MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Single Marine Program hosted a pool party at the WaterWorks Outdoor Pool, as part of the Commander’s Cup, aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni August 9, 2013.
The Commander’s Cup is a yearlong competition between units aboard station and ends with the Gladiator Challenge. The unit that comes out on top earns $300 toward unit funding.
“It’s just a way to keep everyone active at sports,” said Pamela G. Young, SMP administrative assistant.
After Marines were full on hotdogs, hamburgers and drinks provided by SMP staff members, the pool party was ready to begin.
A Wet T-shirt Relay started off the evening events. Team members were positioned at each end of the pool. The member wearing the T-shirt would swim to the opposite end and pass off the shirt until the race was completed. The winning team took home Super Soakers and second place walked away with a SMP T-shirt.
The second competition was a Dolphin Relay Race. Competitors pushed a beach ball across the pool using only their nose. First place contestants earned SMP bags with a portable iHome speaker inside and second place contenders received mini Super Soakers.
The final event was the Belly Flop competition which included the highest value prizes of the night.
“The Belly Flop competition takes the most courage so it had the main prizes,” said Young.First place won a portable DVD player and second place attained a music player speaker docking station.
Attendees could be found jumping from the diving board or tossing around a beach ball when competitions were not under way.
“I think it was a good turnout,” said Cherielyn S. Detimmermam, SMP operations assistant.
“We try to do at least one big event a month...then we do smaller events like pool tournaments and pingpong tournaments throughout the month,” said Young.
The SMP events are important, because they give Marines a chance to build camaraderie and meet new people. It helps Marines get involved, explained Detimmermam.
Single and unaccompanied Marines are encouraged to give suggestions as to what events they would be interested in attending in the future.
“We do surveys and ask people what they like,” said Young. “We are always open to suggestions from single and unaccompanied Marines to make it more fun here for them.”
The fun times will continue Sept. 20, when SMP is scheduled to host a Murder Mystery Dinner Party. Sign-ups start Sept. 6 for the parts, which include four female and four male roles.
Marines, who are not inclined to join in on any upcoming SMP events, are encouraged to take part in surveys on events to draw interest for other Marines to participate.