Stories

Spectators watch the teams compete at the Boiling Points competition held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds April 16. Boiling Points is a competition hosted by Aaron Williams, which challenged the Marine Corps, Army, Navy and Coast Guard to go head-to-head in a 45-minute cooking competition. The Marine team took 1st place with their dish of an appetizer of fried eggplant and seared scallop caprese, and an entrée of seared duck, sweet potatoes and a fruit medley with a star fruit and horn melon sauce. - Spectators watch the teams compete at the Boiling Points competition held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds April 16. Boiling Points is a competition hosted by Aaron Williams, which challenged the Marine Corps, Army, Navy and Coast Guard to go head-to-head in a 45-minute cooking competition. The Marine team took 1st place with their dish of an appetizer of fried eggplant and seared scallop caprese, and an entrée of seared duck, sweet potatoes and a fruit medley with a star fruit and horn melon sauce.

Representatives for Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, the unit awarded with Large Unit Volunteer of the Year award, pose with Brig. Gen. John W. Bullard, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations-West, during the 2014 Volunteer Recognition Ceremony at the Pacific Views Event Center April 10. More than 6,000 military and civilian volunteers from several units on Camp Pendleton accumulated a total of 110,461 hours of volunteer service in 2013. - Representatives for Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, the unit awarded with Large Unit Volunteer of the Year award, pose with Brig. Gen. John W. Bullard, commanding general of Marine Corps Installations-West, during the 2014 Volunteer Recognition Ceremony at the Pacific Views Event Center April 10. More than 6,000 military and civilian volunteers from several units on Camp Pendleton accumulated a total of 110,461 hours of volunteer service in 2013.

Jessica L. (Garfola) Wright, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, visited voting assistance staff members from the Camp Pendleton voting office today during her tour of the installation. “She wanted to familiarize herself with the Marine Corps and Camp Pendleton,” said Jimmie Hoskins, the Marine Corps Installations-West installation voting assistant officer. “She wanted to see a working Marine Corps installation voting office.”Secretary Wright is the senior policy advisor to the Secretary of Defense on recruitment, career development, pay and benefits for 1.4 million active duty military personnel, 1.3 million Guard and Reserve personnel, 680,000 Department of Defense civilians, and is responsible for overseeing the overall state of military readiness. - Jessica L. (Garfola) Wright, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, visited voting assistance staff members from the Camp Pendleton voting office today during her tour of the installation. “She wanted to familiarize herself with the Marine Corps and Camp Pendleton,” said Jimmie Hoskins, the Marine Corps Installations-West installation voting assistant officer. “She wanted to see a working Marine Corps installation voting office.” Secretary Wright is the senior policy advisor to the Secretary of Defense on recruitment, career development, pay and benefits for 1.4 million active duty military personnel, 1.3 million Guard and Reserve personnel, 680,000 Department of Defense civilians, and is responsible for overseeing the overall state of military readiness.

The IRONMAN 70.3 California Oceanside is an annual event that took place on March 29, 2014 in the city of Oceanside. The IRONMAN 70.3 is a 1.2-mile swim transitioning into a 56-mile bike ride followed by a 13.1-mile run to the finish line. The race draws competitors from all over the world. The course starts in Oceanside Harbor and follows the coast making its way to northern Camp Pendleton before looping southward through the base back to the Oceanside Pier area and the finish line. This year’s men’s champion was Jan Frodeno, a German native and an Olympic gold medalist, beating the defending champion American Andy Potts by only a few minutes. The top three men’s finishers are German Jan Frodeno taking first with a time of 3:49:25, American Andy Potts taking second with a 3:52:18, and German Sebastian Kienle taking third with a time of 3:53:21. The top three woman’s finishers are Canadian Heather Wurtele taking first with a time of 4:13:12, American Heather Jackson taking second place with a time of 4:14:15, and American Meredith Kessler taking third with a time of 4:19:52. - The IRONMAN 70.3 California Oceanside is an annual event that took place on March 29, 2014 in the city of Oceanside. The IRONMAN 70.3 is a 1.2-mile swim transitioning into a 56-mile bike ride followed by a 13.1-mile run to the finish line. The race draws competitors from all over the world. The course starts in Oceanside Harbor and follows the coast making its way to northern Camp Pendleton before looping southward through the base back to the Oceanside Pier area and the finish line. This year’s men’s champion was Jan Frodeno, a German native and an Olympic gold medalist, beating the defending champion American Andy Potts by only a few minutes. The top three men’s finishers are German Jan Frodeno taking first with a time of 3:49:25, American Andy Potts taking second with a 3:52:18, and German Sebastian Kienle taking third with a time of 3:53:21. The top three woman’s finishers are Canadian Heather Wurtele taking first with a time of 4:13:12, American Heather Jackson taking second place with a time of 4:14:15, and American Meredith Kessler taking third with a time of 4:19:52.

