbelt, cellular telephone and motorcycle personal protective equipment violations.Source: Command Inspector Generals Offi ce for Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

Camp Lejeune is a six-time recipient of the Commander-in-Chiefs Award for Installation Excellence having most recently won the award for the Marine Corps in 2009 for Fiscal Year 2008 performance. These awards recognized the base, and its Marines, sailors and civilians on a Department of Defense level for extraordinary excellence in sustained performance or innovation across all installation support functions for the benefi t of tenant commands and resident Marines, sailors, coast guardsmen and families. The base continues to relentlessly strive for excellence in all that it provides.

Camp Lejeune is a six-time recipient oLejeune Facts:

SemperSafe

REWARDCrime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest regarding the theft of 17 competition bows stolen from The Wounded Warrior Battalion at the archery range aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.Oct. 27, 17 competition bows were stolen from a trailer that had been used to store them throughout the week. The trailer was broken into sometime after 4 p.m. Oct. 26 and be-fore 7 a.m. Oct. 27. The stolen bows have been valued at approximately $30,000 and in-clude 10 Hoyt Vantage Compound bows, three Mission UX2 Compound bows, two Hoyt Eclipse Recurve bows, one Win & Win Recurve bow, and one Parker Challenger bow.

Manpower Management Enlisted BriefDec. 12 at the Base Theater

8 - 9:30 a.m. First termer brief Base Theater9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Special Duty Assignment/Reserve Affairs/

Marine Special Operations Command brief Base Theater1 - 2:30 p.m. Career brief Base Theater

Dec. 12 at the Marston Pavilion8 a.m. - 5 p.m. MMEA-82/83 Interviews

8 a.m. - 5 p.m. MARSOC Interviews 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Career Counseling

Dec. 12 at AS 213 Marine Corps Air Station New River8 a.m. - 5 p.m. MMEA-84 Interviews

Dec. 13 at the Marston Pavilion8 a.m. - 5 p.m. MMEA-82/83 Interviews8 a.m. - 5 p.m. MARSOC Interviews

8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Career Counseling

Dec. 13 at AS 213 MCAS New River8 a.m. - 5 p.m. MMEA-84 Interviews

Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs visit

THE GLOBE, CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. NOVEMBER 23, 2011 3A

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CPL. WALTER D. MARINO II2nd Marine Division

Recently, a mother mo-mentarily lost her two-year-old daughter aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Thanks to Marines with military working dog platoon, Military Police Support Company, II Ma-rine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, the child was quickly found.

Typically Marines from this platoon use their skills with the K-9s to sniff out improvised explosive de-vices in Afghanistan and track insurgents, but when they received a call con-cerning a missing girl, they responded with the same readiness and quickness that they would during a combat scenario.

After arriving on scene,

Staff Sgt. Charles T. Roten-berry, an assistant kennel master with the platoon, received a picture of the girl and began leading his team in the search. After not im-mediately picking up a trail, Rotenberry explained, he was just about to redirect his search when he thought to try and think like a kid to get a clue as to where she might have taken off to.

Thats when I looked around and was like, Wheres the little kid go-ing to go. Most little kids dont just walk out of a screen door and make a button hook the other way, said Rotenberry, a fa-ther of four. They tend to walk straight. So I decided to start walking where I thought the kid might walk and thats when I saw her sitting in a blind corner of the neighbors porch.

I guess they didnt no-tice the house was unse-cured, said Rotenberry. She was just sitting there playing with her dolls. She saw me in uniform and she came running over look-ing for a hug. I think she thought I was her dad, be-cause of the same uniform. I think her dad just came back from Afghanistan. So she was probably confused and saw a Marine in uni-form and ran over.

Rotenberry explained that the police did the same things, but believes the girl was probably in the house when they were looking and calling for her. He also added had the girl wan-dered into the woods, their Marines and dogs would not have stopped until they found her. Rotenberry had five separate tracker teams ready to scour the base.

This was not Rotenberry or the platoons first time using their resources for a search. During the course of their most recent de-ployment to Afghanistan, the platoon used their dogs to discover 71 IEDs.

Senior leadership, such as Master Sgt. Frank A. Ginn, senior enlisted adviser for the Military Police Support Company, regarded Ro-tenberry as an upstanding Marine who has repeatedly contributed to their fine unit both during their deploy-ment and in the rear.

He definitely sets the right example. Marines can look at him and see he walks the walk and talks the talk. Hes a Purple Heart recipient from this last deployment and is currently pending a valor award for treating a double amputee and assisting with

the Marine being success-fully medically evacuated. He was the first one there. He applied the tourniquets. A Marine lived because of his actions.

Ginn attributes both Ro-tenberrys and the platoons success in both Afghanistan and stateside to their train-ing. Ginn said it is doing their training the right way, day in and day out, that gives them the confidence to shine when called upon.

In this particular case it was Rotenberry, but ul-timately it couldve been anybody because its about what we do over here. Train, train, train its a team concept. Its not just the dog or the handler. Whether its down range looking for insurgents, IEDs or back here locating a lost child, its what we do day in and out in our train-

ing that sets us up for suc-cess, said Ginn.

In 2010, there was a con-victed felon aboard MCB Camp Lejeune who was wanted for shooting some-one. After evading Naval Criminal Investigation Ser-vice, the shooter hid in the woods on base. The platoon was called upon for their unique tracking skills to help local authorities and NCIS hunt the male down.

This individual had been in the tree line for an hour, said Ginn. We were doing our own training at the time. But we were able to come all the way over, link up and in half an hour, we had the individual. Its about doing the right thing and being consistent. If youre doing what you need to do when an opportunity comes up, youre going to be successful.

Marine fi nds missing child aboard Camp Lejeune

CPL. ANDREW D. JOHNSTON2nd Marine Division

They lived through the Great Depression, fought in World War II and came home to build one of the finest nations known to mankind. Hailed The Great-est Generation, these men and women are now in their 80s and 90s.

Marines and sailors from this era were honored at the 2nd Marine Division World War II Commemoration Day Ceremony Nov. 18, aboard Ma-rine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Active-duty Marines escorted the veterans to various places on base and shared their experi-ences with them.

