Photo Information

Staff Sgt. Joshua Langdon, staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge of Recruiting Substation Dover, N.H., motivates his tug-o-war team during the RS Portsmouth annual field meet May 20 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Approximately 450 poolees and their guests attended the event designed to instill camaraderie and esprit de corps as well as ensure the RS summer pool was ready to ship to recruit training.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Ken Tinnin

Field Meet Sets RS Portsmouth Poolees Up For Success

20 May 2006 | Staff Sgt. Ken Tinnin Marine Corps Recruiting Command

Marine Corps Recruiting Station Portsmouth held its annual Field Meet May recently at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Approximately 450 poolees and guests from all over Northern New England attended the event designed to instill a sense of camaraderie and esprit de corps, and most importantly ensure the summer pool was ready to ship to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C.

“The Field Meet is vital to the success of shipping the summer pool, said RS Portsmouth Pool Coordinator Master Sgt. Aaron Winchenbach. “The Field Meet is used to bring the entire RS pool together at one place and screen and validate the pool; the majority of which will be shipping over the next 90 days. The event also prepares poolees for the environment that they'll face at recruit training; coming together to work as one for a common goal.”

Along with the importance of ensuring the pool is ready to face the rigors of recruit training, the event also served other purposes.

“The field meet helps to maintain the interest and motivation of the poolees in the Delayed Entry Program as well as to generate the interest of those potentially interested in becoming future members of the DEP,” said Winchenbach. “I think it is also important to show Poolees that as Marines it's not just work. We take time to get together in the spirit of competition as a unit and have fun with physical competition.”

The Field Meet consisted of an Initial Strength Test, tug-of war, wheelbarrow races, a combat relay race and other events.

The combat relay race was the favorite of Recruiting Substation Dover, N.H. poolees and identical twins Ben and Brian Flood from Hampton Falls, N.H.

“The combat relay was intense, said Ben. “I felt like it gave me a sense of what recruit training might be like.” “I really enjoyed the camaraderie of getting together with the other poolees from all over New England,” said Brian.

“The whole day was motivating and awesome,” said Jeremy Webber from Saco, Maine, and a poolee from Recruiting Substation Southern Maine, whose team won the first heat in the combat relay. “It was just so motivating being around all the Marines and poolees from other areas.”
As with most events Marines conduct, mission accomplishment is key, and according to Winchenbach, the field meet was a success.

“The event was very successful,” said Winchenbach.  “Despite the threat of bad weather, the competitive spirit between the poolees came shining through.  Attendance was high and a large percentage of the pool was screened.”


Marine Corps Recruiting Command