thedrifter
03-11-05, 06:58 AM
Poolees hit slopes, gain camaraderie from experience
Submitted by: 1st Marine Corps District
Story Identification #: 20053910453
Story by Staff Sgt. Ken Tinnin
RECRUITING STATION PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (Feb. 12, 2005) -- More than 40 Recruiting Substation Waltham, Mass., poolees, their parents and guests, as well as Recruiting Station Portsmouth senior leaders, Commanding Officer Maj. T. Shane Tomko and Sgt. Maj. Michael Allen, turned out to try their hand at cross-country skiing recently at the Weston Ski Track in Weston, Mass.
The event was RSS Waltham’s monthly pool event and was orchestrated by RSS Waltham Staff Noncommissioned-Officer-In-Charge Gunnery Sgt. Wright and Weston High School Cross-Country Ski Coach Mike Farney, a former Marine Corps Captain.
“Coach Farney read an article the Boston Globe did on our Pool Program,” said Wright. “He said he would like to do something for my Pool Program at the ski track in Weston, or with the cross country ski team he coached. Coach Farney arranged everything to where the event was free.”
Many of the poolees had never been skiing before and enjoyed not just the skiing, but also the camaraderie of hanging out with other poolees.
“It was a great experience,” said poolee James Pine, 17, from Newton, Mass. “I really enjoyed the teamwork and the opportunity to talk with other poolees.”
Shane Makary, 18, of Stow, Mass., agreed with Pine and said he also enjoyed the camaraderie of the other poolees, as well as having the other Marines around too.
“I joined the Marines because they are the best,” said Makary. “They are the hardest club to get into.”
Daniel Badwell, 18, from Maynard, Mass, who leaves for recruit training July 11, said he really enjoyed competing against the other poolees and Marines who were there.
Although the poolees had a good time, the main purpose of the event, as with all pool events, was to prepare the poolees for recruit training.
“Pool events are very important,” said Wright. “They instill a team mentality. We have poolees who serve as guides and squad leaders. The teamwork they use at the pool events along with the physical training the pool does every Thursday, prepares them both mentally and physically for recruit training. Besides that, they had a blast. Many had never skied before so this was a great event for them.”
At the conclusion, Tomko presented Farney with a unit coin thanking him for making the event such a success.
Farney addressed the Marines and thanked them for the gift and for allowing him to train with them.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20053911454/$file/Walthamlo.jpg
Marine Corps Recruiting Substation Waltham, Mass., Staff Noncommissioned-Officer-In-Charge Gunnery Sgt. Wright and Sgt. Sotello, lead their poolees through the Weston Cross Country Ski Track during a poole event in Weston, Mass. Photo by: Staff Sgt. Ken Tinnin
The Drifter's Wife
Ellie
Submitted by: 1st Marine Corps District
Story Identification #: 20053910453
Story by Staff Sgt. Ken Tinnin
RECRUITING STATION PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (Feb. 12, 2005) -- More than 40 Recruiting Substation Waltham, Mass., poolees, their parents and guests, as well as Recruiting Station Portsmouth senior leaders, Commanding Officer Maj. T. Shane Tomko and Sgt. Maj. Michael Allen, turned out to try their hand at cross-country skiing recently at the Weston Ski Track in Weston, Mass.
The event was RSS Waltham’s monthly pool event and was orchestrated by RSS Waltham Staff Noncommissioned-Officer-In-Charge Gunnery Sgt. Wright and Weston High School Cross-Country Ski Coach Mike Farney, a former Marine Corps Captain.
“Coach Farney read an article the Boston Globe did on our Pool Program,” said Wright. “He said he would like to do something for my Pool Program at the ski track in Weston, or with the cross country ski team he coached. Coach Farney arranged everything to where the event was free.”
Many of the poolees had never been skiing before and enjoyed not just the skiing, but also the camaraderie of hanging out with other poolees.
“It was a great experience,” said poolee James Pine, 17, from Newton, Mass. “I really enjoyed the teamwork and the opportunity to talk with other poolees.”
Shane Makary, 18, of Stow, Mass., agreed with Pine and said he also enjoyed the camaraderie of the other poolees, as well as having the other Marines around too.
“I joined the Marines because they are the best,” said Makary. “They are the hardest club to get into.”
Daniel Badwell, 18, from Maynard, Mass, who leaves for recruit training July 11, said he really enjoyed competing against the other poolees and Marines who were there.
Although the poolees had a good time, the main purpose of the event, as with all pool events, was to prepare the poolees for recruit training.
“Pool events are very important,” said Wright. “They instill a team mentality. We have poolees who serve as guides and squad leaders. The teamwork they use at the pool events along with the physical training the pool does every Thursday, prepares them both mentally and physically for recruit training. Besides that, they had a blast. Many had never skied before so this was a great event for them.”
At the conclusion, Tomko presented Farney with a unit coin thanking him for making the event such a success.
Farney addressed the Marines and thanked them for the gift and for allowing him to train with them.
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20053911454/$file/Walthamlo.jpg
Marine Corps Recruiting Substation Waltham, Mass., Staff Noncommissioned-Officer-In-Charge Gunnery Sgt. Wright and Sgt. Sotello, lead their poolees through the Weston Cross Country Ski Track during a poole event in Weston, Mass. Photo by: Staff Sgt. Ken Tinnin
The Drifter's Wife
Ellie