With red, white and blue decorations draped over the tables and a band playing music in the background, Deer Lake Athletic Club hosted Family Night for the United States Marine Corps recruiting sub-station Pontiac on April 18.
The night welcomed approximately 40 area youth who will soon be headed to the 8,095 acre Parris Island, South Carolina for boot camp ? and most likely to become marines.
‘Family night is designed to alleviate some of the anxiety? and dispel any rumors,? said Gunny Sergeant Sean Davis. ‘As we talk to these young people of the benefits of serving in the Marines, we explain the challenges. It’s designed to prepare them and the family for Parris Island.?
The Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island Web site describes the venue as ‘one of the birthplaces of basically trained Marines? where young men and women become Marines.
‘These are young kids that volunteered to protect this country. How can this not be important,? said Road Commission for Oakland County Board Chairman Rudy Lozano, who chaired the organizing committee for the event. ‘I commend them. They stepped up to the plate and are willing to defend the freedoms we have. It makes me proud to be part of it.?
Throughout the evening, the future recruits and their families were treated to dinner, guest speaker John B. Dean the Waterford Chief of Police, and a question and answer session with a drill instructor. State senator Mike Bishop and Independence Township supervisor Dave Wagner were also on hand.
‘I was really impressed. I really liked the speaker. I was really impressed so many people from the community were coming together to support the Marines,? said Independence Township’s Jake Bucinski, a17-year-old CHS senior who wants to work in combat support.
The program informed parents and recruits about such topics as the 12 week recruit training cycle (plus one week for orientation), mailing addresses while at Parris Island, items not to be sent in the mail and daily free time.
‘I think people are really intimidated by (Parris Island). Talking to the drill instructor who’s actually there helped out a lot,? said Mike Sommer, a 17-year-old Clarkston High senior who will leave for Parris Island June 26. ‘I felt it went really well. It helped a lot in easing the nervousness because some of us are leaving in a few months.?
Sommer’s mother Cindy had some anxiety about her only son going into the Marines and did not initially agree with his decision.
‘It did ease my mind a lot. I thought it was a really cool thing,? said Cindy Sommer.
‘I think it helped the parents a lot,? agreed Mike Sommer.
For Bucinski, the night not only eased some nerves for him and his family, it marked another step in completing his dream of joining the Marines.
‘I think it answered a lot of questions for the family. My mom had a lot of questions, but they were answered when others asked them (to the drill instructor),? said Bucinski.
One particular moment that stood out for Bucinski, was when the drill instructor discussed boot camp helping the person ‘so you can’t fail yourself.? Bucinski also said the question and answer session addressed many of his own personal questions about the boot camp schedule and opportunities to get certain jobs in the Marines, Military Occupation Services.
‘This is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid,? said Bucinski, who called up the Marine recruiter specifically over other branches of the armed forces. ‘I wanted to be with other guys who volunteered and wanted to be the best.?