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Feathers, fouls fly as MALS-12 competes in 2011 Turkey Bowl

1 Dec 2011 | Pfc. Benjamin Pryer Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 had its fourth annual Turkey Bowl flag football game at Penny Lake fields here Nov. 23. The game brought together all ranks in MALS-12 for friendly competition and unit cohesion.

“It’s a way for enlisted or officers to prove who is the best,” said Jeffrey A. Fleming, MALS-12 family readiness officer.

Teams were divided by ranks. Noncommissioned officers played against staff NCOs, and junior Marines played against officers.

“It is important for the Marines to get out here and have fun,” said Fleming. “It’s not about rank once they’re out here, but just (the Marines) getting together as teams and having some good competition.”

 NCOs and staff NCOs kept the score close until the end.

In overtime, the staff NCOs were within 15 yards of their winning touchdown when a high-tossed pass was intercepted by the NCOs and ran across the field for victory.

MALS-12 hosted the MALS-12 Turkey Bowl as a way for Marines to join together by ranks where most games have teams grouped by shops or units.

“It’s important for the Marines to get to come out and do this to bring everyone together and to build camaraderie between the ranks,” said Maj. William G. Slack, MALS-12 operations officer.

Slack, dressed in a red and white wig and “Slackdaddy” jersey, scored one of the many officer team’s goals.

“I’m definitely looking forward to getting to play the NCOs in our next match,” said Slack. “This is one of those games that comes with a lot of bragging rights. You have to play the game to see who is best.”

Junior Marines and officers battled it out for a chance to go against the NCOs for first place.

“It’s important to go out there and work as a team,” said Lance Cpl. Gabriel H. Beltres, MALS- 12 calibrator technician. “It’s fun being out there getting to play.”

The officer’s team shut out the junior Marines 32-0. “We did our best defensively, but we just couldn’t score,” said Beltres. “We gave our best in the end and that’s all we could really do.”

NCOs and staff NCOs from the first game stayed in the bleachers to cheer and joke with the players on the field.

The second part of the games are scheduled to take place Friday with the junior Marines playing the staff NCOs and the officers playing the NCOs to see which ranks played the best.