ST ANTON, Austria -- Marine Forces Europe’s Single Marine Program organized and executed a successful ski and snowboard trip into the small town of St. Anton in the Austrian Alps, March 4.
The hard charging Marines were able to explore an area regarded as the “Cradle of Alpine skiing.” They spent the day enjoying both the ski slopes and the culture of the cozy little Austrian town that has only 2680 permanent residents.
“I had a blast on the slopes,” said Sgt. Matthew Nolan, an intelligence analyst with MarForEur. “It was my first time snowboarding, and I crashed pretty hard a few times, but overall it was an amazing experience to be in the Alps.”
Master Gunnery Sgt. Frank N. Bales, the family readiness officer with MarForEur, agreed with Nolan’s positive evaluation of the event.
“We knocked our trip to St. Anton out of the park,” said Bales. “It was a great event. The trip was a unit, personnel and family readiness command event for all the single and unaccompanied Marines of both Marine Forces Europe and Africa.”
Bales worked closely with Sgt. Tyson Ager, a personnel clerk with MarForEur, for months to ensure it was a fun and successful event. The Marines who went all agree the triumphant trip was a great start to the Single Marine Program this year at MarForEur.
“It was an outstanding trip, and I'll definitely be on the next one,” said Sgt. Jordan Eads, the orders chief with MarForEur. “There are few chances out there to spend time with other single Marines on a command sponsored trip outside of work, and the trip definitely helped build camaraderie within the command.”
Eads recounted a story from the adventure that he said was the best part.
“I was watching a Marine try to sled down a mountain on a snowboard,” said Eads. “He fell off of snowboard, and then lost control of it as it began a downhill plunge. After flying down half the mountain, and almost taking down three to four other skiers, the snowboard was finally stopped by a daring passerby.”
Eads stressed that he enjoyed the event so much he would definitely go on any more trips the Single Marine Program offered and said he would encourage other Marines to take advantage of the program.
Marine Forces Europe’s Single Marine Program has a trip planned to go to Lake Constance, which lies below the northern edge of the Alps, to experience the water recreation activities there in June. The shoreline of the lake is shared by Switzerland, Germany and Austria, and it is the largest lake in Germany. The Marines who went to Austria all agree they are motivated for their next adventure into the Alps.