This is definitely an honor and a privilege to be escorting these Navy and Marine Corps vets around, said Sgt. Isaac Garza, a field radio operator with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Divi-sion. You can see the joy on

their faces interacting with the Marines. Just being here shar-ing those familiar stories with veterans shows you that once a Marine always a Marine.

According to the National World War II Veterans associa-tion, veterans from the era are dying quickly at the rate of 740 a day.

Mike Burkhead, son of one of the vets, said he wanted to make sure his dad was prop-erly honored before that time ever came. He said that just seeing him interact with all of the younger Marines made the trip all the more worthwhile for him and his father.

He kept on thanking me a whole bunch for bringing him here and I am so happy to have been able to bring him here and experience this with him, said Burkhead. Seeing all you guys is a great experience and hear-ing all of the stories is great.

Throughout the day, veter-ans were given a chance to see some of the new equipment the

Marine Corps uses today and visited various parts of the base. They exchanged old war stories with the Marines and explained the type of weaponry they used in their time.

It sounds like the static displays are what theyre most excited about, said Garza. It will be interesting for them to see just how far the military has come technologically.

The veterans took a group picture with active-duty Marines and let out a loud, ooh-rah.

Old friends laughed and joked with each other as if no time had passed since their last encounter. They made their way to the tour buses and thanked the Marines for their time.

I think they all just like be-ing able to talk to you guys so this is a good opportunity to mix with all you guys and share the stories, said Burkhead. You guys are all wonderful and we really appreciate the time to come out here and honor these men and women.

Greatest Generation honored at World War II Commemoration Day

Photo by Cpl. Andrew D. JohnstonCpl. John R. Weese (left) and Sgt. Andrew D. Bonnema (right), both with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, speak with Word War II veterans during the 2nd Marine Division World War II Commemoration Day Ceremony Nov. 18, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Marines set up various displays and shared their own personal stories with the vets.


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CPL. KATHERINE KELEHERRegional Command Southwest

A surge of more than 40 Marines with the Female Engagement Team came to Camp Leatherneck, Hel-mand province, recently, where they were able to kick up their boots and talk about their experiences in Afghan-istan since they began their deployment.

During their time on Camp Leatherneck, FET received reset training, which the unit conducts every 45 days. In their reset training classes, the Marines covered topics such as rules of engagement, escalation

of force and basic lessons learned on relationship building with the local Af-ghan populace.

It gives us an oppor-tunity to re-group and re-organize our missions, said Sgt. Jessica Lugo, the FET 6 team leader in Sangin Dis-trict. A lot of things can happen in 45 days. When we come back (here) we can do those lessons learned, re-cap, learn anything and re-vise anything that we might need to execute later on in the future.

The mission of FET is to reach out and interact with Afghan women and their children. Until FET was es-tablished, women and chil-dren were not heard from

because of cultural restric-tions. Afghan women past the age of puberty are not permitted to talk to men.

Since FET, made up of nearly two dozen two- to three-member female teams of Marines and sailors serv-ing as hospital women, was stood up nearly two years ago, they have been able to build relationships with Af-ghan women within their communities.

A main priority of the FET team members dur-ing reset training is to talk among one another about lessons learned and come up with new ideas on how to approach women, differ-ent ways to get word out in the villages about upcoming

meetings, or even different ways to possibly get local Afghans to understand the importance of sending their children to school.

It is nice to hear about the progress being made in other districts such as Mar-jah and what they are do-ing, so when it comes time when teams such as the ones in Sangin are ready to do something new, they already have an idea about what should and should not work, emphasized Lugo, who is a military police-woman by trade.

Sangin District, where Marines recently executed Operation Eastern Storm, is still considered to be a ma-jor insurgent threshold and

many locals are still too fear-ful to leave their compounds, Lugo explained, making it exceedingly difficult for coalition troops to work to-ward counterinsurgency.

I can tell you that 90 percent of the women we talk to have never seen FET, she said. In response, FET teams in Sangin Dis-trict spend as much time as possible in public meeting as many of the local women as possible. Team members agree that success can be measured in small and large ways.

We did a bicycle hand-out with the students that participated in our old (com-bat outpost) for good atten-dance (in school), said Cpl.

Brandy Bates, a team mem-ber with FET 11 in Marjah District. We handed out about 40 different bicycles.

We also discovered a girls school with about 110 girls ranging from ages 6 to 15, which was really nice. We have some hygiene classes weve given to the (Afghan National Army) as well as some of the local children.

Armed with lessons learned during reset train-ing and the successes of pre-vious FETs, current team members said they are look-ing forward to accomplish-ing their missions and goals within the communities of Helmand province in the upcoming months.


New girls in town: Female Engagement Team resets

Photo by Cpl. Katherine KeleherCpl. Brandy Bates, assigned to Female Engagement Team 11 in Marjah district, Helmand province, listens to other Marines with FET talk about their experiences during deployment, Nov. 13. The Marines assigned to the team travel to Camp Leatherneck every 45 days for reset training, before going back to their battalions.

SGT. JUSTIN SMITHWounded Warrior Regiment

The Wounded Warrior Regiment based out of Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., partnered with the Semper Fi Fund and D & M Cattle Company to host the four-day Wounded Warrior Cutting Horse Classic II in Nokesville, Va., recently.

With minimal riding experience, 10 Marines and sailors from Wounded Warrior Battalion West and WWBn-East learned how to saddle, care for and ride horses. The riders goal through the training was to successfully cut cattle while on horseback during the competition. Cutting is the equestrian sport of separating a cow from the herd, mim-icking a skill cattle herders use to treat cattle.

This is the second time Col. John L. Mayer, com-manding officer of the WWR, and retired Army Col. Don York, D & M Cattle owner, teamed up to for the program. Professional trainers and contenders in the Na-tional Cutting Horse Association came in to give these young men and women an accelerated learning experi-ence on the sport.

