MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- Just out of boot camp and Navy Hospital Corps School, Seaman Dylan T. Adkinszimmerman arrived at Cherry Point in October 2011 and soon found himself struggling financially.
“When I first checked in here, I didn’t really have my boots on the ground, and I wasn’t exactly ready for everything,” said the Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point corpsman. “It didn’t really affect my work at all, but it did affect my personal life.”
Rather than letting the problem snowball, he sought advice from his leadership.
“(The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society) was the first place I actually heard of,” he said. “I went to my command, and they said ‘Just go to them first before you use your bank, so it doesn’t mess up your credit.’”
Soon after, Adkinszimmerman visited the office and met with a Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society volunteer. The Fairfield, Calif., native found answers to his questions and a viable solution to his problem.
“They helped me get my boots on the ground and get a feel for this place and how they could take care of me,” he said.
Last year, the Cherry Point Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society helped more than 1,200 Marines and Sailors like Adkinszimmerman with grants and interest-free loans totaling more than $625,000. A large amount of the money used to provide assistance to local service members comes directly from Cherry Point’s annual Active-Duty Fund Drive in support of the society. However, the bulk of funds earmarked for direct financial assistance actually comes from repayment of loans like the one Adkinszimmerman received. This constant recycling means those who receive assistance actually help pass it forward with every repayment and extend the value of every dollar the society receives.
“The society is great,” said Adkinszimmerman. “They helped me back then, and I am pretty sure they will help me again should I need it.”
Service members can learn more about the Cherry Point Active-Duty Fund Drive in support of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society or make a donation at http://www.nmcrsfunddrive.org or by logging into Marine Online at https://www.mol.usmc.mil.