Marine Officers and Officer Candidates Help Local Community

8 Mar 2013 | Sgt. Dwight Henderson 4th Marine Corps District

Marine officers and officer candidates with Marine Corps Recruiting Station Raleigh helped build a house for Habitat for Humanity in Wake County, N.C., February 22.

The Marines and candidates contributed to a house that will one day be sold to a family in need at a reduced price.

 “It was great,” said Capt. Scott Riley, an officer selection officer with RS Raleigh. “It was good to not only help a family in need, but I personally enjoy building with my hands.”

With the guidance of a volunteer contractor, the Marines and candidates picked up hammers and power tools to build walls, roof trusses and started putting up the plywood exterior.  

Second Lt. Daniel P. Murphy was one of the Marines who helped build the house and says its benefit to a family can be priceless by keeping their children in good neighborhoods and out of potential gang activity.

These kinds of projects are not only good for the community, but also for the Marines who participate in them. It’s an opportunity for them to work elements of teamwork, leadership, discipline, and community that are so heavily stressed within the Marine Corps.

This is especially helpful for Marines like Murphy who has gone through Officer Candidates School but is waiting for his chance to go through The Basic School, a six month school in Quantico, Va., that is a requirement for all Marine officers.  

“Any time we can get the group together it’s a good thing,” said Murphy. “It helps me stay connected. If I wasn’t involved in things like this, it would make it harder to stay motivated.”

The Marines and candidates upheld the Marine Corps’ values of honor, courage and commitment through their tireless efforts to improve the community around them.

“The Marines were so useful on site,” said Caresse Lee, the AmeriCorps construction crew leader. “Even though it was a cold and rainy day, they all remained positive and had a great sense of humor. We would love to have such a hardworking group back with us again.”


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