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Semper Fi Marine Corps Families!
Thank you for opening and reading this edition of our weekly newsletter. We've got great articles to share with you this week.
The history of the Marine Corps flag is long and diverse. Learn more in our first piece.
To see what else is new with the organization or to learn more about the Marine Corps, check out the rest of our articles. We hope you enjoy!
Thank you for your continued support of our brave men and women in uniform.
God Bless and Semper Fi!
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Learning More About the Corps: Marine Corps Flag
The history of the Marine Corps flag is long and diverse. There is little information available about the flags carried by early Marines, although there is evidence that the "Grand Union" flag was carried ashore by a battalion led by Captain Samuel Nicholas on New Providence Island, Bahamas, in March of 1776. The "Rattlesnake" flag may have also been carried on that expedition.
During the 1830s and 1840s, the flag carried by the Marine Corps consisted of a white field with gold fringe and the design of an anchor and eagle in the center. Before the Mexican-American War, this flag bore the legend "To the Shores of Tripoli" across the top. After the war, the phrase was revised to: "From Tripoli to the Halls of the Montezumas."
Click here to read more...
*Image info: The Marine Corps flag (public domain image/released).
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Volunteer Spotlight: Trisha Weiber
Here at Marine Parents, nothing we do would be possible without our amazing volunteers across the country. Our volunteers truly are the backbone of our organization, and we'd like to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts of one individual in particular.
This week's featured volunteer is a proud Marine mother from Maine--Trisha Weiber.
Trisha has been a volunteer with Marine Parents since July of 2015, initially serving as a Platoon Parent while her son was at MCRD Parris Island. She currently serves as the Battalion Leader for 3rd Battalion, Parris Island, and she loves her job.
Paying it forward is important to Trisha and she enjoys working with what she describes as an "incredible" group of volunteers. Trisha has always enjoyed helping and supporting others, so when she was asked if she would like to volunteer with Marine Parents, she said "absolutely."
According to
Marine Parents
'
Facebook Groups Manager
,
Teresita Reynolds
, "[Trisha]
has made a positive difference in the lives of so many Marine Parents Facebook members and volunteers-as she has in mine."
Click here to read more...
*Image info: Trisha Weiber next to a picture of her Marine son. (Image used with permission).
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What's After Boot?
What happens when your Marine graduates and leaves the Marine Corps Recruit Depot? Where does your new Marine go next? What's After Boot?
To that end, every Marine goes on to additional weapons training at the at School of Infantry (SOI) following boot camp graduation. Your Marine should ask questions about his/her orders prior to departure from the Recruit Depot.
Your Marine is entitled to one day of travel and ten days leave after successful completion of recruit training. Your Marine may report to SOI early in order to save leave, if desired. While on leave, non-infantry Marines may be contacted by their recruiter for participation in the Permissive Recruiter Assistance Support Program (PRASP). If selected by the recruiter for the program, your Marine should present all endorsements related to such programs upon checking in to SOI.
Click here to learn "What's After Boot"...
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Marine Corps News: Marine Saves Drowning Sailor
Last month, on the morning of June 29,
Lance Corporal Troy Yakin a landing support specialist with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, and two Marines from his unit were visiting Del Mar Beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. Not long after arriving, however, their relaxing day at the beach took a dramatic turn.
“When we were at the beach everybody was having a good time,” Yakin said. “People were surfing, body boarding, all that fun stuff. There was a swimmer who had wandered out too far so the life guard went to get him. It was around that time that someone started screaming for help.”
That someone was
Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Ralph Duron, senior enlisted leader, 21 Area Branch Clinic, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, who was at the beach to do some surfing.
“I was pummeled by a wave and tossed,” Duron said. “In the process, my left shoulder was dislocated and the leash of my surfboard snapped. At the same time, I’d gotten caught in a rip current far from shore. I was in a very bad spot.”
After trying to side-stroke his way out of the rip current with one arm, Duron began to call for help. Upon hearing his cries, Yakin reacted in typical Marine fashion and charged into the ocean to assist the injured sailor.
