San Diego -- Being a service member in a military town has its advantages. Organizations from the local area including the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Chargers and the San Diego Padres demonstrate their support for the military establishment through discounts and military appreciation days.
Marines of Company G, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, enjoyed a college basketball game at the University of San Diego gymnasium, Jan 9.
The University of San Diego invited the Marines to show their appreciation for military service-members.
For Marines of Co. G, the game was the first time they had been in a civilian environment in almost three months. Approximately 500 graduating Marines of Co. G attended the basketball game.
“Being back out in the civilian world as Marines gives us a sense of pride and what it means to be Marines,” said 23-year-old Lance Cpl. Aidan P. Price, a Rockton, Ill. native. “When we walked into the USD gym it made us feel welcome and gave us great appreciation for our accomplishment of becoming United States Marines.”
USD invites the Marines every year to attend one of their home basketball games. For the Marines, the game was the first opportunity to present themselves and uphold higher standards as Marines.
For the first time since they began recruit training, the Marines of Co. G ate something other than what was provided at the chow hall. While in recruit training, Marines held a strict diet. The Marines treated themselves to beverages and snacks as they watched the USD basketball team earn a victory over Loyola Marymount with a score of 74-67.
Marines graduating recruit training meet their families the day prior to graduation, also known as family day. USD invited the families as well with the Marines and felt welcome as soon as they entered through the doors of the Jenny Craig Pavilion gymnasium, explained Price.
“These Marines show pure pride and motivation; they’ve overcome a significant series of obstacles. They’ve done it through individual effort and teamwork and they deserve that great round of applause you gave them,” said Col. Jim G. Gruny, commanding officer, Recruit Training Regiment. “We thank you for the opportunity to come here and enjoy a great basketball game. It’s going to be a great night and a great night for these Marines.”
Marines of Co. G spent one last night on the depot before graduating. They’ll move on to Marine Combat Training or to the School of Infantry, but not before the city of San Diego showed its appreciation for its local military.