Mayer and York, both avid horsemen and military leaders, formed the Wounded Warrior Cutting Horse Classic to motivate and teach a skill to wounded, ill, and injured Marines and sailors.The classic presented the 10 riders the opportunity to learn the sport for three days, and gain the skills to compete against one another on the fourth and final day. The participants learned stall maintenance, brushing and washing horses, flag drills,

herding and basic riding. Riders were assigned to two divisions, amateur and non-professional. Division place-ment was based on how the riders preformed during pre-qualification runs. Of the 10 riders, four placed in the non-professional division.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Melissa Jamarillo, the lone sailor in the competition, was one of the four riders to qualify as a non-professional. Jamarillo had never ridden before the clinic and was extremely nervous on the first day. With the help of expert horsemen, such as Brian Wideman, Mo Smith and Jim McDonough, she was able to place second in her division. She fell behind Sgt. Israel Franco by just half a point.

McDonough made reference to the expertise of the SEE SADDLE 10A

East, West Wounded Warriors saddle up for classic title


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PFC. FRANKLIN E. MERCADO2nd Marine Logistics Group

Marines and sailors with 2nd Medical Battalion, Com-bat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group participated in a field exer-cise at Landing Zone Lark aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, recently.

The battalion used the time to reacquaint itself with a deployed environ-ment. The five-day exercise included patrols, simulated improvised explosive de-vice training, ambushes by insurgents and treating wounded patients for an ar-ray of injuries.

The training had an ex-tra sense of importance because of the amount of sailors who never deployed or participated in a field exercise, said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Figgeroa, a hospital corpsman and lead petty officer with the battalion operations section.

A lot of the sailors here havent been to the field, he said. Since its their first time in this type of environment, the training is critical.

The training was so crucial to the battalion, even Navy Capt. Cameron L. Waggoner, the commanding officer for 2nd Med. Bn., participated.

As the sailors waited for simulated casualties to arrive at their position, Waggoner fell to the ground with a fake snake bite. Once on the ground, he began to yell for help and wait-ed for assistance.

Corpsmen sprung to ac-tion and put their training to the test thoroughly and quickly checking their pa-tient for any weapons or con-traband. As soon as they fin-ished patting him down, the litter team transported their

simulated victim to a tent where all medical procedures were conducted.

You have to keep them on their feet one way or another, Waggoner said.

Though hes been the battal-ions commanding officer for a short period of time, hes made his presence felt, mentioned Figgeroa.

Since hes been here, weve seen hes very hands-on, he said. Not many other com-manders will fall to the ground and fake an injury for the pur-pose of the exercise.

The battalion began their training priming Company C for its deployment, scheduled for next year.

With their commanding officer spreading the hands-on attitude, the battalion will undoubtedly put forth their best effort to be ready to support their comrades in Afghanistan.

Field exercise sharpens sailors skills, assesses fi rst-timers

Photos by Pfc. Franklin E. Mercado

Sailors with 2nd Medical Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group tend to a simulated casualty during a fi eld exercise at Landing Zone Lark aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, recently. (Below) Sailors with 2nd Medical Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group dismount a simulated casualty from their Mobile Trauma Bay during a fi eld exercise at Landing Zone Lark aboard MCB Camp Lejeune, recently,. The battalion used the fi ve-day exercise to reacquaint itself with a deployed environment.

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CPL. MARCO MANCHA2nd Marine Division (Forward)

Nestled in the rolling mountains of Afghanistan near the Helmand River are the fighting warriors of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division (Forward). They battle the threat of a wan-ing insurgent force and bring peace to the local residents of Afghanistan one patrol, convoy and firefight at a time.

Within their ranks is a special group of Marines dedicated to keeping the battalions highest-ranking officer safe when he leaves the relative safety of the base. Marines with the Per-sonal Security Detachment for 1st Bn., 6th Marines, provide security for their commander, a particularly important task during Op-eration Eastern Storm.

The ongoing operation, dedicated to eliminating the insurgent threat along Route 611 from Sangin to Kajaki in the Upper Sangin Valley region, is proving successful as Marines have taken control of the area ahead of schedule.

The units battalion com-mander, Lt. Col. George Benson, wanted to see his Marines progress in person throughout the operation. His PSD made sure he was able to travel through the area of operations safely and comfortably.

I travel with my PSD everywhere I go, said Ben-son. They make sure I get where I need to go in the quickest, safest manner pos-sible. Having them is a great asset to this battalion.

The PSD is made up of a melting pot of Marines from different military occupational specialties. Although the majority of the 21 Marines are infan-trymen, they also have a corpsman, motor transport operators, a mechanic, an improvised explosive de-

vice detection dog and his handler and a radio opera-tor.

All the Marines play a vital role in protecting Ben-son, as well as any VIPs who visit their area of op-erations. Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Wetzold leads the PSD on every mission they do.

My guys have been outstanding throughout the deployment, said Wet-zold, the PSD commander for the unit. We all come from different backgrounds some even come from a different battalion but in the end, we have a job to do, and my guys do it well.

The PSD conducts con-voys up and down Route 611 almost every day now and have completed dozens of mounted and dismount-ed patrol missions. These hard-working warriors spend an average of 12 to 14 hours a day executing convoy missions, conduct-ing maintenance on their six combat vehicles, clean-ing weapons or planning.

Other Marines in the PSD, like Cpl. Joshua Johnson, take on several responsibilities. Johnson works as the radio opera-tor for the team and main-tains all communications systems on the vehicles, as well as the radios carried by the battalion command-er, sergeant major and the vehicle commanders.

I make sure I keep up the communications for the PSD (and) run radio checks before every mis-sion we head out on, said Johnson. I also check for any other communication problems, or if people have issues (providing) a report Im usually the duty ex-pert on that. I help some of the junior Marines do (proper reports via com-munication lines).

Something as simple as learning how to issue a proper casualty report can mean the difference

between life and death for any Marine on the battle-field. Having a knowledge-able person like Johnson to take care of communi-cations for the team really helps out the entire PSD, said Wetzold.

Wetzold and his team of Marines all agree they focus on protecting the battalion commander, but are very versatile as well. Theyve helped out on lo-gistics missions, transport-ed detainees and even pro-vided security overwatch for the units Company B, who inserted into the area via airborne assault in the initial stage of Operation Eastern Storm.

Johnson said he knows the PSD doesnt always get the coolest missions, but understands the im-portance of every Marine in the mission and knows other people depend on him for their safety.

