Skip to main content

marines

Program for Marine recruits goes beyond fitness to promoting community

By Howard B. Owens

Training to be a U.S. Marine can be grueling but being a Marine is also about being part of a community, and Saturday, aspiring recruits got to experience both aspects of life in the Corps at Beyond Driven Fitness in Le Roy on Saturday.

Sponsored by Beyond Driven and the American Warrior Festival, aspiring Marines from Genesee County and beyond learned about physical fitness and a series of exercises they can use to help them prepare for boot camp.

"We're getting these future Marines motivated and trained up," said Dan Clor, director of the American Warrior Festival. "They're all going to be shipping out most likely within the year. So it's just kind of a way to build morale and get them working together and keep fit. You know, the Marine Corps is very big on fitness."

Matt Walther, co-owner of Beyond Driven, said it was exciting for his facility to participate in the training event because the kids coming in are from the local community and part of Beyond Driven's mission is to support the community.

"Everything that we do here is based in the community and all these kids are part of the community," Walther said. "The more that we can provide a place that will bring them value, bring the community value, it's better for everybody.

"We can help prepare them to be the best cadets going into training," Walther added.

Sgt. John Anderson, the lead recruiter in Batavia, said the community aspect is also what helps the Marines communicate better what being a Marine is all about.

"We're trying to be more outgoing, more involved, and when other people come in and help us out it puts a good light on us and allows us to grow and show people that we're not just a fighting force, that we're more than that," Anderson said. "We're a part of the community and we're trying to help."

BHS grad credits his coach and a teammate with helping him succeed as a Marine

By Virginia Kropf

A Batavia Marine who never intended to join the military, has recently been promoted to Staff Sergeant (E6).

Terrence Irvin (inset photo left), son of Terrence and Priscilla Irvin, of Batavia, attained this latest rank after serving only seven years in the Marine Corps.

Irvin, a 2011 graduate of Batavia High School, credits his coach and mentor Nick Burk and jumper Ray Williams from his track and field team for the confidence to succeed as a Marine.

“Coach Burk helped me believe in myself,” Irvin said.

Passion & Perseverance

Irvin recalls a track meet at Rochester Institute of Technology in 2010.

“I’ll never forget it,” Irvin said. “It was during a long jump. I kept getting big jumps, but would foul. So I wanted to never jump anymore. I look back now and see Ray Williams limping with a knee injury, but still going out and jumping 20 feet, maybe more.

"To see his passion to win and physical toughness to jump through pain gave me the motivation I so desperately needed. At the same track meet, I went and high-jumped six feet, tying the school record at that time.”

Irvin also played basketball growing up.

After graduating from high school, he was going to join the Marines. But he had a cousin, James Reeves, who was already in the Marines and Irvin asked him about it.

“He said, ‘Do it.’ At that moment my decision was made. My uncle Shawn served in the Army in the early 2000s, but growing up, I never thought or wanted to be part of the military. I gave it a shot and it has worked out perfect for me.”

One of the Few and the Proud

Overall, the Marine Corps and its high standards have given him a greater sense of pride and purpose. Latin for “Always Faithful,” Semper Fidelis is the motto of every Marine — "an eternal and collective commitment to the success of our battles, the progress of our Nation, and the steadfast loyalty to the fellow Marines we fight alongside."

Irvin was assigned to the Security Guard detail for several government dignitaries in the Trump Administration, including the 45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, followed by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of Defense -- retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, former White House Chief of Staff -- retired Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly, and the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Irvin also participated in multiple Color Guard ceremonies.

He has served in the Middle East, but says he doesn’t have a favorite detail.

All Business, No Excuses

“It’s all business,” he said. “I get a job and I go out and do it with no excuses.”

He plans to stay in the Marines until his body says it’s time to go, he said. 

His long-term goal is to team up with his cousin Darien and open a fitness/recreation center in Batavia. He thinks the area would welcome a facility with weights, cardio machines, mixed martial arts section, and a 200-meter indoor track above a large basketball court.

“During high school indoor-track season, it would help the next generation by having the right equipment on which to train, as well,” Irvin said. “Maybe we could have some basketball tournaments to reward the top players in the area. I think there is a lot of potential in that area.”

Below, Terrence Irvin, left, and a comrade ready to practice their marksmanship at a gun range.

Bottom, Terrence Irvin's certificate of promotion to Staff Sargeant in the Marine Corps on Feb. 1, 2021.

Photos courtesy of Terrence Irvin.

Previously: Local Marine part of security detail for Secretary of State while in Brussels

Proud parents see son off to Marine Corps basic training and eight years of duty

By Virginia Kropf

Seeing their teenage son graduate from Rush-Henrietta High School in June was exciting enough for Jakob Bathrick’s family, but three months later they had to say goodbye when he enlisted in the Marine Corps. 

Bathrick, 18, is a son of Rory Bathrick, who lives in Batavia, and Jessica Baltz, of Henrietta, formerly of Pavilion. 

“The day he left was my 39th birthday, and I celebrated by giving my firstborn to the Marine Corps,” Baltz said. “Seeing him off was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do. I’ve always been close to my three kids and we always support each other."

Although his mother has cried and cried since he left, she knows this is something he wanted to do.

She said Bathrick made the decision to join the military a year ago, while he was on vacation with his grandparents in Washington, D.C. A recruiter had gotten his name through his high school and kept calling him.

