David Plaster, family readiness officer for the Marine Corps Communication and Electronics School (MCCES) brings 24 years of Marine Corps experi ence to his job. The former sergeant major retired from 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines in 2005 and moved back east. The desert kept calling his name though, and after four years, he returned to our Twentynine Palms community and put his experience to work as a family readiness officer.
“I have lived what they’re living. I understand the cycles they have to go through,” David said.
While MCCES is not a deploying unit, the school brings other unique challenges to the table. Many of the students are single or newly married geo bachelors, while many of the permanent personnel have children in their teens. For the students in his unit, David stresses the expanded definition of family, which can include parents, cousins, grandparents or anyone else the Marine chooses as his points of contact. He is also a big proponent of LINKS, New Parent Support and, for those with older children, the youth and teen programs aboard base.
Many of the programs that exist now to help families were not even thought of when David first enlisted in 1981. “We’re finally doing this right,” he said, though pointed out that if any area is lacking, he’s open to suggestions.
Throughout his Marine Corps tenure, David served on both coasts and in the Pacific and deployed during Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also did several ship tours. The desert is home though. When not helping the families of MCCES, David enjoys hiking in Joshua Tree National Park and four-wheeling in Johnson Valley. |
