INSIDE BARRACKS Impact Area A-4 SOFTBALL Paintball Training A-6 Thurney, B-1 Bash, B-1 Chaplain's Corner.- B-3 Vol. 25, No. 14 Serving the base of choice for the 21st century April 10, 1997 Food Drive 15th MEU(SOC) completes first HST Marine Corps Base Hawaii enroute to its WestPac. However, depart, it's good to stop in here so assault amphibious vehicles and is participating in the collec- Cpl. Steven Williams this marks the first time an entire we can have chance to work out all landing craft air cushions. tion of food for the Hawaii Combat Correspondent MEU as embarked on Hawaii the bugs and reconfirm our skills." Once the ramps dropped on the Foodbank Food Drive. Boxes SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, shores for jungle warfare and "This is just icing on the cake crafts, they wasted no time as they in place are already at the The 15th Marine refresher training. before we get into hot spots," said barreled off and secured commissary, chapel and Hawaii - the area. Expeditionary Unit, based in Camp "We're usually on ship for about Cpl. Mark Wilson, rifleman. "HST The Secretary of the Navy, John Family Service Center for Pendleton, Calif., became the first two months before we ever get off gives us an extra touch up on our Dalton, who watched the landings, food drop-off at any time. MEU to complete Hawaii and do some realistic training," said proficiency and gets us accustomed said he was very impressed with Food will be collected at the Sustainment Training April 2, dur- Sgt. Douglas W. Culverhouse, chief to the flow of deployment. the MEU. 113 Mokapu gate and gate, ing its routine Western Pacific tour. scout, 15th MEU, on his sixth The MEU devil dogs started the "These men are truly profession- commissary from 10 a.m. to 4 The 11th MEU, also from Camp WestPac deployment. "You tend to evolution with an amphibious raid als," he said. "They have obviously p.m. For more information Pendleton, sent one company get rusty when you've been in the on Bellows Air Force Station beach- trained very well and know what contact MSgt. 257- Hunter at through HST training last year rear for a while. So, once we es. They stormed ashore with they're doing." 3655, extension 329 or GySgt. Foster at 257-3212. Hazmat Training F Co. machine Training sessions for every- gunners take top one who generates hazardous wastes will be conducted Monday at building 1638. All squad honors personnel who operate Satellite Accumulation sites can depend on us in combat. need to attend one of the five LI Squads come togeth- We've definitely proven our two-day training sessions. At er to see what they are strength." the same time, other train- made of during com- The Marines undergo this ing, including hazardous pany level super squad type of training every day waste operations, will be con- competition& in a routine schedule. ducted as well. However, when a competi- tion aspect is added, the PT Chanting Marines said the training Cpl. Steven Williams takes on a whole new mean- Combat Correspondent ing. Units are reminded there is Machine gunners from "We accomplished things no chanting near the Mokapu Machine Guns Squad, we never knew we could," gate nor in family housing Weapons Platoon, said Haninger. "The compe- during physical training. For Company, 2nd Battalion, 3d tition brings us together as more information, call the Marine Regiment, unloaded a unit. We compete as a base inspector at 257-2350. their Marine Corps deter- team. It brings out the best mination last week to take in us." Corporals Course first in a company super "It shows how much heart squad competition April 4. we have," said Korn. "The Blood and mud was flying stronger you are inside, the Corporals Course 8-97 all week as squads battled better you will perform on invites everyone to their in challenges like the obsta- the outside." graduation Friday at the Digital photo by Col Steven Williams cle and warrior courses, low "One way they earn points Sgt. Enlisted Club. The event PFC, Steve Horton, rifleman, F Co., 2/3, fights for his balance during the competition. crawl and chariot races, a is for motivation," said begins at 1 p.m. Uniform of three-mile pack run with a Melvin Robinson, machine the day is appropriate attire 500-meter dip in the bay guns section leader and for military personnel and and basic Marine Corps evaluator. "It is a test of aloha attire for civilians. For PM() feels the burn knowledge stations, accord- physical conditioning, but more information, call 257- ing to PFC Daniel M. Korn, they earn extra points for 2688. rifleman, 1st Squad, 2nd motivation and teamwork." Platoon. The machine gunners of "The hardest part was the Weapons Platoon own the Commissary Closure 11 