Comedians performed for hundreds of Marines and sailors during the Leathernecks III Comedy and Entertainment Tour at the Pacific Views Event Center March 28.The tour, hosted by the Marine Corps Community Services Single Marine Program, featured Saturday Night Live comedian Kevin Nealon, followed by a musical performance from the six-time Grammy Award nominee, B.O.B. - Comedians performed for hundreds of Marines and sailors during the Leathernecks III Comedy and Entertainment Tour at the Pacific Views Event Center March 28. The tour, hosted by the Marine Corps Community Services Single Marine Program, featured Saturday Night Live comedian Kevin Nealon, followed by a musical performance from the six-time Grammy Award nominee, B.O.B.

Military spouses network with employers, receive help with resume writing and career planning during the Hiring Our Heroes hiring fair at the Pacific Views Event Center, March 25. The new website, MyCareerSpark.org, was introduced at the fair and provides a resume builder to help military spouses eliminate employment gaps and translate skills. - Military spouses network with employers, receive help with resume writing and career planning during the Hiring Our Heroes hiring fair at the Pacific Views Event Center, March 25. The new website, MyCareerSpark.org, was introduced at the fair and provides a resume builder to help military spouses eliminate employment gaps and translate skills.

Competitors stand by at the start line of the Hell Fire Fat Tire took place on Saturday, March 22 near Lake O’Neill and Deluz housing on Camp Pendleton. The Hell Fire Fat Tire is a mountain bike race that started and ended at Lake O’Neill Recreation area. The race started in the 26-area and traveled close to Naval Weapons Station Fallbrook before traversing the hills on the far eastern side of the 14-area, to include Engineers Hill. There were two distance choices for competitors, the 25 mile and the 15 mile course. The race included a rare look around the base for the community considering the course is only open to the public once a year. Competitors can place in different categories that consist of age and active duty status. There were 385 finishers for the race; over 300 of the competitors were from the surrounding community. Mack Brown from Pacific Palisades, California took first place overall and first in his division in the 25 mile race of the Hell Fire Fat Tire, coming in 7 minutes faster than second place with a time of 1:41:42. Melissa S. Martinez a former 1st Lieutenant with Combat Logistics Regiment-17 took first overall for females and first for her division in the 15 mile race with a time of 1:29:34. - Competitors stand by at the start line of the Hell Fire Fat Tire took place on Saturday, March 22 near Lake O’Neill and Deluz housing on Camp Pendleton. The Hell Fire Fat Tire is a mountain bike race that started and ended at Lake O’Neill Recreation area. The race started in the 26-area and traveled close to Naval Weapons Station Fallbrook before traversing the hills on the far eastern side of the 14-area, to include Engineers Hill. There were two distance choices for competitors, the 25 mile and the 15 mile course. The race included a rare look around the base for the community considering the course is only open to the public once a year. Competitors can place in different categories that consist of age and active duty status. There were 385 finishers for the race; over 300 of the competitors were from the surrounding community. Mack Brown from Pacific Palisades, California took first place overall and first in his division in the 25 mile race of the Hell Fire Fat Tire, coming in 7 minutes faster than second place with a time of 1:41:42. Melissa S. Martinez a former 1st Lieutenant with Combat Logistics Regiment-17 took first overall for females and first for her division in the 15 mile race with a time of 1:29:34.

Camp Pendleton has begun a new initiative in recycling by reducing their disposable waste through recycling Styrofoam.Most people think that Styrofoam is not recyclable, but the truth is the material is a petroleum based product and it is highly recyclable, just like plastics, according to Charles Bradshaw, the Recycling Program Manager for Camp Pendleton. - Camp Pendleton has begun a new initiative in recycling by reducing their disposable waste through recycling Styrofoam. Most people think that Styrofoam is not recyclable, but the truth is the material is a petroleum based product and it is highly recyclable, just like plastics, according to Charles Bradshaw, the Recycling Program Manager for Camp Pendleton.

