MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, HAWAII -- KANEOHE -- "What comes to mind when you hear the word 'Marine'?" asked a Marine of several young teenagers in a classroom setting. Many of the students from King Intermediate School, ranging from ages 12-15, only could come up with the fact that Marines fire several different weapons and do a lot of training in the water.
The curious middle school students spent close to an hour on Feb. 23 with Marines from MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, during the school's Career Day. They asked the devil dogs diverse questions regarding daily life, recruit training, and travel/educational opportunities in the Corps.
By the time the class came to an end, the students had learned that Marines, indeed, used to be students much like themselves, and Marines still enjoy several of the same hobbies they do in their spare time.
"The students can see MCB Hawaii from the school, and often wonder what goes on there," said Kris Jenness, guest speaker coordinator for King Intermediate School. "I thought it would be a good idea for the students to get a chance to meet some of the Marines firsthand and learn about what they do on a daily basis.
"I think military service is a great way for many students to begin their life after they graduate high school," added Jenness.
Sergeant Chris Eastman, a combat engineer with Combat Service Support Group 3 brought live, video footage of Marines working with explosives at the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island of Hawaii during a recent training evolution. When the students got a glimpse of what hundreds of pounds of explosives looks like when it detonates, many agreed they thought being an engineer would be an interesting job.
"I was surprised at how excited the kids were when they saw the explosions on TV," said Eastman. "I guess that since I see that kind of stuff on a regular basis, I am used to it. I brought the tape just so they could get an idea of what I do; I had no idea they would get so excited, but I am glad they enjoyed it."
Before leaving the school, two Marines talked to students with behavior disorders, who had, had a few run-ins with the juvenile court system. One Marine explained to students that just because they make mistakes when they are young, they can still learn from their mistakes, recover and do great things with their life.
"I was impressed with how the Marines presented themselves to the students," said Jenness. "I hope the Marines will be able to return to our school again."