WAIMANALO, OAHU, Hawaii -- "My name is Sergeant Stokley, and I am a scout sniper in the United States Marine Corps!" barked a Marine to a group of first graders while he was covered from head to toe in camouflaged material. However, none of the students from Blanche Pope Elementary School in Waimanalo, Hawaii, seemed scared of him.
Sergeant Tucker Stokley, a scout sniper with Weapons Co., 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, stood in front of them and explained the functions of an M40A1 sniper rifle during the school's Career Day program Feb. 12. Part of the Adopt-a-School program, the Marines from 3/3 often spend time with the school children, in and out of the classroom, to provide a source of guidance for them from outside the school setting.
"The students love it when the Marines show up to talk to them," said Nicole Perreira, a counselor at Blanche Pope Elementary. "They are nothing but smiling faces, and they just seem to attach to the Marines."
Along with the Marines comes many pieces of tactical equipment. Several students said they found it quite amusing to crawl into a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle for the first time. Others stood anxiously in line to get their faces donned with camouflage paint.
During the Career Day presentation, Marines taught students about the infantryman's specific duties, as well as what all Marines do on a daily basis. When asked if they would like to ask any questions about life in the Marine Corps, many children responded quickly with numerous questions.
"The time we spent out here today was time well spent, because these kids look up to us," said Stokley, "and by just being here, we make an everlasting impression on them in such a positive way.
"It's not the weapons and the equipment that are most interesting to these children; it's the Marines themselves who are out here to spend time with them and explain to them how the equipment works, which captures their attention."
As the Career Day presentation continued, students received more hands-on time with more equipment, including binoculars used as a laser range finder, the MK19 automatic grenade launcher, and a ghillie suit, which covers the entire body and is used by snipers when they stalk targets.
The 3/3 Marines said they were quite impressed when many of the students remembered the names of the equipment from last year's visit.
"What we really wanted to do was give the students the opportunity to see what is out there in terms of career opportunities," said Perriera. "They got a whole lot more than that this year. They also got to learn what the Marines themselves are like, and they all agree that the Marines are really good people.
"The kids can see the Marines genuinely care about them."