“He flew in out of nowhere and put his life at risk by going into this rip current to swim us both to safety,” Duron said of Yakin. “Throughout his rescue, he reassured me and pulled us both out of the situation."
"As a seasoned Navy corpsman with multiple deployments, saving lives is my job,” Duron continued. “Troy went out of his way to save mine as well as place his in harm’s way without hesitation. I believe his actions reflect honor on himself, his unit, and the Marine Corps as a whole. I am honored to call Marines like Troy ‘brother.’”
Click here to read more...
*Image info:
A Marine from Wounded Warrior Battalion-West surfs as part of an Ocean Therapy Seminar at Del Mar beach on January 26, 2016.
(USMC photo by Private First Class Emmanuel Necoechea).
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Marine Corps News: Ten Jobs that Offer Marines Quick Promotion Opportunities
Marines in slow-promoting Military Occupational Specialties (MOSs) are being offered the opportunity to make a lateral move into one of 10 MOSs that will offer quick promotion opportunities.
These lateral move and promotion opportunities are a part
of the Marine Corps' Intended MOS Promotions program for 2017, which starts October 1, and will be available to hundreds of first-term Marines.
The following MOSs will be open for lateral moves:
- Counterintelligence/human intelligence specialist
- Imagery analysis specialist
- Marine squad leader
- Critical skills operator
- Cyber security technician
- Explosive ordnance disposal technician
- Contingency contract specialist
- Marine Corps community services
- Career planner
- Criminal investigator Criminal Investigation Division agent
*Image info:
Staff Sgt. Chaz Carter, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician with EOD Company, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, searches the area during an improvised explosive device access training exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Jan. 29, 2016. During the exercise, evaluators assessed Marines on safely locating and disposing of an IED while suppressing the full capabilities of the threat. (USMC photo by Lance Corporal Aaron Fiala).
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Marine Corps News: Wildfire Aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Over the past week, firefighters have been battling a wildfire at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.
According to Lieutenant Abigail Peterson, CalFire and military fire crews, assisted by aircraft, had the fire more than 65% contained as of Saturday, July 24.
Peterson also said that there has been no threat to personnel or structures since the fire began last Thursday, July 21.
*Image info:
Fire fighters from the surrounding area prepare a hose to fight a fire during fire school on Camp Pendleton, Calif., June 15, 2016. Fire School is run the Camp Pendleton Fire Department to integrate multiple fire departments and develop coordination to better their ability to fight fires together. (USMC photo by Corporal Brian Bekkala).
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This Week in Marine Corps History: V Amphibious Corps Land on Tinian
Seventy-two years ago this week, on July 24, 1944, the V Amphibious Corps, a formation of the United States Marine Corps composed of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions, landed on Tinian, in the Mariana Islands during the Marine Corps' Pacific Campaign in World War II.
The following morning, under the command of Major General Harry Schmidt, the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions began a shoulder-to-shoulder sweep of the island. Organized enemy resistance faded within a week, and on August 1, Major General Schmidt declared the island secure.
Click here to learn more....
*Image info:
Marines wading ashore on Tinian. (U.S. Government photo/released).
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This Week in Marine Corps History: National Security Act of 1947
Sixty-nine years ago this week, on July 26, 1947, the National Security Act of 1947 was enacted,
reaffirming the status of the Marine Corps as a separate military service within the Department of the Navy.
The act provided for Fleet Marine Forces and confirmed the Corps' mission of seizing and defending advanced bases, as well as land operations in support of naval campaigns.
Click here to learn more....
*Image info: (Public domain image/released).
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This Week in Marine Corps History: General John A. Lejeune Assumes Command of U.S. Army's 2nd Division
Ninety-eight years ago this week, on July 28, 1918,
United States Marine Corps Brigadier General John A. Lejeune assumed command of the U.S. Army's 2nd Division in France during Worle War I. Lejeune remained in that capacity until August the following year, at which point the unit was demobilized. Lejeune was the first Marine officer to hold an Army divisional command, and following the armistice that ended the war, he led his division in the march into Germany.
Click here to learn more....
*Image info: General John A. Lejeune. (USMC photo/released).
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