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Thank you for joining us for this issue of Marine Parents News. If this is your first time receiving the newsletter, welcome aboard, we're excited for you to be here!
Two weeks ago, on March 11, female veterans, active duty female Marines, and future female Marines came together at a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of women continuously serving in the Marine Corps. Learn more in our first article.
2016 Registration for Team Marine Parents is now open!
Become a member of the team today!
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!
Be sure to get your FREE 2016 Marine Parents Calendar. See our articles below to learn about the history of the Marine Corps, and learn about our great Marine Parents volunteers.
Thank you for your continued support of our brave men and women in uniform.
Semper Fi Marine Families!
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Female Marines Celebrate 73 Years of Service
Two weeks ago, on March 11, 2016, female veterans, active duty female Marines, and future female Marines came together at a ceremony at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
The ceremony was hosted by
the Women’s Marine Association to recognize Women’s History Month and celebrate the 73rd anniversary of women continuously serving in the Marine Corps (women had previously served in the Corps during World War I, but all were separated from the service following the war's conclusion).
Just like the Marine Corps Birthday ball, this ceremony included a cake-cutting
, continuing tradition and heritage from one generation to the next.
“Passing on the history and tradition from the old to the young and bringing them into the fold, it means a lot,” said ceremony narrator and organizer Sergeant Major Yolanda Mayo. “The Marine Corps is built on tradition so this is a little bit of ours.”
Click here to learn movre....
*Image info:
Female veterans, as well as active duty and future Marines, came together March, 11, 2016 by the Women’s Marine Association to recognize Women’s History Month and celebrate the 73rd anniversary of women serving in the Marine Corps.
(USMC photo by Corporal Jared Lingafelt.)
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Volunteer Spotlight: Bill Casey
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 father and Facebook volunteer from Virginia--Bill Casey.
Bill began volunteering with the Marine Parents Facebook groups as a Platoon Parent for 1st Battalion, Charlie Company from Parris Island. From the onset, Bill was generous with his time and dedication.
Initially, Bill served as Marine Parents' 1st Battalion, Parris Island, Charlie Company Facebook Group Leader and was incredibly supportive and encouraging. Then, in the fall of 2015, Bill was promoted to 3rd Battalion, Parris Island Facebook Group Leader.
Click here to read more about Bill....
*Image info: Bill Casey.
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Marine Corps News: Marine Awarded Silver Star
Last Friday, March 18, 2016, Sergeant Matthew Parker was awarded the Silver Star during a ceremony on board Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
The Silver Star is the nation's third-highest medal for valor and was awarded to Parker for his actions under fire during an attack in Afghanistan in 2011 after he assumed control
as the ground force commander after several leaders had been injured. Parker also called in fire support and evacuated casualties. At the time, Parker
was deployed as a rifleman with 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment.
The award was presented by Major General Brian Beaudreault, commanding general of the 2nd Marine Division.
“You represented everything we want to teach in honor, courage, commitment, and the warrior’s ethos… and for that I’m greatly indebted to you,” said Beaudreault during the ceremony. “You did everything we would want and hope for every Marine NCO leading a formation to do.”
Click here to read more...
*Image info:
Major General Brian Beaudreault, commanding general of 2nd Marine Division, pins a Silver Star Medal on Sergeant Matthew Parker (retired) at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, March 18, 2016. (USMC photo by Sergeant Kirstin Merrimarahajara.)
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2016 TMP Registration is Now Open
2016 Registration for Team Marine Parents is now open! Raising awareness and funds for a grassroots organization starts on a grassroots level; it starts with YOU. If you enjoy running or competing in athletic events, encouraging communities to engage in troop support activities, and raising money for a good cause, then TMP is a great fit for you.
Also, if you are planning on running the 41st Marine Corps Marathon, consider running with TMP. We only have 39 charity partner bibs remaining, so instead of waiting on the lottery, join the team and get your bib today!
Click here to learn more about Team Marine Parents...
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Tapper-Hicks Freedom 5K Run/Walk
On Saturday, April 23, 2016, the fourth annual Tapper-Hicks Freedom 5K Run/Walk will be held at American Legion post #311 in Atco, New Jersey.
The event is held each spring in honor of PO1 (SEAL) David M. Tapper, USN and LCPL Jon T. Hicks, Jr., USMC. Money raised at the event will be used for their respective scholarship funds, as well as for The Waterford Township War Memorial Committee.
For the fourth consecutive year, Marine Parents has secured a donation of beverage koozies from Conde Systems, Inc. This year, Conde is donating 275 Dyetrans HUG11 koozies and we'd like to thank them for their generosity and support of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our country. When we receive the koozies, we will press a design chosen by the event coordinators onto them before shipping them to New Jersey to be handed out to participants in the run/walk.
Click here to learn more...
*Image info: David Tapper (left) and Jon Hicks (right).
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TMP Spotlight: Marianne Tullis
Team Marine Parents™ (TMP) is a group of individuals, generally parents, family, and friends of Marines, who participate in athletic events nationwide to support our troops. The mission is to raise funds and awareness of the organization's outreach programs..
This week's TMP featured participant is proud Marine grandmother from Tulsa, Oklahoma--Marianne Tullis.