We bust our butts ev-ery day to do our part and provide the best security for any Marine or other personnel that ride with us, said Johnson. We get them to where they need to

go, protect them along the way, and provide a secure presence for the Afghan people.

Operation Eastern Storm has cleared Route 611, making it safe for lo-cal residents, Afghan offi-cials and coalition forces. The PSDs average 30 mile-a-day trips along this route recently included an escort for the Kajaki Dis-trict governor, the battalion commander and the 2nd Marine Division (Fwd.) commanding general from the Kajaki Dam to the Ka-jaki Bazaar and back.

The Kajaki District gov-ernor, Sharif Udin, hadnt been to the bazaar in more than seven years because

of the stronghold the insur-gents had on the area.

Im proud of the things weve been able to accom-plish as a team out here, but Im especially proud of my guys, said Wetzold. I had only two weeks to work with my team before deploy-ing, and despite the small differences between them, they always seem to know when its time for business. I have full confidence in all of them and their abilities to get the job done.

Editors note: First Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, is currently assigned to Regimental Combat Team 8, 2nd Ma-rine Division (Forward)/

Task Force Leatherneck. Task Force Leatherneck serves as the ground com-bat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partner-ship with the Afghan National Security Forces and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to con-duct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeat-ing insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assump-tion of security respon-sibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.

Providing personal security in perilous placesHELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

Photos by Cpl. Marco Mancha

(Above) Gunnery Sgt. Jonathan Wetzold provides security during a recent dismounted patrol through the Kajaki Bazaar. (Left) Cpl. Anthony Stea looks back during a recent dismounted patrol to inspect a damaged vehicle.

Photo by Cpl. Marco ManchaLt. Col. George Benson (left), talks with Marines by the Kajaki Dam. His Personal Security Detachment ensures his safety throughout the area of operations.


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CPL. JEFF DREW2nd Marine Division (Forward)

The third day of the Nawa Victory Walk began early. Marines with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), woke as the sun rose, then filled up on energy bars for breakfast. They checked their equipment, refilled water containers, met up with their Afghan National Army counterparts, and headed for the front gate. The third day of the four-day, 30-mile patrol was in full swing. The battalion commander of 1st Bn., 9th Marines, Lt. Col. Tyler Zagurski, joined Afghan Lt. Col. Gul Ahmad, the commanding officer for 1st Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps, to continue their trek, meeting with local el-ders and Afghan residents along the way to promote confidence in Afghan Na-tional Security Forces.

The Marines aching shoulders and sore feet seemed to be a thing of the past, as they had grown accustomed to the weight and pace of the movement during the previous days of patrolling.

In the last two days, the Afghan soldiers and Ma-rines had seen a lot. On the first day, they moved hundreds of meters into the desert to aid local forces if necessary after hearing gun-fire in the distance, an event that highlighted the readi-ness of Afghan police to maintain security.

During the movement to contact (the enemy), I think the ANA and the Af-ghan Local Police did ex-cellent, said Sgt. Jeremy Cooney, the ground element commander for the patrol. I was impressed. They im-mediately set out flanking movement and got online and pushed out straight to-ward (the gunfire). They

didnt hesitate and they didnt shoot at anyone be-cause, at the time, we didnt know who was good and who was bad.

A groundbreaking cere-mony of a local health clinic marked the second day. Key leaders, including council members, local elders, and the district governor, arrived at the Loy Kolay Precinct, an Afghan security outpost, to cut a ceremonial ribbon and place the foundation bricks.

Morale was high as the group set out the third day, marked by a shorter dis-tance of eight kilometers.

As they exited the door that led to the surrounding town of Khalaj, Cooney took charge of his Marines, and they fell in line behind the ANA.

I think we are setting out to do what we intend-ed, said Cooney. The big-gest part of this was being able to go to the different (patrol bases) and let (the Afghan soldiers) see that their commanders are out here with them. The ANA and the Marines are walk-ing the streets and keeping it safe I think, so far, this has been a success.

As the ground element commander, Cooney is in charge of all Marines walk-ing in the patrol, taking charge of all security as-pects and ensuring coverage in all directions. His south-ern drawl matched with the surrounding sea of corn-fields and farms highlighted his southern upbringing, and he spoke of his family as the soldiers and Marines

walked down the dirt roads. He described his five chil-dren and how he couldnt wait to finish the mission and go back to the United States so he could go fishing and hunting and ride horses with them.

Nawas security stands on the cusp of transition to Afghan control, and as the Marines patrolled to the various patrol bases and outposts, Cooney spoke of some of the dis-tricts progress.

The people were pretty supportive of us when we got here, but I think weve been able to build on that relationship a lot, said Cooney. There are many more patrol bases being run by ANA than when we got here that, in itself, is a big accomplishment. (Afghans)

are starting to take care of security and do things themselves.

You reach a point in a place like Nawa where continued growth and progress is impossible until you take a step back and encourage your partners to fill the gap, said Zagurski.We wont let them fail. We havent let them fail. Weve watched them very careful-ly, and they have been very successful.

The ANA soldiers and Marines patrolled to Patrol Bases Luy Jolah, Jangeali, and Toor Ghar. At each stop, Afghan security forces wel-comed them, offering food and chai tea. From Toor Ghar, the Marines jumped into vehicles and moved to Patrol Base Kharaman, an abandoned mansion turned

into an outpost where they would sleep for the evening. With one day left on the scheduled patrol, the ser-vice members were excited. They tucked themselves into sleeping bags to fend off the dropping temperatures and fell asleep under the stars.

I couldnt be prouder of my men, said Cooney. They keep pushing on without complaint some have blisters, or their shoul-ders ache, but they dont show it.

Editors note: This is the third installment in a four-part series chroni-cling a trek across Nawa district called the Nawa Victory Walk, a four-day, 30-mile patrol by U.S. Marines and Afghan Na-tional Army soldiers.

Victory in Nawa: voice of progressHELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

Photo by Cpl. Jeff DrewSgt. Jeremy Cooney, a ground element commander during foot patrols, prepares to lead his Marines on patrol outside the town of Khalaj. Cooney, with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), was responsible for all dismounted Marines during the Nawa Victory Walk, a patrol across the district to promote confi dence in Afghan security forces.