“He initially was going to join the Army, but the Marine recruiter convinced him to join the Marines,” Baltz said. “After all, the Marines are ‘the few and the proud.’ ”

The recruits left Batavia’s recruiting substation and were bused to Niagara Falls, where they spent the night in a hotel, after preliminary briefing and time with their families.

The next day, families began arriving at 9 a.m. at the Air Force Base, and after security clearance, were directed to the building where the ceremonies would take place.

Bathrick’s family who came to see him off included his parents; aunt, Ami Quigley, of Pavilion; siblings Cecelia and Andrew Bathrick; grandparents Tom Bathrick, of Varysburg, and Nancy Baltz, of Pavilion; aunt, Jo Page, of Warsaw; family friend, Andy Caven and his grandparents, Bruce and Brenda Serena, of Akron. Brenda Serena is a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army and was allowed to perform the swearing-in ceremony for her grandson.

“That was pretty cool,” Jakob’s mother said. “Brenda was my mother-in-law and she’s just been Brenda to me. To see all those military saluting her was really impressive.”

The military is very diligent about seeing parents are wellbinformed about what lays in store for the recruit.

For the first several hours in the morning, while the recruits underwent final procedures, their families gathered in the cafeteria, listening to a representative from the American Red Cross and receiving instructions on what to expect during the next weeks of basic training. 

They learned the only way to communicate with their recruit in time of emergency is through the Red Cross. They were also informed about financial assistance available to the military, their families and retired veterans.

Perhaps the hardest thing for families was learning there would be no communication of any kind with the recruit, especially those joining the Marines, until after they were settled in to basic training.

Marines are the only branch of the military which does not allow recruits to have their cell phone during basic training, and before the recruits boarded a bus for Buffalo International Airport that morning, they handed their cell phones and any other personal belongings over to their family. 

Another hour or so was spent listening to Army Ret. Col. Nancy E. Bird, of Rochester, a volunteer at the Military Entrance Processing Station who does about 35 presentations a year at the base. She mingled with family and friends and briefed them on what their part should be in the coming months.

One thing she particularly stressed was the importance of writing – every day. She urged families to give the recruit’s address to everyone they know and ask them to write a letter.

Shortly after noon, the recruits were ushered out into the driveway, where their bus awaited. Each recruit received a brown envelope with his final instructions.

Jakob’s family was among those who followed the bus to Buffalo International Airport to wait and see him on the plane. They arrived at the airport around 3 o'clock, but the recruits’ plane wasn’t scheduled to leave until 5:30. However, they soon learned the plane had been delayed almost an hour. They were scheduled to land in Charlotte, N.C., then transfer to another plane for the final leg of the trip to Savannah, Ga., where a bus would take them on the two-hour drive to Parris Island, S.C.

Families had been told after arriving in Parris Island, recruits could make a formatted call of about 10 seconds, to let their parents know they had arrived. There would be no other personal conversation. However, because it was 1:30 or 2 in the morning by the time they arrived, Jakob’s family never got the call.

His mother was frantic and was able to call the Marine recruiter and learn Jakob had arrived safely.

“I am still crying,” Baltz said. “I cry because I’m so proud and I cry because I don’t think I can do this. Jakob has enlisted for eight years.”

During the ninth week of basic training, Jakob will be able to send home information from the battalion commander with information about graduation, which will be in the middle of December.

Part of Col. Bird’s briefing was what to expect for the families who plan to attend graduation. The ceremony is outside, and there is no parking close by, she said. She stressed the importance of proper dress.

At the conclusion of graduation, Marines are free to depart Parris Island and begin 10 days of leave – something Jakob’s family can’t wait for. 

His mother is hopeful because their 10-day leave takes them to Christmas Eve, that the Marines will extend the leave to have Christmas at home. 

Top photo: Jakob Bathrick gets congratulations from his grandmother, Ret. Lt. Col. Brenda Serena, of Akron, formerly of Attica, after she swore him into the Marines during ceremonies at Niagara Falls Air Force Base. 

Below: Jakob Bathrick’s entire family drove to Niagara Falls Air Force Base to see him sworn into the Marines in September. From left are: his grandfathers Tom Bathrick, of Varysburg, and Bruce Serena, of Akron; aunt Ami Quigley, of Pavilion; grandmother Brenda Serena, of Akron, a retired lieutenant colonel who swore Jakob in; Jakob’s siblings, Andrew and Cecelia Bathrick; father Rory Bathrick, of Batavia; Jakob; mother Jessica Baltz, of Henrietta, formerly of Pavilion; Andy Caven, family friend; aunt Jo Page, of Warsaw; and grandmother Nancy Baltz, of Pavilion. Grandfather John Baltz, who owns Baltz Concrete Construction in Pavilion, was unable to make the trip.

Photos by Virginia Kropf.

Local Marine part of security detail for Secretary of State while in Brussels

By Howard B. Owens

Sgt. Terrence Irvin, from Batavia, second from left, is a Marine Security Guard currently deployed to Brussels, where he served recently as part of the security contingent for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, middle of the picture. Irvin is currently serving as a guard attached to the State Department. Following his discharge in 2019, he hopes to become a NYS State Trooper.

soldier need a lil reminder of home

By jonathan bell

as of right now there are 37 deployed service members who grew up in genesee county. If someone could post some photos from time to time of local events it would really cheer alot of them up including myself. Just photos of muckdog games christmas in the city just random things to remind us of what we will be returning to after our 15 month tours are up.

 

 

 

                                                                      thank you

Authentically Local