Marines of 10th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division, have spent the end of July and part of their August helping Johnson Primary staff set the conditions for students to return to school safely.
Johnson Primary – a Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) school – welcomed the Marines, who, over a matter of weeks, assisted in improving and outfitting areas of the school with COVID-19-mitigation measures.
“It was our pleasure working shoulder-to-shoulder with the teachers and faculty to ensure the safety of our most valuable asset, the children,” said Lieutenant Col. Stephen Kulas, operations officer for 10th Marines. “I truly believe in a ‘one team, one fight’ mentality, regardless of task, and we demonstrated that throughout this process. We are a family and community that needs to support each other during these difficult times. Being able to welcome the students back to school is an honor.”
Together, the school’s staff and the Marines conducted repairs, moved furniture, constructed an outdoor classroom, and built “sneeze guards” to help ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff during in-person learning.
“Our Marines and Sailors are always looking for ways to give back to the community; assisting Johnson Primary School in preparing for the return of students is a perfect example of that,” commented Col. Robert J. Hallett, commanding officer of 10th Marine Regiment. “Stepping up during this trying and turbulent time is an example of what Marines and Sailors do best: help others in their time of need. The Marines and Sailors of this regiment have been actively working around the world to make it a better place, and this was a chance to do some good closer to home.”
After months of closure, designed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Johnson Primary School staff and the Marines welcomed students back to school August 24, following the longest hiatus from classroom learning this century.
Hallett continued, “Many of our Marines’ and Sailors’ children are students at Johnson Primary as well. I can’t think of a better way to reinforce the importance of civic responsibility to our own children. I could not be more proud of the Marines and Sailors in this regiment.”
Imagery is available at the 2d Marine Division DVIDS page (link below). For more information on 10th Marines’ involvement, please contact 1st Lt. Dan Linfante at (910)545-9681 or daniel.linfante@usmc.mil.
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For imagery and video of the event, please visit
DVIDS: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/2MARDIV
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Official Website: https://www.2ndmardiv.marines.mil/