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trainers, stating that it takes months to get people com-petition ready, while these Marines and sailors were able to train for three consecutive days and compete on the fourth.

The event received outstanding reviews from both the staff and participants. Cpl. Camilo Rojas, a rider from WWBn-West, said the competition was Good for my mind, body and spirit. Rojas is a rifleman who trans-ferred to WWBn-West from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.

Cpl. Sean Venezia, also from WWBn-West, said the competition was able to bring a sense of relief.

It was good therapy. It got us back into something we like and havent done in a while, said Venezia. It was a calming and relaxing experience and I would like to attend the next Wounded Warrior Cutting Horse Classic.

From the regimental staff point of view, Maj. Jeff Salzeider, the operations officer for WWR, said that the best part of the clinic was seeing the change in the Ma-rines and sailors and watching their confidence grow.

The competition concluded with Franco announced

as the champion for the non-professional division and Cpl. Noah Felding placing first in the amateur division. The day before the competition, Felding said he was a little apprehensive, but looked forward to the chal-lenge.

Ive never really rode like this before, its fun, said Felding. I was very excited to compete.

The WWR provides and facilitates non-medical care to combat and non-combat wounded, ill, and injured Marines and sailors attached to or in direct support of Marine units and their family members in order to as-sist them as they return to duty or transition to civilian life. The Regimental Headquarters element, located in Quantico, Va., commands the operations of two Wound-ed Warrior Battalions located at MCB Camp Pendleton, Calif. and MCB Camp Lejeune, and multiple detach-ments at locations around the globe.

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CAMP BASTION, AFGHANISTAN

Photo by Cpl. Meredith BrownAfter a Remembrance Day ceremony, different units in attendance laid wreaths to remember the fallen at Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Nov. 11.

Marines join UK partners for Remembrance Day ceremony CPL. MEREDITH BROWNII Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)

At the 11th hour on Nov. 11, 1918, the armistice was signed between the allied forces and Ger-many to end World War I. Today, the Nov. 11 serves as a national holiday in many of the allied countries throughout the world.

In the United Kingdom, the holiday is known as Remembrance Day, and it commemorates all uniformed men and women who

gave their lives in WWI and since. At Camp Bastion, Helmand prov-ince, hundreds of UK and other coalition forces gathered to mark the occasion with a remembrance ceremony.

This is our annual event to remember all the fallen soldiers, comrades from the great World War I all the way up to the recent conflicts, said Warrant Officer 1st Class Darren Edkins, garrison sergeant major for Camp Bastion. So it is our time to get together and reflect and remember person-

al people that weve lost ourselves and any of the soldiers that have been lost.

A two-minute moment of si-lence was held in remembrance of the roughly 20 million people who died in World War I and those who have died in following conflicts.

Wreaths were also placed at a memorial at the center of the for-mation by distinguished guests, including new UK Secretary of State for Defence, the Right Hon-orable Phillip Hammond.

For many of the troops in for-mation, the setting of the ceremo-ny kept the significance of the oc-casion fresh.

Being out here brings it a little more to home and because only last week we were here in this same spot at a service remembering our fallen comrade who was (killed in action) last week, said Edkins. So, to come together again this week on this day at this time to do the same, it just makes you think about a lot more because being out here we are actually remem-

bering people that we ourselves, within our own units right now, that have fallen in battle.

It is very significant for me be-cause I have thoroughly enjoyed the partnership that Ive had, especially with the British chap-lains here at Bastion, said Navy Capt. Steve Brown, chaplain for Regional Command Southwest. Weve had partnership and min-istry and Im happy to be a part of a ceremony honoring their war dead. It made me proud to be a part of it.

CPL. WALTER D. MARINO II2nd Marine Division

A group of teens received a chance to interact with Marines from Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Ex-peditionary Force, aboard Camp Guern-sey Army Air Field, Wyo., recently. In between training events, ANGLICO de-cided to put some time aside to give the teens a combat fitness test after learning the kids had a genuine interest in the Ma-rine Corps.

The teenagers were from the National Guard Youth Challenge Program, an organization that helps 16 to 18 year-old high school dropouts earn their high school diploma or GED. Fourteen percent of the graduates join the military and 28 percent continue their education.

The programs headquarters was locat-ed within a five-minute walk of where the

Marines were staying on base and occa-sionally some of the kids would walk over to talk to the Marines.

They would come up to us at the smoke pit and ask us questions, so I proposed the idea, ran it up the chain and it happened, said Lt. Geoffrey J. Zann, naval gunfire li-aison officer, 2nd ANGLICO. You never know what kind of impact that could have on them later on.

The CFT starts with a timed 880-yard run, moves into a two minute maximum set of 30-pound ammo-can shoulder presses and finishes with a maneuver un-der fire course which includes exercises such as low crawling, a casualty drag, a firemans carry and a sprint with an ammo can in each hand.

The intense test is designed to prepare Marines for combat situations, but for the kids it was a chance to experience the physical demands of the Marine Corps

and interact. Many of the teens had an in-terest in joining the service and jumped at the opportunity.

Its what I expected it wasnt easy, but I did better than I thought I would, said Coulston S. Spoonhunter, a nephew of a former Marine. I like this stuff. I like the structure and I want to be a Marine pretty bad. I just need to ask my family.

When the kids struggled with the inten-sity of the exercise, Marines encouraged them to push through and finish strong.

I think every kid that did the exercise had about four to seven Marines encour-aging them, said Zann.

One of the Marines helping conduct the CFT, said he thoroughly enjoyed pro-viding the teens with the experience.

I thought it was awesome they seemed to get a lot out of it. One of the kids told me, Marines are legit, said Capt. Jared S. Stokes, power control team

leader, 2nd ANGLICO, with a proud smile and chuckle. I thought that was the coolest thing. A lot of them would move from the encouragement. I saw this little kid that couldnt have been more than 105 pounds and he was cranking (ammo can lifts) out. I told him, you got this and he cranked out more of them. We got ques-tions at the end, like how long we had been in and one kid said, Theres Army strong and then theres you guys.

