NEW BERN, N.C. -- Bright colors, cheerful students and dedicated teachers filled the halls of Oaks Road Elementary School. The day had just begun and you could still smell the scent of breakfast lingering from the nearby cafeteria. As the tall men arrived wearing khaki shirts and freshly pressed green pants, the school safety patrols opened the door to welcome them.

The Marines, volunteers with Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point’s Single Marine Program, shared information about their jobs in the Marine Corps with students during career day at Oaks Road Elementary School April 4.

The Marines visited four classrooms during the visit. They spoke to more than five groups of students and explained the life of an active duty Marine and the many military occupational specialties offered by the Corps.

The Marines taught the children how to wear a gas mask as well as hand and arm signals for directing aircraft.

The Marines did well with the children, explaining different aspects of life in the Marine Corps in a way the students could relate to, according to Mindy Apple, the visual arts teacher for kindergarten through fifth grade at the school.

“They did a great job,” said Apple. “They are very inspirational and they have a presence that stands out.”

The Marines goal during the career day was to provide a positive example for the children of Oaks Road. More importantly, the Marines encouraged the children to stay in school and continue learning, according to Lance Cpl. Andrew Lyons, an EA-6B Prowler mechanic with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron 1.

“At this age a lot of kids look for someone to look up to – I know because that is what I did,” said Lyons. “If we show them positive examples to follow, then we have done our job.”