MARINE CORPS EXPO 2009

February 4th and 5th, the Temecula Valley Young Marines sent a cadre of Young Marines and some staff members to the 2009 Marine Corps expo onboard Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton. At 0900 the Expo opened up with Mr. Ermey and other annoucing the opening of the expo and the traditional walk oin the red carpet. YM/1stSgt. Guiles grabbed a camemera and went outside to document the ceremony , , , ,. The Expo was awesome sight to see all of the futuristic equipment and weapons that Marines might want to use were demonstrated there. On the first day Young Marines 1stSgt. Guiles, Cpl. Tashoff and LCpl. Tashoff the Temecula Young Marines were accompanied by CO Guiles and SEC-O Mr. Tashoff. Mrs. Leigh Dick brought Young Marine 1stSgt. Keomany from the Camp Pendleton Young Marines was also present to help ,. The Young Marines manned the National Headquarters booth until 1500 and talked to anyone who approached the booth about the Young Marines program, how to locate a unit near them and what a Young Marine learns Sgt. Major Paxton talks to the Young Marines. During the middle part of the day CO Guiles had the Young Marines take turns manning the booth while the others were allowed to walk around and see the exhibits , , . The Young Marines next task was to help R. Lee Ermey with crowd control as Marines would form a line to get his autograph , . At the end of the day Mr. Ermey presented the Southern California Regiment of Young Marines with an award for those Young Marines who deployed to Hawaii , ,. It was a great day the next day would have 3 new Young Marines standing out in the Young Marines exhibit.

February 5th (Day two) Temecula Valley Young Marines Cpl. Aguilar and Cpl. Munoz were joined by Young Marine Sgt. Major Cassidy from the South Orange County Young Marines . Sgt. Major Cassidy is the Division 6 Young Marine of the Year. Co Guiles, XO Aguilar and CO Cassidy had their three Young Marines man the booth and talk to everyone about the Young Marines program just as the others did the day before , , , , . Mr. Ermey had an emergency to attend to so he was not present today luck for these Young Marines. CO Guiles helped the National HQ's man the booth so XO Aguilar could take the Young Marines around to see the different exhibits and try out the pretty expensive equipment , , , , , , . Nothing better than having a kid field test or operate equipment you want to sell to the Military. The day ended with a little rain we loaded up the vehicles said goodbye to the National Executive Director, Mr. Shanks and Mr. Adams . It was a very interesting experience and a little work to go with it but it was well worth it. Great job Young Marines.

More pictures can be seen our photos website here.