In time, these kids will graduate from the National Guard Youth Challenge pro-gram and whichever path they choose, whether military or not, they now know a little more about who Marines are.

It was a great experience seeing what they get to do, said Jacinto T. Zavala, who recently enlisted in the Wyoming Army National Guard. I have a high re-spect for Marines. I liked that they pushed us with positive motivation.

Teens from youth challenge program get Marine experience


SGT. JUSTIN J. SHEMANSKI2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward)

Recently during a break in his year-long tour to Afghanistan, Sgt. Jonathan Hill proudly walked across a stage aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., to claim the Marine Corps Leagues Sergeant Harry D. Myers Award.

The moment was his, but Hill, the air delivery chief with Landing Sup-port Company, 2nd Marine Logis-tics Group (Forward), noted during an interview back in his parachute loft aboard Camp Leatherneck Nov. 7, that it was a total team effort that got him there.

The award is bestowed annually upon an enlisted Marine within a combat service support element of the operational forces whose contri-butions have significantly impacted

operations and readiness within the unit assigned.

For 2nd MLG (Fwd.), Hill was their man.

After arriving in country last February, Hill took it upon himself to take an already solid support pro-gram - thanks to the efforts of his predecessors with 1st Air Delivery, based aboard MCB Camp Pendle-ton, Calif. - and increase its efficien-cy and tempo even further. The first changes were implemented after he made several visits to others in the parachute rigger community.

I looked into what the Army was doing here and also went to Kanda-har, Bagram and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, explained Hill.

Changes he introduced within his own unit included the transi-tion from stationary to assembly line-style rigging and modifica-tions to the preparation phase of

upcoming drops. In doing so, his team has doubled the amount of drops completed when compared to previous months.

My predecessor with 1st Air De-livery had a lot of the same things in mind before they left, but just didnt have the time to push through them, he said. We had the time to turn their intent into action.

Hill noted that his team has great-ly increased the survival rate of their drops due to changes in the packing process. They have also cut the load-ing and assembly time of a Contain-er Delivery System bundle from 20 minutes to a mere 10.

In perhaps one of their grandest accomplishments to date, they have dropped nearly three million pounds of food, water and ammunition to frontline troops. This includes direct support to reconnaissance Marines as well as elements of the 2nd Ma-

rine Division and Georgias 33rd Light Infantry Battalion as they con-duct combat and security operations in Helmand province.

Just a few months remain in his deployment, but the work ethic that prompted Hills superiors to recom-mend him for the Myers Award is still evident. Three million is an am-bitious number in any context, but for the Marines of 2nd Air Delivery, the sky is the limit. They would still like to clear three and a half million pounds of drops before redeploying, said Hill.

It was an honor to represent the MLG in Quantico, said Hill, who also made note of the fact that he was the only Marine present at the awards presentation who actually flew in from Afghanistan.

But I enjoy my job and was just doing what any Marine would do. We do our best at all times.

Hill named Marine Corps League Award recipient CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

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A CFC Participant provided as a public service.

Marines, Kajaki locals reconcile during holidayCPL. JAMES CLARK 2nd Marine Division (Forward)

In celebration of Eid al-Adha, an Islamic holiday, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), and Afghan National Security Forces took steps to foster ties with the local citizens of Kajaki Sofla.

The area had seen little evidence of the Afghan government in the past six years, and until the out-set of Operation Eastern Storm, served as a safe ha-ven and logistical hub for insurgent forces in northern Helmand province.

The holiday, which spans multiple days, is a religious celebration with a focus on making amends with en-emies, explained Sgt. Chris Gonzalez, civil affairs team chief with 4th Civil Affairs Group in support of Com-pany B, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines.

Gonzalez, along with his team, joined members of the Afghan Uniformed Police in giving away rice and beans purchased from the Kajaki Sofla Bazaar. When you give rice and beans as opposed to money, you show you are respect-ing their wishes, and their culture, explained Gon-zalez, addressing concerns brought up by the locals that the gap between the two cultures is an obstacle to overcome before there can be true cooperation be-tween coalition forces, and the local populace.

Its one of the things they ask us to do. Acknowl-edging and respecting cul-ture (is) one of the things the children and elders alike have repeatedly asked us to do to, said Gonzalez.

Opting to donate food in lieu of money serves another purpose, Gonza-lez explained. Money can flood an area, and inevita-bly bring forth a landslide of short term benefits, but what happens when the strings tighten on the coin purse, when the money

stops coming? Instead, civil affairs personnel like Gon-zalez focus on high impact, low income projects, where a smaller amount of money can go a longer way.

We can give them money, but not if you look at setting them up for long-term success, said Gonza-lez. Were looking at the long term goal of setting up processes. A good example is the canal project we are working on. Its supposed to help 4,000 families and all were doing is supplying a tractor and a few other supplies. It costs minimal money and will have a high impact.

Civil projects like the construction of new ca-nals and irrigation systems, wells and other forms of infrastructure form the bed-rock for success in the area, but the pillars come from establishing strong ties be-tween the local citizens and the local police the one consistent representation of the Afghan government the people in Kajaki Sofla have.

The relationship be-tween Marines and the populace is important, but for long-term stabil-ity the relationship be-tween ANSF and the lo-cal populace is critical, said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, and mem-bers of the Police Advi-sory Team, tasked with supporting their Afghan counterparts, hope by hav-ing the AUP participate in Eid, give away food to local children, and interact with shop keepers and custom-ers at the bazaar, that these bonds will be forged.

Were trying to put an AUP face on everything, said Lance Cpl. Justin Blosser, a police adviser. They have to learn to do it on their own. We took that first step, then used AUP counterparts so he could put their face on what were doing. You have to un-derstand that its not our house, its theirs, and were trying to build relationships on both sides.

HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN


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LejeuneLejeuneSportsSportsCommunity Fun Run

Families exercise together|4Bun Runmmuniiittty Fu

Hampstead race offers something for all ages

Photos by Jessie Heath(Above) A large infl atable turkey acts as the centerpiece for the Turkey Trot 8K at the Hampstead Kiwanis Park, Saturday. (Left) Steve Schmid was the fi rst runner to cross the fi nish line in the 8K portion of the race. Schmid completed the race in less than 30 minutes and crossed the fi nish line more than 20 seconds ahead of the second place runner. (Below) Runners set out on for the 8K portion of the Turkey Trot, Saturday, at the Hampstead Kiwanis Park. The Turkey Trot featured an 8K race, two-mile fun run and a half-mile kids sprint.