Marianne was inspired to begin race-walking two years ago by her son, and she's enjoyed participating in races ever since. In addition to being a member of TMP, Marianne, whose grandson graduated from MCRD San Diego last summer, also serves as Recruit Parents Facebook Company Leader for Fox Company, San Diego, a role she has served in since October of last year.
Marianne is still working toward reaching her $500 fundraising goal, and we know with your support and generosity, we know she can reach that goal in no time. Thanks for being a part of the team, Marianne, we appreciate your support!
Click here to read more...
*Image info: Marianne Tullis with her Marine grandson.
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Marine Corps News: Female Marines Train with Kuwaiti Female Police
Female Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) recently completed an exchange of information
with the Kuwait Ministry of the Interior VIP Protection Unit, Female Division in Kuwait City, Kuwait.
The exchange of information, which took place from late January until mi-February, was part of a United Nations initiative to foster equal rights for women around the world and focused on personal security detachment operations, prisoner searching and handling techniques, and self-defense and close quarter combat drills.
Click here to read more...
*Image info: Corporal Leslie Souza reviews a target during live-fire training with the Kuwait Ministry of the Interior VIP Protection Unit, Female Division.
(USMC photo by Captain Lindsay Pirek.)
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Marine Corps News: More Marines to Head to Iraq to Fight ISIS
Following a rocket attack earlier this week on a coalition firebase near Makhmur, Iraq by ISIS fighters that killed U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Louis Cardon and injured eight more Marines, the United States has announced that it will be sending a detachment to help reinforce the base in northern Iraq.
The Marines and sailors being sent to Iraq are with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and the detachment will supplement Marines and sailors from the 26th MEU already fighting ISIS, according to officials.
The 26th MEU is currently deployed to the 5th Fleet area of operations with the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group. More than 4,000 Marines and sailors with the blue-green team have been deployed to the area since October.
Click here to read more...
*Image info: Members of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct helicopter support team training in the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of operations.(USMC photo by Corporal Jeraco Jenkins.)
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Marine Corps News: Marine Raider Memorial March Comes to an End
Last month, we told you about the Marine Raider Memorial March, a 770-mile march undertaken by Special Operations Marines and veterans in honor of
seven
Special Operations
Marines and
four Louisiana National Guardsmen who
lost their lives when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed off the Florida coast southwest of Eglin Air Force Base in March of 2015.
Fourteen Marine Raiders and Special Amphibious Reconnaissance Navy Corpsmen wore 45-pound rucksacks on their journey from the crash site near Navarre, Florida to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where the Marines were stationed. The "ruckers" began their trek on March 11, one year and one day after the crash, and completed the final leg of their journey this Monday, March 21.
Click here to read more...
*Image info: The s even Marines killed during the crash. Top, from left: Staff Sgt. Trevor Blaylock, Staff Sgt. Liam A. Flynn and Staff Sgt. Andrew Seif. Bottom, from left: Staff Sgt. Kerry Kemp, Master Sgt. Thomas A. Saunders, Staff Sgt. Marcus Bawol and Capt. Stanford H. Shaw III. (USMC photos)
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Marine Corps News: Recon Marines Conduct Close-Quarter Training
Marines from Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, recently began conducting close-quarters combat training at Camp Pendleton, California. The training, which began two weeks ago, focused on room clearing techniques and close-quarter marksmanship training with the M4 carbine and the M45A1 pistol in a series of fire-and-maneuver drills.
“Once [the Marines] have completed and pass[ed] the maritime inter-operability training portion of the exercise, they are then certified and ready for deployment with [Marine Expeditionary Units],” said Gunnery Sergeant Michael Wilkinson.
Click here to read more...
*Image info: Marines with Company A, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, conduct target recognition and engagement through a simulated door way during the close quarter marksmanship portion of close quarter battle training.
(USMC photo by Lance Corporal Timothy Valero.)
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Marine Corps News: 13th, 31st MEUs Participate in Exercise Ssang Yong
Two weeks ago, on March 10, 2016, U.S. Marines and sailors
with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) joined the Japan-based 31st MEU, South Korean Sailors and Marines as well New Zealand and Australian Army troops for Exercise Ssang Yong 2016.
The exercise is focused on strengthening
the amphibious landing capabilities of the U.S. and its allies and is taking part on the south-eastern part of the Korean peninsula. More than 9,000 Marines will take part in the exercise.
Click here to read more...
*Image info: U.S. Marines, Republic of Korea Marines, as well as New Zealand and Australian Army troops conduct amphibious assault training at Doksukri Beach, South Korea, during Exercise Ssang Yong 16. (USMC photo by Sgergeant Briauna Birl.)
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This Week in Marine Corps History: Japanese Launch Final Counterattack on Iwo Jima
Seventy-one years ago this week, on March 25, 1945,
the assault on the island of Iwo Jima appeared to have ended after 35 days of intense fighting. However, that night, 300 Japanese troops launched a final, last-ditch counterattack near Airfield Number 2. Army pilots, Seabees, and Marines from the 5th Pioneer Battalion and 28th Marines fought the Japanese forces until morning but suffered heavy casualties. More than l00 Americans were killed and a further 200 were wounded. Almost all of the Japanese troops were killed in the battle.
Click here to learn more....
*Image info:
This photograph by Joe Rosenthal depicts five Marines and a Navy Corpsman raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
(National Archives and Records Administration photo/released.)
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