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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (MCN - 11/9/2011) — A group
of teens received a chance to interact with Marines from Air-Naval
Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, aboard Camp
Guernsey Army Air Field, Wyo., recently. In between training events,
ANGLICO decided to put some time aside to give the teens a combat
fitness test after learning the kids had a genuine interest in the
Marine Corps.
2nd Marine Division
Marines with 2nd Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, give teens from the National Guard Youth Challenge Program a combat fitness test aboard Camp Guernsey Army Air Field, Wyo.
on Oct. 20, 2011. The exercise involved a two minute maximum set of 30-pound ammo-can shoulder presses and finish with a maneuver under fire course.
Photo by USMC Cpl. Kevin R. Smith
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The teenagers were from the National Guard Youth Challenge Program,
an organization that helps 16-18 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 program's headquarters was located within a five-minute walk of
where the Marines were staying on base and occasionally 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 liaison officer, 2nd ANGLICO. “You never know
what kind of impact that could have on them later on.”
The
combat fitness test starts with a timed 880-yard run, moves into a
two minute maximum set of 30-pound ammo-can shoulder presses and |
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finishes with a maneuver under fire course – which includes
exercises such as low crawling, a casualty drag, a fireman's 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 with the U.S military. Many of the teens had an
interest in joining the service and jumped at the
opportunity.
“It's what I expected, it wasn't easy,
but I did better than I thought I would,” said
Coulston S. Spoonhunter, an 18 year-old 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 intensity of the
exercise, Marines encouraged them to push through and finish
strong.
“I think for every kid that did the exercise
had about four-to-seven Marines encouraging them,” said Zann.
One of the Marines helping conduct the CFT said he
thoroughly enjoyed providing the teens 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 couldn't
have been more than 105 pounds and he was cranking them out.
I told him, you got this and he cranked out more of them. We
got questions at the end, like how long we had been in and
one kid said, ‘there's Army strong and then there's you
guys.'”
In time, these kids will graduate from the
National Guard Youth Challenge program and whichever path
they chose, 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 Army National guard. “I
have a high respect for Marines. I liked that they pushed us
with positive motivation.”
More photos available below
By USMC Cpl. Walter D. Marino II
2nd Marine Division
Marine Corps News
Copyright 2011
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