MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va --
The Single Marine Program is bringing paintball to Marine
Corps Base Quantico. Announced during an SMP council meeting Sept. 4, Sgt. Maj. Mark Byrd, base sergeant major, said the
outdoor facility has been approved and their goal is to get it up and running
before winter, pending location approval by the Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs
Branch. The base will contract with Extreme Adventures, based in California,
which is the same company that constructed the paintball field at Marine Corps
Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.
It’s news that
highlighted the council meeting, which covers upcoming events, volunteer
opportunities and quality of life issues. Around 20 Marines, representing all
of the commands at Quantico attended the meeting. Bryd and Micheal Moore, SMP
coordinator, who both facilitated the gathering, said the support from these
Marine representatives is critical to the life of this program and morale among
young Marines. Moore, who recently took over the program this summer, said
their goal is bolster activities and encourage representatives to keep Marines
engaged.
“In addition to
our scheduled events, our goal is to have an event every weekend at the SMP
house,” Moore said. “Whether you show up or not is up to you but I know you,
can influence it. You are our mobile team and unlike others, you have your
thumb on the pulse of this base. You know what going on.”
This fall is
packed with events. The house will continue offering free lunch on Tuesdays at
the house. In addition, the program will host a paintball trip to Hogback
Mountain in Leesburg, Va. on Sept. 13 and a zipline trip on Sept. 19. In
October the program plans to host trips to a haunted house, a fishing trip in
the Chesapeake Bay, a Halloween costume party and a zombie paintball adventure,
where Marines can practice tactical shooting on actors dressed as zombies.
The activities are
aimed at enhancing quality of life at Quantico, fostering camaraderie and
Esprit de Corps. Equally as important, Moore said his goal is to ensure their
activities stay relevant.
“We’re really
trying to get events out there that Marines are interested in and will attend,”
Moore said. “The key piece is doing
research to ensure feasibility with price and accessibility.”