The Temecula Valley Young Marines were honored to host this years West Coast National Encampment the first in over 30 years for the West Coast Young Marines. The Participating units included Temecula Valley, Inland, East Valley, Camp Pendleton, Saddleback, Chosan, and LCpl. Worley Young Marines. In all over 140 Young Marines and Adult staff were present events included:
- Archery
- Small Bore
- Vertical Descents
- Drill
- Land Navigation
- Leaders Decision Courses
- Water Survival
- Swim Qualification
- And Drug Demand Reduction Classes
Due to the heat reveille was changed to 0430 every day then off to chow for an early morning snack then to the courses around 1030 all training stopped and off the the Lake everyone went by order of the Camp Commander. When all return evening chow was to be served and then off to the night Op's with Land Nav & the Leaders courses. Tap came at 2030 and on came the Guard force and it started all over again. The Young Marines had a great time according to there after action reports and the fact that most wanted it to be longer. All heat illnesses were kept low due to the fast action of the Camp Corpsman LCPL's Fitzpatrick and Hedlund from the Temecula Valley Security Force Mr. Steve Wildermuth a Deputy Sheriff with the San Diego Sheriffs came out and gave all of the Young Marines a class on firearms safety and then demonstrated some fully automatic weapons. The whole encampment boiled up to a Supper Squad and field meet. The Super Squad Competition the winners were:
- Inland Young Marines
- East Valley Young Marines
- Chosan Young Marines
The Field Meet ran concurrently with the Super Squad on Thursday Morning all of the units were inv loved The Events included the Dizzy Izzy, ireman's Carry, Three Legged Race, Wheel Barrow Race, Tug O war and the Rhino Pull. the winners of the field meet were:
- Temecula Valley Young Marines
The Drill Competition took place on Wednesday Evening and involved every unit the overall winner of this event was the :
- Camp Pendleton Young Marines
At the end of these Events The Young Marines were treated to a class by the Marines from Charlie Btry. 1/11 they brought out a M777 Howitzer, 7 ton and Hummer. The Young Marines were able to ask questions and try out the gear. A Huge Thank You goes out to Cpl. Miller and his wife for securing the static display for the National encampment for us at the last minute. I would also like to thank the Marines from Charlie Battery 1/11 for putting on an outstanding class and static display for the Young Marines:
- Cpl. Lewellyn
- Cpl. Ruiz Gonzalez
- Cpl. Escobar
- Cpl. Wert
- Cpl. Rodenhaber
Well the final show was a Red Smoke grenade in Which the Camp Commander, the 3rd Battalion Commander Michael Guiles gave a class on the different colors of smoke used by the Military and there meanings. The Camp Commander cleared a space out checked the wind and asked Pfc. Molina from the Chosan Young Marines to come up and pop the Red Smoke Grenade. Pfc. Molina pulled the pin And the Camp Commander held the spoon then they both set it in a fire pit and around 5 seconds later the smoke appeared really thick and really red. The Camp Commander was talking about Red Smoke is used for emergencies but also demonstrated how Marine use it for Cover and Concealment. The Young Marines had a great end of the Encampment day. Awards were given out at 1800 on July, 27th the Division Commander had (4) Meritortious Promotions to give out the firist went to MSgt. Martinez from the Chosan Young Marines for Meritorious service noted from his unit commander. The Next Awards went to SSgt. Joshua Guiles, Cpl. Corbin Wildermuth and LCpl Nathan Taylor these Young Marines stood at the Guard shack for 15 1/2 hours a day for 7 days, being relieved only to partake in events. The Division Commander was Impressed with the Temecula Valley Security force, and who they would turn away or stop from entering the Camp Site for there devotion to duty he awarded them with Meritorious promotions. Camp Commander Guiles Meritoriously promoted Cpl. Hart from the Inland Young Marines according to the Camp Commander you could not find an other Young Marine with more Esprit de Corps or the leadership Cpl. Hart showed. Other awards included (2) Commendations of Merit and (7) Certificates of Commendation for various acts of outstanding leadership. After the Awards some units departed that night due to the distance they had to travel Temecula Valley and east Valley staid and held down the fort until final breakdown in the morning. A big OOOH-Rah and thank you goes out to the National Headquarters for letting us hold the West Coast National Encampment and a huge thank you goes out to Mr. Bill Johnson!!!! for letting us use his property and the lake for this encampment.
Semper Fi,
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