R 271930Z MAR 15
MARADMIN 161/15
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC L LF(UC)//
SUBJ/EARTH DAY MESSAGE 2015//
POC/A. BRADEN/MAJ/MCICOM/TEL: 571-256-2815//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  EARTH DAY IS RECOGNIZED EVERY YEAR ON 22 APRIL. THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY'S EARTH DAY THEME FOR 2015, "A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE BEGINS WITH YOU," HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY AND CONTRIBUTION OF EVERY MARINE AND FAMILY MEMBER IN ENSURING THAT WE PROTECT THE LAND AND RESOURCES ENTRUSTED TO US.
2. THE MARINE CORPS SERVES AS OUR NATION'S EXPEDITIONARY FORCE IN READINESS. TODAY, MANY OF OUR UNITS ARE FORWARD DEPLOYED IN LOCATIONS SPANNING THE GLOBE. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN OUR COMBAT READINESS, WE DEPEND UPON UNENCUMBERED ACCESS TO TRAINING LANDS AND RANGES. GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP OF THESE LANDS PROTECTS THIS ACCESS, UPHOLDS THE PUBLIC'S TRUST, MAINTAINS GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, AND INCREASES THE RESILIENCE OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. CONSERVATION OF MISSION CRITICAL RESOURCES LIKE FUEL AND WATER CAN EXTEND THE OPERATIONAL REACH OF OUR MARINE AIR GROUND TASK FORCES (MAGTFS) AND REDUCE THEIR EXPEDITIONARY FOOTPRINT. DECREASING RESUPPLY REQUIREMENTS REDUCES THE NEED TO MOVE MATERIEL THROUGH DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS AND IMPROVES OPERATIONAL SECURITY. THROUGH SUSTAINABLE CHOICES SUCH AS RECYCLING AND CONSERVING ENERGY AND WATER AT WORK AND HOME, MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN HELP PRESERVE OUR RESOURCES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
3. SINCE THE FIRST EARTH DAY IN 1970, THIS ANNUAL EVENT PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES TO RAISE AWARENESS OF RESPONSIBLE WAYS TO BE RESOURCEFUL AND REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SEEK OUT AND PARTICIPATE IN EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES ABOARD YOUR INSTALLATION AND IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. USE EARTH DAY TO REFLECT ON CHOICES YOU MAKE AND WAYS TO ACT MORE SUSTAINABLY. A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE BEGINS WITH YOU, AS WE CONTINUE TO PROTECT OUR NATION "IN THE AIR, ON LAND, AND SEA."
4. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MAJGEN J. G. AYALA, ASSISTANT DEPUTY COMMANDANT, INSTALLATIONS AND LOGISTICS (FACILITIES).//