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thedrifter
01-30-09, 06:26 AM
Corps’ top leaders highlight readiness event

1/28/2009 By Cpl. Aaron Rooks , 2nd Marine Logistics Group

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —The commandant and sergeant major of the Marine Corps highlighted the 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, single and married Marine pre-deployment briefs, here, Jan. 26.

Gen. James T. Conway and Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent attended the event to discuss the overall importance of promoting family readiness within commands and explain how far these readiness programs have come in the past year.

Conway called for an improvement in the Marine Corps’ family readiness program in his 2006 Planning Guidance, stating that, “Just as every Marine makes a commitment to the Corps when they earn the title Marine, the Corps makes an enduring commitment to every Marine – and an enduring commitment to their family.”


This belief has been a driving force for the battalion’s commanding officer, Lt. Col. Joseph Murray, since he took command in May 2008. He said the commandant’s efforts have allowed him the opportunity to create an effective, well-structured family readiness team within his command to help make the nearing deployment a success.


“He’s made a pledge to take care of Marines, sailors and their families, and I believe he’s following through on his word,” Murray said.

The 34th commandant said that less than two years ago, the Marine Corps was spending $50,000,000 on Semper Fit programs, $50,000,000 on tuition assistance and $5,000,000 on family programs. He said he and fellow staff members resolved that they were going to budget $30,000,000 toward family readiness that year no matter what.

“The fact is we got $100,000,000,” Conway said to the Marines. “We could be so fortunate to do that again this year.”

Murray said the event itself proved how effective readiness programs have become. The Chevy Chase, Md. native said Marines, sailors and their families are now learning more about the various services available to them such as financial and legal planning, family support groups and the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, among others.

“There’s a lot more available for Marines, sailors and their families to utilize now,” Murray said.

Master Gunnery Sgt. Dennis Bruner, the command’s family readiness officer, said he has seen family readiness come a long way since joining the Corps 31 years ago. He said the technology and volunteer support wasn’t in abundance in years past. One example unlike in the past, he said, is the battalion’s family readiness newsletter that reaches an average of 650 people across 46 states, as well as Guam, Japan and Puerto Rico.

The volunteer support originates back to Kristin Scott-Groves, the battalion’s family readiness advisor. Scott-Groves serves as the link between volunteers and the command’s readiness team. She helped orchestrate support for the battalion’s fall festival and Christmas party since joining the command team in September 2008.

“We are very aware of this upcoming deployment,” said Scott-Groves, who has already endured one deployment as a military spouse. “I know it’s stressful because I’ve been there before. But if we can lean on each other for support and use the services available on base, we will make it through.”
Bruner said the battalion plans to hold one last family event the day they embark on their deployment. He said the Marines, sailors and their families will be as ready as can be for the departure because of the efforts to improve readiness in the past year.

Ellie