JESSIE HEATHSports editor

On your mark, get set, trot.More than 500 participants joined

together in the Hampstead Kiwanis Park to trot their way across the finish line, Saturday.

The 4th annual Turkey Trot, part of Marine corps Base Camp Lejeunes Grand Prix race series, is an example of thought put into action.

When Dale DePue, the Turkey Trot race director, and her husband took part in a race in Wilmington, DePue noticed that many of the participants were from

the Hampstead area, which, at the time, did not have a single long-distance race on its com-munity event calendar.

Four years later, DePue has put togeth-er one of the most well-attended races in the coastal Carolina region.

I started thinking of a way to get a race in the Hampstead area and I wanted to use the Kiwanis Club Park, said DePue. I made a proposal to them and they liked it, so we started working together.

Featuring three options, the Turkey Trot lends itself to all ages. The 8K race option winds runners through a scenic

neighborhood route while the two-mile fun run gives less-adventur-ous runners and walk-ers a chance to enjoy the Hampstead Kiwanis Park scenery. Children under the age of nine participated in the half-mile kids sprint on the

paved path within the safety of the park.The two-mile race started at the same

time as the 8K did, said DePue. We started the half-mile kids sprint to help give the kids something else to do and another way to get exercise.

As participants turned into the Hamp-stead Kiwanis Park, it was clear that DePue and her volunteers were expecting a big turnout. Volunteers in the parking lot helped strategically park cars to avoid anybody from being blocked in and a fire truck parked along the roadside, ready to block the stretch of road that the 8K run-ners would be on.

Registration lines stretched out of the picnic area where volunteers quickly filed registration forms and put together race goodie bags and stretched around the edge of the concessions area.

SEE TROT 7B

THE GLOBE, CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. 2B NOVEMBER 23, 2011

If at first you dont succeed, try again. If you dont succeed a second time, the third times a charm.

What happens if you dont succeed the fifth time you try? At that point, most people would just give up and forget about trying to accomplish whatever they had set out to do.

For high school senior, Christian Bergeron, giv-ing up was simply not an option. During the 5A boys state cross country championship, Bergeron collapsed 25 yards from the finish line. Unseason-able heat and humidity contributed to the exhaus-tion and dehydration that caused the athlete to collapse several times be-fore finally giving up and crawling toward the finish line in a last-ditch effort to finish the last race of his high school career.

When Bergeron col-lapsed, he was 13th in the race. By the time he got to the finish line, he had fall-en to 39th. At that point, it wasnt about winning or calculating his total race time it was just about crossing the finish line.

According to Bergerons teammates, his dedication to finishing the race was nothing short of what they expected from him. Known as someone who would do anything for his team, Bergerons persever-ance was nothing short of a reflection of the person-ality he carries in other areas of his life.

When asked about their teammate, members of Bergerons cross coun-try team used him as an example of what it meant to stand for a team. The honor and respect he had for cross country, paired

with the courage to push through his pain and frustrations to get to the finish line and his com-mitment to not let himself or

his teammates down, car-ried him across the finish line.

The values that define athletes like Bergeron and tennis pro Rafael Nadal, who competed in Wimble-don despite a serious foot injury, are exemplified on a daily basis by those serv-ing in the Marine Corps.

Honor, courage and commitment are non-ne-gotiable and are expected to be upheld by every person who stands for The Eagle, Globe and Anchor.

It is honor that holds athletes to a higher standard than the average person. In the same way, honor binds Marines to high moral and ethical standards.

Both athletes and Marines are expected to show the utmost respect for those around them. They are to earn the titles bestowed upon them, whether it is team captain or staff sergeant by show-ing respect and honor for those surrounding them.

Marines hold each other accountable for their actions and do not skirt away from doing what must be done. Any athlete looking to prove that he honors his team must do

the same. He must cling to personal and professional integrity and instill the same high values within their teammates.

Courage is the ability to work through ones fear. According to the Marine Corps core values, cour-age is honor being put into action. It is the physical manifestation of the honor Marines have for them-selves and those around them.

Whether shown through their valor and altruistic bravery in combat situations or their willingness to go the extra mile for their comrades, Marines demonstrate the importance of courage in all situations.

For athletes, courage has a similar meaning. While courage may not show itself in gallantry in the midst of combat, it does, as exemplified by Bergeron, show itself in the ability to move past pain and obstacles to reach the goal outlined at the beginning of each challenge.

Commitment to a cause is not something that can be faked. It must be genu-ine in order to be effective. Nobody does commitment better than The Few, The Proud.

Broken down into two parts, commitment is selfless determination and relentless pursuit of excel-lence in all areas of life. Marines show their com-mitment to their country and their Corps every day with their selfless actions.

Athletes who are searching for the true defi-

nition of what dedication and commitment really mean look no further than the Marine Corps. When nothing else remains, Marines push through on dedication and willpower to succeed - to be the best of the best.

Athletes who wish to illustrate this kind of commitment must first be willing to set aside distrac-tions and personal feelings for the greater picture.

They must be willing to become selfless and humble leaders who do not give anything less than 110 percent of their daily effort.

They must leave ev-erything on the field and spare no expense when it comes to working for the betterment of their team.

An example for the rest of the world, the Marine Corps models what honor, courage and commitment means. They uphold them-selves to the highest moral standards, shine brightly in the darkness and press for-ward, no matter who else may be falling back. They are the best examples of what it takes to become the best of the best.

When it comes to seek-ing out the true definitions of honor, courage and commitment, I can think of nowhere better to look than to the worlds most elite fighting force. The Marine Corps shines as an example for the rest of the world - from the high school runner who crawls across the finish line to the exhausted football quarter-back in double overtime, and everyone in between.

