thedrifter
08-10-06, 02:23 PM
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va.(Aug. 10, 2006) -- Many who live or work on Quantico have seen the big tour buses that occasionally cruise along the base’s streets. Several are filled with people of various backgrounds that range from former Marines to Boy Scouts. Some of these tourists have traveled half way around the world, while others live just a stone’s throw away, but all have come to visit the Crossroads of the Marine Corps.
The reasons people visit Quantico are as different as each individual who passes through its gates. And whatever those reasons are, it is the job of John DeBerry, command visit coordinator, to arrange a way for them to get the most of their visit to the base.
The visit coordinator organizes tours, reunions and military familiarization trips. The majority of tours include stops at Officer Candidates School, The Basic School, Weapons Training Battalion and demonstrations at Marine Helicopter Squadron One. Some even get to ride the Riverine Assault Craft at the Quantico Marina and check out live K-9 demonstrations.
Tourists may receive briefs at the Marine Security Guard Battalion, Weapons Training Battalion and Marine Corps University.
Planning for a visit of any type may begin as far ahead as one year, DeBerry said. He communicates with the different units and their commands to set up times the groups can drop in and then publishes an itinerary.
“All events I coordinate are at the commands’ discretion and secondary to military training,” DeBerry said. “That can be tricky, but we usually come up with something the people enjoy.”
DeBerry also arranges for visitors to dine with Marines at various mess halls aboard the base, which many times turns out to be a learning experience for the tourists.
“One of the things many tourists learn is that Marines eat well in the chow hall,” DeBerry said. “People are impressed that leathernecks have dessert and soda machines,” he chuckled.
During the tours where DeBerry acts as an escort, he noticed that many of them like to ride the RAC and visit WTBN. “People really enjoy the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer and the RAC,” he said.
For DeBerry, seeing the excitement on the faces of the individuals attending the events is his reward for planning them.
“I like doing reunions the most,” he said. “Setting them up and seeing Marines who haven’t seen each other in years react and reminisce about old times makes me feel good.
“The 1954 Marine Corps Band has scheduled a visit with the present band members here, to see how the job and the Marine Corps have changed in the last 52 years,” said DeBerry. “I am sure they will have a lot to talk about.”
The visitors and the coordinator are not the only ones who benefit from tours on the base.
Touring Quantico helps strengthen the relationship within the community, said DeBerry. “Young people see the Marine way of life and may want to become Marines when they get older. The adults get a better understanding of Marines when they are given the opportunity to view devil dogs in their environment.
“The Marines show pride in their specialties and the passion they have shows through when they brief the groups.”
Quantico is an open base and access is not heavily restricted, but a coordinated visit is available for school groups, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps units, Young Marines, Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps, the Marine Corps League and other veterans groups.
For more information about scheduling a visit, call the visit coordinator at (703) 784-5578.
Ellie
The reasons people visit Quantico are as different as each individual who passes through its gates. And whatever those reasons are, it is the job of John DeBerry, command visit coordinator, to arrange a way for them to get the most of their visit to the base.
The visit coordinator organizes tours, reunions and military familiarization trips. The majority of tours include stops at Officer Candidates School, The Basic School, Weapons Training Battalion and demonstrations at Marine Helicopter Squadron One. Some even get to ride the Riverine Assault Craft at the Quantico Marina and check out live K-9 demonstrations.
Tourists may receive briefs at the Marine Security Guard Battalion, Weapons Training Battalion and Marine Corps University.
Planning for a visit of any type may begin as far ahead as one year, DeBerry said. He communicates with the different units and their commands to set up times the groups can drop in and then publishes an itinerary.
“All events I coordinate are at the commands’ discretion and secondary to military training,” DeBerry said. “That can be tricky, but we usually come up with something the people enjoy.”
DeBerry also arranges for visitors to dine with Marines at various mess halls aboard the base, which many times turns out to be a learning experience for the tourists.
“One of the things many tourists learn is that Marines eat well in the chow hall,” DeBerry said. “People are impressed that leathernecks have dessert and soda machines,” he chuckled.
During the tours where DeBerry acts as an escort, he noticed that many of them like to ride the RAC and visit WTBN. “People really enjoy the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer and the RAC,” he said.
For DeBerry, seeing the excitement on the faces of the individuals attending the events is his reward for planning them.
“I like doing reunions the most,” he said. “Setting them up and seeing Marines who haven’t seen each other in years react and reminisce about old times makes me feel good.
“The 1954 Marine Corps Band has scheduled a visit with the present band members here, to see how the job and the Marine Corps have changed in the last 52 years,” said DeBerry. “I am sure they will have a lot to talk about.”
The visitors and the coordinator are not the only ones who benefit from tours on the base.
Touring Quantico helps strengthen the relationship within the community, said DeBerry. “Young people see the Marine way of life and may want to become Marines when they get older. The adults get a better understanding of Marines when they are given the opportunity to view devil dogs in their environment.
“The Marines show pride in their specialties and the passion they have shows through when they brief the groups.”
Quantico is an open base and access is not heavily restricted, but a coordinated visit is available for school groups, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps units, Young Marines, Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps, the Marine Corps League and other veterans groups.
For more information about scheduling a visit, call the visit coordinator at (703) 784-5578.
Ellie