Marines Plan Skeet, Sports Competition

Marine Corps Base Quantico will be the main host for the first U.S. Marine Corps and British Royal Marine collaboration of games known as Exercise Virginia Gauntlet from April 20 to May 1. Approximately 250 Marines will compose the Quantico varsity teams and All-Marine teams that will compete against the Brits in skeet shooting, golf, basketball, rugby, soccer, and boxing.

The idea for the games originated when Commandant of the British Royal Marines, Maj. Gen. Buster Howes, petitioned U.S. Marine Corps Commandant, Gen. James Amos, to hold the games in a letter dated April 29, 2011. Amos responded with the full support of the U.S. Marine Corps less than a month later.

Howes’ letter stated that such a feat has only been tried once, to much success in 1994, when the U.S. Marine Corps hosted the British Royal Marines for sport competitions all along the eastern seaboard.

Amos agreed that these games provide the Marines with a break from high tempo work and wartime deployments, as well as strengthen the bonds between the two services that have been forged together on the battlefield.

Military leaders, such as the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Commandant of the British Royal Marines, will be in attendance at various events.