Mario Moreno, a Sodexo employee from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, chops onions during the Marine Corps Installations-West Chef of the Quarter Culinary Competition hosted by the 41-Area Mess Hall here, March 12. Kenny Ponce and Sid Hilarides, Sodexo employees from 53-Area Mess Hall, were awarded first place for second quarter of fiscal year 2014. Ponce and Hilarides took first in the third quarter, 2013 competition as well. - Mario Moreno, a Sodexo employee from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, chops onions during the Marine Corps Installations-West Chef of the Quarter Culinary Competition hosted by the 41-Area Mess Hall here, March 12. Kenny Ponce and Sid Hilarides, Sodexo employees from 53-Area Mess Hall, were awarded first place for second quarter of fiscal year 2014. Ponce and Hilarides took first in the third quarter, 2013 competition as well.

For the group of caregivers at the Marine Corps Trials, the Wounded Warrior Regiment organized a special luncheon that gave them a chance to meet and network with other caregivers that have struggled with the same hardships at the Wounded Warrior Hope and Care Center here, March 4. This gave them a chance to talk with the commander and staff of the WWR about any problems they have experienced or are currently facing. The regiment also planned a spa day as way to give back to the caregivers, which is scheduled to take place in Carlsbad, Calif., March 5.During the luncheon they provided information about Marine Corps Trials events and other information about the regiment.For more information contact Capt. Ryan M. Powell at (703) 859-5364. - For the group of caregivers at the Marine Corps Trials, the Wounded Warrior Regiment organized a special luncheon that gave them a chance to meet and network with other caregivers that have struggled with the same hardships at the Wounded Warrior Hope and Care Center here, March 4. This gave them a chance to talk with the commander and staff of the WWR about any problems they have experienced or are currently facing. The regiment also planned a spa day as way to give back to the caregivers, which is scheduled to take place in Carlsbad, Calif., March 5. During the luncheon they provided information about Marine Corps Trials events and other information about the regiment. For more information contact Capt. Ryan M. Powell at (703) 859-5364.

Brig. Gen. John W. Bullard presents Steven Carlen with the Outstanding Housing/Billeting Employee of the Year award March 4.With his supervisor temporarily assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, Carlen acted as the fiscal director from October 2013 to January 2014. During this time he ensured efficient utilization of programmed funds, while drafting and submitting all budget reporting information on time with 100% accuracy, according to his award.Bullard is the commanding general, Marine Corps Installations-West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Carlen is the budget analyst for the Family Housing Branch - Brig. Gen. John W. Bullard presents Steven Carlen with the Outstanding Housing/Billeting Employee of the Year award March 4. With his supervisor temporarily assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, Carlen acted as the fiscal director from October 2013 to January 2014. During this time he ensured efficient utilization of programmed funds, while drafting and submitting all budget reporting information on time with 100% accuracy, according to his award. Bullard is the commanding general, Marine Corps Installations-West, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Carlen is the budget analyst for the Family Housing Branch

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.-- The Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit United States Court of Appeals visited Camp Pendleton Feb. 25.During the visit the judges and their families toured the Infantry Immersion Trainer. The purpose of the trainer is to put Marines into a realistic environment to prepare them for deployments. "If Marines believe they are in danger they will duck away from it and react," said Robert Thielen, the site manager for the Infantry Immersion Trainer. "When we see the Marines yelling and taking action we know that they believe this environment is real, which is exactly what this training is meant to do." There are three Infantry Immersion Trainers in the United States, but Camp Pendleton is the only base with an indoor and oudoor environment. - CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.-- The Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit United States Court of Appeals visited Camp Pendleton Feb. 25. During the visit the judges and their families toured the Infantry Immersion Trainer. The purpose of the trainer is to put Marines into a realistic environment to prepare them for deployments. "If Marines believe they are in danger they will duck away from it and react," said Robert Thielen, the site manager for the Infantry Immersion Trainer. "When we see the Marines yelling and taking action we know that they believe this environment is real, which is exactly what this training is meant to do." There are three Infantry Immersion Trainers in the United States, but Camp Pendleton is the only base with an indoor and oudoor environment.