different knowledge sta- title of F Co. super squad, tions on Thursday," Korn but other Marines in the claimed. "We had a three- company said the competi- The Commissary will be mile run to each station and tion brought out the best in closed Tuesday for a complete had to do things like call for every one of them which store reset. The store will fire missions, disassemble a made them stronger as a reopen Wednesday for normal weapon in the dark and unit. hours. For more information, answer basic Marine Corps call 257-2612. knowledge questions." "A competition like this NAPA tests the endurance of the squads," said LCpl. Patrick T. Haninger, rifleman. "You Last week's Hawaii Marine see how much pain you can story about the closure of the withstand and how mental- National Auto Parts ly efficient you are at the Association auto center here same time. It tests you in should have stated only the Digital photo by Sgt. Valerie Griffin every aspect." NAPA store here was closing, The MCB Hawaii Military Police Department conducts pepper spray certification. Not only are the Marines not the entire NAPA compa- learning and improving on ny. here, MPs were sprayed directly in the face their weaknesses, "the com- Sgt. Valerie Griffin with OC, finding out first-hand its effects and manders can see where Combat Correspondent gaining confidence in its ability to incapacitate. their strong points are and Questions Members of the Military Police Department After training such as this, MPs here are cer- how to help us improve our here go through certification training in the tified to can and use the chemical when nec- weak areas," said LCpl. use of oleoresin capsiciem, commonly known essary. Possession or use of this, or similar sub- Sang V. Tran, team leader. Digital photo by Cpl Steven Williams Ask the Commanding as pepper mace or OC. stances, by anyone other than MPs aboard "The commanding officer Cpl. Lafayete Waters, F Co., 2/3, General via E-Mail: During the first training evolution of its kind base is illegal. finds out whether or not he crawls through the obstacles. BICE@CG@MCBH KBAY questions continue to arrive. And now, Internet: Deadline approaches to we're looking at another deadline in [email protected] October for certain eligible Marines to The Base Action Committee: convert from VEAP to MGIB convert from VEAP to the MGIB." bers to contribute up to $2,700 for a The easiest way to end the confusion, BAC@CG@MCBH KBAY Fred Carr maximum return of $8,100. said Stevens, is to categorize VEAP-em HQMC PublIc Affairs At the request of the services, Congress Marines into three groups. Domestic violence WASHINGTON - When the extended the deadline for new VEAP Group 1: Those Who Never Montgomery GI Bill Act of 1984 was enrollments until March 31, 1987. Since Digital photo by Sgt. Volorie Griffin Participated in VEAP help numbers signed into law, legislators intended to then, there have been other modifica- Education changes are around the comer: When the MGIB became effective, the Military shelter 533-7125 end any further new enrollments in the tions to veterans education benefits, the analyst, Headquarters Marine Corps, is cutoff date for new VEAP enrollments Veterans Educational Assistance most recent being Public Law 104-275 considerable confusion about who is eli- became March 31, 1987. Prior to that MPD 257-7114 Program. The MGIB requires an indi- (Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of gible for which program. "We receive a date, members could enroll any time Crisis Hotline 521-4555 vidual contribution of $1,200 for a 1996). lot of correspondence asking for clarifica- while on active duty. Those who elected $15,403 return to be used for education. The result, according to GySgt. tion," Stevens said. "Even though we not to enroll by the 1987 deadline have Child Protective Serv. 832-5282 Its predecessor, VEAP, allowed mem- Timothy Stevens, education program published ALMAR 053/97 in February, See VEAP, A-2 A-2 April 10, 1997 Hawaii Marine Marines in Group 2 who zeroed out their account through a full refund. They remain eligible only for VEAP-level benefits VEAP through reinstatement of their account From A- I ALMAR 0531'97 provides complete details for Marines with a positive balance in their VEAP account to request a refund no VEAP or other veterans educational benefits available to and convert to the MGIB. them. There are some important points for these Marines to know, Group 2: VEAP Participants Who Received an Account said Stevens. "1 would urge everyone not to count on their Refund or Exhausted Their Benefits VEAP refund as the means to pay their contribution into the This group consists of those who, prior to March 31, 1987, MGIB," he said.