Sandy Paws Fun RunDec. 3, 11:15 a.m.Join other pooches and their owners for a one-mile fun run and walk at Onslow Beach Offi cers Pavilion aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. This event is open to all authorized Department of Defense identifi cation card holders and their guests. All dogs must be kept on a leash and have up-to-date vaccinations before they can participate. All dogs who arrive in costume will be registered for a gift basket giveaway. For more information, visit www.mccslejeune.com.

Reindeer Trot 5KDec. 10, 9 a.m.Join other families at the Tarawa Terrace Community Center for a free family fun run. This run features a walk and run option and is open to all authorized Department of Defense identifi cation card holders. For more information, visit www.mccslejeune.com.

Battle in the South 2 mixed martial arts championshipDec. 10, 4 p.m.Mixed martial artists from all over North and South Carolina will come together for a chance to win the Battle in the South 2 Mixed Martial Arts title in Jacksonville. The tournament will feature many local fi ghters, exhibition fi ghts and title bouts. For more information on the Battle in the South 2, visit http://mmasportsnet.com.

Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission Hall of Fame nominationsDec. 15The Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission is accepting nominations for the Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2012. All nominees must have a minimum of two years of athletic achievement while residing in Onslow County, attended at least two years of high school in Onslow County, or been stationed at MCB Camp Lejeune or a surrounding installation at the time of their achievement. The deadline for submission is Dec. 15. For more guidelines or to nominate somebody for the sports hall of fame, visit www.jacksonvilleonslowsports.org.

Jingle Bell Run 5KDec. 17, 9 a.m.The third annual Jingle Bell Run is a celebratory holiday event that takes place at Wrightsville Beach every holiday season. The course will be run around the John Nesbitt loop and North Channel drive. Participants are encouraged to wear holiday-themed costumes. Runners, walkers and rollers are welcome. For more information, visit www.wbmuseum.com or call 256-2569.

WEDNESDAYHigh tide 5:13 a.m. 5:32 p.m.Low tide 11:42 a.m. 11:32 p.m.

THURSDAYHigh tide 6:07 a.m. 6:26 p.m.Low tide 12:37 p.m.

FRIDAYHigh tide 6:59 a.m. 7:19 p.m. Low tide 12:24 a.m. 1:30 p.m.

SATURDAYHigh tide 7:51 a.m. 8:12 p.m.Low tide 1:16 a.m. 2:22 p.m.

SUNDAYHigh tide 8:42 a.m. 9:05 p.m.Low tide 2:09 a.m. 3:14 p.m.

MONDAYHigh tide 9:34 a.m. 10:00 p.m.Low tide 3:02 p.m. 4:06 p.m.

TUESDAYHigh tide 10:27 a.m. 10:57 p.m.Low tide 3:57 p.m. 4:59 p.m.

WEDNESDAYHigh tide 11:20 a.m. 11:57 p.m.Low tide 4:55 a.m. 5:52 p.m.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationFor more information about the New River Inlet tides or other

locations, visit http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov.

NEW RIVER INLETTIDE TABLES

OnslowOffshoreOffshore

With Dr. Bogus

Weapons Training Battalion: High Shooter, Stone Bay

Oct. 31 - Nov. 41st Lt. Bo J. Fisher10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine DivisionCombined score of 345 for tables one and twoAlpha Range

Committed to the callAthletes can learn from Marine Corps values

Grandpa knows troutDr. Bogus shares a Thanksgiving tale

Thanksgiving is a holiday that brings together several of my favorite things. What can be better than family, friends, good food, good weather and good trout fishing?

In honor of Thanksgiving, I wrote a story about two traditions that go hand in hand in my family on Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving meal and trout fishing.

On a warm Sunday in late November, just before Thanksgiving, I was fishing about one mile up from Bogue Inlet. Id spent most of the morning fishing the Bogue Inlet hole for spotted sea trout, using trout-MirrOlures and grubs to secure my catches.

Late in the morning, after Id been fishing for a few hours, two families in pickup trucks drove into my field of vision and joined me. One of

the men in the families came over to introduce himself to me. He told me his name was Mike and he worked at Bogue Field over by the mainland.

Mike and I exchanged pleasantries he told

me how he frequented Bogue Inlet with his wife and their friends and how his grandpa often tagged along for some good fishing. We boasted about the big catches we had found at Bogue Inlet and how we loved that the inlet was a breeding ground for drum and trout. After a few minutes of conversation, we then went our separate ways.

Mikes grandpa, 82 years old, had been fishing Bogue Inlet for most of the 20th century. He was dressed for trout fishing, from his hip-hugging boots hooked at his waist to the several layers of plaid flannel shirts and baseball cap that he always wore.

Grandpa had two rods, one sand spike, a chair and a pile of shrimp with him and it was clear that he was ready for a full afternoon of trout fishing. Once grandpa baited his

hook, he placed his rod over his right shoulder and proceeded to walk slowly down the beach. When he reached the spot he had deemed worthy of fishing, he would cast the shrimp with an expert throw and turn his back on the incoming wave with the confidence of his 82 years. Without missing a beat, he placed his rod over his right shoulder and retreated back up the sandy slope, cranking his reel in reverse. Once he reached his destination, he lowered himself into his chair, placed his rod across his lap and waited patiently.

The afternoon turned quiet and we fished in silence for a while, before grandpas rod suddenly became alive. Grandpa started to crank in the line, very slowly, letting whatever was on the other end lead him in their strange dance. Finally, Mikes wife yelled, Gramps got a fish.

Sure enough, grandpa continued to crank, reeling in a silver, black speckled trout that was clearly no match for his expert hand.

With grandpa in full control, focusing on doing the same thing I was sure hed done 1,000 times before, the fish emerged from the surf and didnt fight as grandpa pulled it up to his chair and took hold of it with one hand.

Excited by grandpas catch, Mike and his wife, along with their friends, quickly grabbed up the trout and plucked it off of grandpas line. They placed it in the cooler in the back of one of the pickup trucks and took turns patting grandpa on the head in recognition of his triumph. Without looking up, grandpa nodded and sighed in acknowledgment or their affection. Then, without wait, he re-baited his hook, walked himself back down the sandy slope and repeated the process that had caught him his first trout.

globe november 23, 2011

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