thedrifter
06-08-04, 07:11 AM
RS NY poolees battle it out in Central Park
Submitted by: 1st Marine Corps District
Story Identification #: 200467193136
Story by Staff Sgt. Amanda Rose Hay
MARINE CORPS RECRUITING STATION NEW YORK(June 7, 2004) -- War cries and loud chants filled the air as 450 poolees from Recruiting Station New York competed in the annual field meet May 29 in Central Park to determine who had the toughest poolees around.
The 14-recruiting substations from New York City and Long Island set the perimeter for the day-long battle which included pull-ups, crunches, push ups, fireman’s carry, tug-of-war, dizzy-izzy and a two-mile relay race.
Sergeant Major Fenton Reese, RS NY sergeant major, set the spirit of the day. “You are here to develop camaraderie, teamwork and espirt de corps,” said Reese. “As a Marine you will do whatever it takes to win; that’s what Marines do, we win. In order to do that, you will need guts, heart and courage. You will need each other and to work as a team. And today you will learn that only one thing is better than pain -- extreme pain.”
Upon conclusion of his remarks, he turned the RS over to Major J.J. Dill, RS NY commanding officer. Dill continued, “You are already part of a winning team; the team of RS New York. Once you graduate, you’ll be part of the country’s winning team; the world’s finest. In order to become one of us, you must give 110 percent at all times, especially today. Your team is counting on you. This is where it begins; you start earning it right here.”
The competition began with the pull-up challenge. The recruiters cranked up the motivation and the poolees sat up straight and held their heads high as they cheered on their teammates.
“The more support you get, the more you can give,” said Nicholas Maugery, 17-year-old poolee and native of West Islip, N.Y. “You’ll find it in you if you know others are depending on you and are behind you. That’s why it’s so important to encourage each other and build each other up no matter how strong or weak someone may be.”
“There’s morale in everyone here,” said Patrick Merone, 17-year-old poolee and native of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, N.Y. “We’re all competing, but we all know we’re here together and that’s what’s important. We believe in the same thing and chose to serve and protect our country together.”
At the conclusion of the day’s events, medals were handed out to the top RSS for each event. RSS Patchogue took home the first place Sergeant Major’s Cup for the third straight year. Finishing second was RSS Brooklyn and third was RSS Jamaica.
John Watkins, a 17-year-old poolee from RSS Patchogue, said winning this award wasn’t an option. “They’ve been preparing us for this event for a couple months now. Since Patchogue won for the past two years, we have a reputation to live up to; we were not going to be the ones to lose it.”
Although the spirit of the competition was alive and well throughout the day, according to several poolees, the most valuable lessons learned were simply seeing the Marines of the RS be Marines.
An additional highlight of the event being held during Fleet Week at Central Park was the former Marine presence.
One of the poolees, Michael Megara, who left for recruit training two days after the event said this was perfect send off to have the veterans show support. The 21-year-old poolee and native of Wading River, N.Y. said “It was an honor to have veterans come up to me and shake my hand. I really feel like I’m becoming part of something that’s bigger than myself and joining a family.”
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20046720112/$file/tuglow.jpg
Poolee Vianney Ramirez, the guide of RSS Manhattan’s 60 poolees, leads the way for his team as they tough it out during the Tug of War. (pictured from front to back are Vianney Ramirez, Mark King, Tito Rodriguez, Anthony Rodriguez, Christian Ramos and Mario Cabellero) Ramirez, a 19-year-old graduate of Norman Thomas High School in Manhattan and freshman at Dowling College Oakdale, N.Y., joined the Delayed Entry Program in March to serve his country. About 450 poolees of Recruiting Station New York gathered to compete for bragging rights at the annual poolee field meet May 29 in Central Park. Photo by: SSgt. A.R. Hay
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20046720276/$file/pulllow.jpg
Poolee Michael Megara, 21-year-old native of Wading River, N.Y, gave out a war cry as he did pull up for the RSS Patchogue team. Megara, who recent graduated college with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from State University of New York in Stony Brook, shipped to recruit training at Parris Island two days after the event. About 450 poolees of Recruiting Station New York gathered to compete for bragging rights at the annual poolee field meet May 29 in Central Park. Photo by: SSgt. A.R. Hay
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20046720914/$file/pushlow.jpg
Poolee Zenon Jimenez, senior at Aviation High School in Queens, N.Y., represented RSS Ridgewood well as he kept going while others quit. Jimenez joined the Delayed Entry Program four days before the field meet. About 450 poolees of Recruiting Station New York gathered to compete for bragging rights at the annual poolee field meet May 29 in Central Park. Photo by: SSgt. A.R. Hay
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/F9704AA31483A1E285256EAC00813C76?opendocument
The Drifter's Wife
Ellie
Submitted by: 1st Marine Corps District
Story Identification #: 200467193136
Story by Staff Sgt. Amanda Rose Hay
MARINE CORPS RECRUITING STATION NEW YORK(June 7, 2004) -- War cries and loud chants filled the air as 450 poolees from Recruiting Station New York competed in the annual field meet May 29 in Central Park to determine who had the toughest poolees around.
