Denise Lott

East Valley Marines Detachment 1296 helps support the Vista Grande High School’s Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (MCJROTC) in Casa Grande. They provide scholarships each year toward college expenses for a graduating cadet. They also help send young Marine cadets on an annual trip to Camp Pendleton for a first-hand look at Marine training.

In return, the young cadets come to the East Valley Marines’ annual Birthday Ball and participate in the formal ceremonies, as well as often assisting with Veterans Day and Memorial Day activities.

The detachment was recently approached by their Marine Instructor, Sergeant Major Anthony Martinez, USMC (Ret), to help their Drill Team in purchasing sweat suits and a canopy for upcoming drill competitions next year. This is their second year of forming a drill team for their program. Just like any other Marine unit, they want to show off their cadets with uniformity and display camaraderie in representing the school as they travel to and from the competitions.

Marines take care of each other; and so Sergeant Major Martinez looked to the detachment for help on behalf of the school, the MCJROTC program and his cadets.

The detachment looked forward to having the cadets participate in the 2014 USMC Birthday Ball that took place at Oakwood Country Club on November 15.