MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.-Lance Cpl. Daniel Cline, administrative clerk, 1st Marine Division, investigates the harmful effects of tobacco during Camp Pendleton’s Marine Corps Community Services health fair at the Paige Fieldhouse fitness center, Jan 13. MCCS hosted the health fair to promote healthier living habits to residents living and working on base. USMC photo by Lance Cpl. Damien Gutierrez

MCCS Camp Pendleton promotes wellness with health fair
1/13/2010
by Lance Cpl. Damien Gutierrez
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — In an attempt to promote healthy living across the base, Camp Pendleton’s Marine Corps Community Services hosted a health fair at the Paige Fieldhouse fitness center, Jan. 13.

Health and fitness professionals from the different MCCS departments educated hundreds of base residents at booths sprawled throughout the fitness center. The event highlighted the base’s wide variety of programs and boasted one of the Marine Corps most highly qualified professional staff.

“We provide events like this to make sure everyone residing on the base can discover their true physical potential,” said Carri Gordonne, fitness programs supervisor, Semper Fit Division, MCCS. “This event is special in that we offer information about programs that many residents had no idea existed.”

The exposition encouraged wellness with free cholesterol screening and blood pressure tests for members of the base community. Camp Pendleton’s Counseling Services and the base’s Single Marine Program also encouraged emotional and psychological health during the daylong event.

“We offer free health assessments to help people realize the kind of physical shape they are really in,” said Gordonne. “A lot of people may think they look alright on the outside but it’s what’s inside that really counts.”

Fliers and handouts filled the hands of health fair patrons as they passed between the different displays.

“It really good to see how involved the base’s health department is in making sure everyone body on base is as healthy as can be,” said Lance Cpl. Andrew Schultz, administrative clerk, 1st Marine Division.

Camp Pendleton’s Naval Hospital also gave participants the opportunity to give back with a blood drive during the event.

“Our goal is to make sure everyone has an opportunity to be healthy,” said Gordonne. “I believe that this health fair plays a crucial role in helping us complete the Marine Corps’ mission.”

For additional information regarding registering for fitness classes and future events, contact MCC’s Semper Fit department at (760) 763-3794 or (760) 763-0419.