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Marines with Range Company, Weapons and Field Training Battalion aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island participated in Operation Adrenaline Rush at the James Island County Park in Charleston, S.C., Aug. 22. Operation Adrenaline Rush combines combat and operational stress control principles with an outdoor recreation adventure activity to aid in mitigating boredom and high-risk behavior of recent deployed Marines and sailors.

Photo by Cpl. John Wilkes

Range Company Marines get an adrenaline rush

28 Aug 2014 | Cpl. John Wilkes Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

Marines with Range Company, Weapons and Field Training Battalion aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island participated in Operation Adrenaline Rush at the James Island County Park in Charleston, S.C., Aug. 22.
Operation Adrenaline Rush combines combat and operational stress control principles with an outdoor recreation adventure activity to aid in mitigating boredom and high-risk behavior of recently deployed Marines and sailors. OAR also helps build unit cohesion, esprit de corps, morale, and communication amongst Marines.
“These Marines work from sun up to sun down,” said Capt. Chris Davis, the commanding officer of Range Co. “They work in a high stress environment and are responsible for teaching thousands of recruits the fundamentals of combat marksmanship. OAR shows them what they can do out in the community and gives them great alternatives to risky behaviors.”
Marines participated in activities such as rock wall climbing, canoeing, paddle boarding, disk golf, archery, mountain bike riding, an obstacle course, and more.
“Dealing with combat stressors, you can’t really get that in civilian life,” said Sgt. Chris Rector, a primary marksmanship instructor with Range Co. “It’s a change of scenery. We get to come out here [and] let loose a little bit.”
Through programs like OAR, Marines are able to engage in high-intensity situations, quelling their adventurous sides, while being responsible and staying safe.
Units returning from deployments are encouraged to schedule an event with outdoor recreation and involve their Marines in the program.
“I was very apprehensive coming into this,” said Lance Cpl. Warren Shaw, a combat marksmanship coach with Range Co. “It turned out to be a great experience, there was a lot of team building [events] and we got to build camaraderie and bond as fellow Marines up and down the chain of command.”
Operation Adrenaline Rush is an effective tool that helps Marines transition and provides alternatives to risky behaviors, while increasing unit cohesion and better preparing the unit to face future conflicts.
“We are here to help the Marines,” said Odom. “The equipment and programs are easy, cheap and lots of fun for every Marine.”
“OAR is therapeutic,” said Ryan Bell, the OAR coordinator with MCCS. “It gives Marines a chance to come out, have fun, and have a good time as they learn more about themselves, their stress levels and the Marines they work with every day. OAR makes the Marines and the unit as a whole stronger and more prepared to get back into the fight.”
For more information contact the Outdoor Recreation office at 228-7472, or visit www.mccs-sc.com/services/outdoor.asp.