MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- In the pre-dawn hours of April 2, the supply Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 11 and their Ground Support Equipment counterparts came out from behind their desks and from fixing their equipment to conduct a 5-mile hike throughout the Camp Elliot backwoods.


According to Staff Sgt. Robert Williams, a Pensacola, Fla., native, and Supply Response Division staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge, the purpose was to better prepare the Marines for deployments, increase the units’ physical readiness and honor currently deployed Marines.


“Although we are aviation Marines, we are all basic riflemen. There are Marines in Iraq right now who are (hiking) more than five miles everyday with more gear,” he said.
Since a hike had not been conducted in the squadron in years, Williams took it upon himself to build the hike from the ground up early this year. In doing this, the former drill instructor made sure that all guidelines were followed and all safety precautions were taken.


When the day of the hike finally came, anticipation amongst the Marines rose as they boarded the bus at their headquarters and moved to Camp Elliot here. Once there, the Marines geared up and stepped off in two columns up the rocky hills of the camp.


Shortly into the hike the Marines were halted and given a chance to adjust their gear before taking on one of the steepest hills on the course. Once that hill was conquered, the Marines were given hip-pocket classes on hydration and heat and foot injuries from some of their fellow “Devil Fish.”


Although the start of the hike was rough, at the peak of the hills, Staff Sgt. Michael Flowers, Squadron Support Division SNCOIC, felt the Marines were pulling together and performing well.


“We got off to a rough start, and now that we are in the second half of the march, Marines are really starting to come together, figure out the mission and build camaraderie,” said the Cabot, Ark., native.
At the end of the hike, the Marines gathered around their sergeant major, Sgt. Maj. Keith L. Williams, for some motivating words before heading back to the air station.


“You have your (military occupational specialty) and that makes up half of you,” the sergeant major told his troops. “The other half is doing stuff like this, putting on the boots and utes and being a basic rifleman.”


When the Marines returned to the air station, Master Gunnery Sgt. Francisco Alsina, Aviation Supply chief, had a mini “warrior’s breakfast” waiting for the Marines at Mills Park.


“This morning really broke the monotony. Most of the time we just concentrate our efforts on the technical side of our job, but it is always outstanding to get out on the green side,” he said.