MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- Lance Cpl. Michael Smith shuffles furiously across the grass backward on his palms and heels. As he reaches a bright orange cone, the aviation supply clerk flips himself over, and crawls on all fours like a bear. Upon reaching a second orange cone, he stands, and proceeds to run in a zig-zag pattern, as if fleeing the massive group of Marines chasing and cheering him on, swarming around him like bees, screaming in his ears.
“The screaming doesn’t bother me,” said Smith, a Jamaica Queens, N.Y., native. “You reach a point (where) you just want a win for the team.”
Just before the torrential rains that plagued the islands began to pour later in the afternoon, the Marines and Sailors of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 24 squeezed in their annual field meet at Riseley and Pop Warner Fields, Sept. 11, 2015.
The competitions were numerous and each presented its own challenges. Among other events, the squadron coordinated an interdepartmental volleyball game, disassembled and reassembled rifles, flipped tires and raced in a modified combat fitness test just to name a few.
The squadron had already delayed the meet by one week due to inclement weather, though the day of remembrance seemed a much more fitting day, for Sgt. Maj. Christopher House.
“The purpose of the field meet is (to have the) Marines and Sailors in five different departments (on both sides of the) flightline stop what they’re doing and come together for a non-work-related event,” said the squadron sergeant major. “It breaks the monotony of just the everyday run. (Even though we rescheduled due to the weather difficulties) it’s great that we had it today on Sept. 11.”
House, a Monroe, N.C., native, and Lt. Col. Robert E. Flannery, the commanding officer of MALS-24, both competed in the events. In addition to tug of war, House competed in “Dizzy Izzy,” a game in which competitors ran to a cone, stood up a bat, held their forehead on the base of a bat while turning 10 times in a circle the running back to their group.
“We got crushed by Avionics (in ultimate Frisbee), so hopefully we’re going to be make it on the pull-up competition,” Flannery said with a smile.
Flannery competed in ultimate Frisbee and the pull-up competition.
“Enjoying the competition is what energizes the unit,” said Flannery, a Hanover, Pa., native. “It energizes me. That’s what it’s all about.”
House said the teams had mixed ranks, which allowed the higher-ranking service members to show their junior counterparts that regardless of rank, they are still willing to be involved in fun unit activities.
“They greatly appreciate it and they love the interdepartmental competition,” House said.
After the events, the squadron sat down for a barbecue lunch, and the winners were announced. The Avionics Department took first place overall, winning the field meet trophy. Smith said the field meet helps the service members meet new people, form relationships and allow all ranks to bond.
“It makes us stronger as a unit,” he said.