The 14-recruiting substations from New York City and Long Island set the perimeter for the day-long battle which included pull-ups, crunches, push ups, fireman’s carry, tug-of-war, dizzy-izzy and a two-mile relay race.
Sergeant Major Fenton Reese, RS NY sergeant major, set the spirit of the day. “You are here to develop camaraderie, teamwork and espirt de corps,” said Reese. “As a Marine you will do whatever it takes to win; that’s what Marines do, we win. In order to do that, you will need guts, heart and courage. You will need each other and to work as a team. And today you will learn that only one thing is better than pain -- extreme pain.”
Upon conclusion of his remarks, he turned the RS over to Major J.J. Dill, RS NY commanding officer. Dill continued, “You are already part of a winning team; the team of RS New York. Once you graduate, you’ll be part of the country’s winning team; the world’s finest. In order to become one of us, you must give 110 percent at all times, especially today. Your team is counting on you. This is where it begins; you start earning it right here.”
The competition began with the pull-up challenge. The recruiters cranked up the motivation and the poolees sat up straight and held their heads high as they cheered on their teammates.
“The more support you get, the more you can give,” said Nicholas Maugery, 17-year-old poolee and native of West Islip, N.Y. “You’ll find it in you if you know others are depending on you and are behind you. That’s why it’s so important to encourage each other and build each other up no matter how strong or weak someone may be.”
“There’s morale in everyone here,” said Patrick Merone, 17-year-old poolee and native of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, N.Y. “We’re all competing, but we all know we’re here together and that’s what’s important. We believe in the same thing and chose to serve and protect our country together.”
At the conclusion of the day’s events, medals were handed out to the top RSS for each event. RSS Patchogue took home the first place Sergeant Major’s Cup for the third straight year. Finishing second was RSS Brooklyn and third was RSS Jamaica.
John Watkins, a 17-year-old poolee from RSS Patchogue, said winning this award wasn’t an option. “They’ve been preparing us for this event for a couple months now. Since Patchogue won for the past two years, we have a reputation to live up to; we were not going to be the ones to lose it.”
Although the spirit of the competition was alive and well throughout the day, according to several poolees, the most valuable lessons learned were simply seeing the Marines of the RS be Marines.
An additional highlight of the event being held during Fleet Week at Central Park was the former Marine presence.
One of the poolees, Michael Megara, who left for recruit training two days after the event said this was perfect send off to have the veterans show support. The 21-year-old poolee and native of Wading River, N.Y. said “It was an honor to have veterans come up to me and shake my hand. I really feel like I’m becoming part of something that’s bigger than myself and joining a family.”
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20046720112/$file/tuglow.jpg
Poolee Vianney Ramirez, the guide of RSS Manhattan’s 60 poolees, leads the way for his team as they tough it out during the Tug of War. (pictured from front to back are Vianney Ramirez, Mark King, Tito Rodriguez, Anthony Rodriguez, Christian Ramos and Mario Cabellero) Ramirez, a 19-year-old graduate of Norman Thomas High School in Manhattan and freshman at Dowling College Oakdale, N.Y., joined the Delayed Entry Program in March to serve his country. About 450 poolees of Recruiting Station New York gathered to compete for bragging rights at the annual poolee field meet May 29 in Central Park. Photo by: SSgt. A.R. Hay
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20046720276/$file/pulllow.jpg
Poolee Michael Megara, 21-year-old native of Wading River, N.Y, gave out a war cry as he did pull up for the RSS Patchogue team. Megara, who recent graduated college with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from State University of New York in Stony Brook, shipped to recruit training at Parris Island two days after the event. About 450 poolees of Recruiting Station New York gathered to compete for bragging rights at the annual poolee field meet May 29 in Central Park. Photo by: SSgt. A.R. Hay
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20046720914/$file/pushlow.jpg
Poolee Zenon Jimenez, senior at Aviation High School in Queens, N.Y., represented RSS Ridgewood well as he kept going while others quit. Jimenez joined the Delayed Entry Program four days before the field meet. About 450 poolees of Recruiting Station New York gathered to compete for bragging rights at the annual poolee field meet May 29 in Central Park. Photo by: SSgt. A.R. Hay
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/F9704AA31483A1E285256EAC00813C76?opendocument
The Drifter's Wife
Ellie