Sailor Finds Unique Way To Improve Marine Morale
(January 9, 2010) |
|
|
Petty Officer 3rd Class, Richard Mensah, a religious programmer for 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, stands next to a morale banner, sent to 2nd CEB through their family readiness officer Tania Tolliver. Mensah recorded over 40 videos of Marines, during the holiday season, and sent them to each of their families. The idea started from the United Through Reading Program, where Marines would read stories to their children on video. The program was expanded by Mensah
when he opened it to all Marines. |
|
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan (1/4/2010) — In
Afghanistan high morale can be as necessary, and
useful as weapons. Morale is defined as the
mental and emotional condition of an individual
or group, with regard to the function or tasks
at hand. Therefore, while one may have the
capability to fight with low morale, one may not
have the drive.
“I honestly believe morale is everything. Once
you have that clear mind free of worries, and
emotional problems, it's easier to do your job,”
said Petty Officer 3rd Class, Richard Mensah, a
religious programmer for 2nd Combat Engineer
Battalion. “When your morale is high, you can
enjoy what you're doing.”
In the months leading to 2nd Combat Engineer
Battalion's deployment to Afghanistan, Mensah
discovered the United Through Reading program,
which donated materials for Marines to make
videos of themselves reading to their children.
During the video shoot, Mensah draped a
camouflage |
|
blanket and tied it between two poles for a background, adjusted his tripod, and
readied his video camera. “Just press the white button when you're done,” said
Mensah, before exiting to give the Marine privacy. |
|
“When it was my turn I did all kinds of stuff for my
daughter to make her laugh, said Cpl. James A. Pabey, a
motor transport operator for 2nd CEB. “My wife and daughter
watch it every time they miss me. I figured it was going to
be like the phone. But as soon as I started reading the book
to my daughter I started crying. We have phone and email but
when they can actually see your face and expression, it
brings their hopes up.”
Mensah opened the program to Marines who wanted to send
videos to any of their loved ones, so that they could send
other types of messages as well.
“There's this song I wrote in boot camp that I used to sing
to my wife, and I sang it to her in the video,” said Pabey,
a Ponce, Puerto Rico native. “When I talked to her, she said
it reminded her of memories, and made her cry.”
“This meant a lot,” said Cpl. Juan A. Blanco, a motor
transport operator for 2nd CEB. “It was good to send one to
my mom and daughter. They want to see your appearance, and
if you look healthy. They said my daughter watched it five
times. She likes the part where I give here a hug.”
Over the holiday season approximately 40 videos were done.
What started as a way for Marines to read to their children
had expanded into something bigger.
“I think the process has been a success. When the families
get to see them, not just on the phone, they get a little
bit of their presence around,” said Mensah, a Ghana native.
“Most of our videos were done over the holidays. So it
wasn't just a morale boost for the Marines, but for their
families too. It makes me happy to see Marines happy.”
CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan — In Afghanistan, high morale can be
as necessary and useful as weapons. Morale is defined as the
mental and emotional condition of an individual or group,
with regard to the function or tasks at hand. Therefore,
while one may have the capability to fight with low morale,
one may not have the drive.
“I honestly believe morale is everything. Once you have that
clear mind free of worries, and emotional problems, it's
easier to do your job,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class,
Richard Mensah, a religious programmer for 2nd Combat
Engineer Battalion. “When your morale is high, you can enjoy
what you're doing.”
In the months leading to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion's
deployment to Afghanistan, Mensah discovered the United
Through Reading program, which donated materials for Marines
to make videos of themselves reading to their children.
During the video shoot, Mensah draped a camouflage blanket
and tied it between two poles for a background, adjusted his
tripod, and readied his video camera. “Just press the white
button when you're done,” said Mensah, before exiting to
give the Marine privacy.
“When it was my turn I did all kinds of stuff for my
daughter to make her laugh, said Cpl. James A. Pabey, a
motor transport operator for 2nd CEB. “My wife and daughter
watch it every time they miss me. I figured it was going to
be like the phone. But as soon as I started reading the book
to my daughter I started crying. We have phone and email but
when they can actually see your face and expression, it
brings their hopes up.”
Mensah opened the program to Marines who wanted to send
videos to any of their loved ones, so that they could send
other types of messages as well.
“There's this song I wrote in boot camp that I used to sing
to my wife, and I sang it to her in the video,” said Pabey,
a Ponce, Puerto Rico native. “When I talked to her, she said
it reminded her of memories, and made her cry.”
“This meant a lot,” said Cpl. Juan A. Blanco, a motor
transport operator for 2nd CEB. “It was good to send one to
my mom and daughter. They want to see your appearance, and
if you look healthy. They said my daughter watched it five
times. She likes the part where I give here a hug.”
Over the holiday season, approximately 40 videos were done.
What started as a way for Marines to read to their children
had expanded into something bigger.
“I think the process has been a success. When the families
get to see them, not just on the phone, they get a little
bit of their presence around,” said Mensah, a Ghana native.
“Most of our videos were done over the holidays. So it
wasn't just a morale boost for the Marines, but for their
families too. It makes me happy to see Marines happy.” | |
Article and photo by USMC LCpl. Walter Marino
1st Marine Division's Regimental Combat Team 7
Copyright 2009
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
Comment on this article |
|
