Single Marine Program Hosts Young Marines

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif.  — The Single Marine Program hosted the annual Big Marine Little Marine event, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., July 28.

Members of the Young Marine Program, a group of children ages seven to 16 who practice drill and physical training, visited Miramar for a fun-filled day interacting with the air station’s Marines.

Each Marine volunteer was paired with a Young Marine and split into teams for obstacle courses, relay races and tournaments such as dodge ball and tug-of-war.

The event was created to foster morale and unity between Marines and aspiring Marines in the local community.

“I love volunteering and giving back to the community,” said Cpl. Nicholas Burkhardt, an intelligence specialist with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465, and a Boise, Idaho, native. “I’ve done a lot of volunteering but I love giving back to these kids.”

After the morning events, Marines and children sat down for lunch together, giving children time to ask various questions about the Marine Corps way of life.

Before being awarded completion certificates, each of the children had an opportunity to throw water balloons at the participating Marines.

While for many Marines volunteering is an opportunity to give back to the community, for Young Marines it is an opportunity to learn what being a Marine is all about.