NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND, Calif. -- Marines with Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3 held their annual MWHS-3 Breakers Beach Party aboard Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., July 27.
Marines and families went to the beach to raise morale, family togetherness and unit cohesion by spending the day together playing games in an environment where rank wasn’t an issue.
“It seems to me there is a lot less stress, everyone is out of uniform and having a good time just interacting with each other,” said Lance Cpl. Matt Parker, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist with MWHS-3 and a St. Louis native. “This shows that everyone is a person too, not just a scary boss who needs to be feared. It’s also less destructive than going out drinking.”
Families of Marines, including those of Marines forward deployed, were invited to the beach gathering which featured carnival games, a bounce house, barbeque and a dunk tank.
“It’s a chance to get all of our families together to interact,” said Don Wallace, the family readiness officer with MWHS-3 and a Lawton, Okla., native. “They have fun together, dunk the people they voted into the dunk tank, play fair games and eat good food. It get’s the families out of the house and out to the beach.”
According to Wallace, other than its holiday party held at Sea World, this yearly event is the second largest event the unit holds and those who gathered really seemed to enjoy themselves.
For more information on next year’s event contact Don Wallace at (858) 577-8364.