By Betty Snider | HQMC MF COMMSTRAT
Jude Crouch sees the value of Semper Fit’s Single Marine Program (SMP) daily.
“This program is the voice of the Marines, allowing them to address their quality of life every day,” said Crouch, coordinator of SMP at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma.
The Marines who serve on the SMP council design recreational opportunities and morale enhancing activities for their units, she said. Their input and leadership “allow us to go deeper and really represent the needs and wants of the units.”
At Yuma, Marines have organized a variety of head-to-head competitions between units, including Humvee pulls, archery tag, and jousting. They have planned trips to theme parks and other attractions, held theme parties, and offered fun food events such as pancakes at the hangar and chili dogs in the barracks. Getting Marines out of their barracks and taking part in positive social activities helps lessen the feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Marines can take cooking classes that offer ideas for making meals in the barracks. They also learn about healthy nutrition and food choices from Semper Fit’s health promotions staff.
Beyond the fun factor, Crouch sees a deeper benefit from SMP.
“I really believe recreation is the first line of prevention,” she said. “When people are engaged in meaningful and healthy pursuits in their off time, it reduces stress and boosts mental well-being. It negates harmful behaviors.”
An important component of SMP is volunteering.
“The altruism through volunteering connects them to the community,” Crouch said. “It’s getting them outside of themselves.”
Crouch has worked for Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) for 26 years and has been with SMP since 2009.
“To me, MCCS is like a small town within a city,” she said. “I don’t know where else you can have the same organization running the bowling alley, providing prevention services, and running the ball fields at night. I love how the services connect.”
Crouch said the staff at Yuma is a dedicated group working toward the shared goal of serving the patrons. “Our staff does a lot of listening.,” she said. “This allows us to point our patrons toward other services they might need.”
They work very closely with other Semper Fit program areas such as athletics, fitness, aquatics, and MCCS recreational facilities to showcase all that is available on the installation. The integrated approach is part of MCCS’ overall mission of preventing harmful behaviors and strengthening the resilience of service members and their families.
Working with SMP has been rewarding. “I love our patrons,” Crouch said. “They are such giving people.”
She also enjoys seeing Marines grow during their time with SMP.
At a Welcome Aboard brief one time, a Marine sat in a chair backwards and had his head down when Crouch approached him. “I hate Yuma. I don’t want to be here,” he told her. “You can’t do anything for me. I am going to be miserable for my three years here.”
Crouch did not give up on the young Marine, and within a month, he was running for SMP executive council president. After two years, he asked to be reassigned to Yuma because he believed he was making such an impact in the lives of Marines there.
The development of leadership skills and the positive effects of peer encouragement are hallmarks of SMP, Crouch said. “That’s what really makes the difference.”