MCRD/ERR Parris Island, S.C. -- Through Marine Corps Community Services-South Carolina, and with the help of EMBARQ, the Single Marine and Sailor Program opened their new Liberty Center inside the Brig and Brew Oct. 18 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The new Liberty Center allows Marines and sailors to enjoy their liberty hours with free Internet access, movies and video games.
The center has four new computers, which are equipped with high-speed Internet access and printers. EMBARQ has also donated the first year of Internet service.
"The computers are for the Marines to use for whatever they want as long as material remains appropriate," said Brett Westerfield, SMP president.
The SMP also installed a large wide-screen television specifically for movies and sports. Eventually, the SMP will host pay per view events such as Ultimate Fighting Championship matches and Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment showings. Westerfield stated that due to the current available cable provider, pay per view showings are hard to obtain on the Depot.
No entertainment center is complete without video games, so in addition to the computers and movies, two flat-screen televisions, one with an Xbox and one an Xbox 360, were installed in the game room allowing Marines and sailors to hone their hand and eye coordination. Games such as Battlefield 2, Halo and Madden NFL are provided at the Liberty Center.
A total of 14 televisions were also purchased for the center. They are mounted on the walls of every room, including the activity room, which was previously the only recreation for SMP and Brig and Brew patrons. The activity room includes table tennis, foosball, a pool table and a large projector.
The Liberty Center was far from being simply handed to the SMP staff. Even with an extremely generous donation of more than $7,000 worth of computer equipment, there was still much work to be done.
"Jimmie Woods, the SMP vice president, and I spent a lot of time and work fixing this place up," said Westerfield. "We cleaned it up, painted the walls and set the furniture and equipment up by ourselves so the Marines would have a nice environment to relax in."
In addition to the work of Woods and Westerfield, MCCS-SC purchased $5,000 of new carpet for the Liberty Center.
The Liberty Center is located to the side of the Brig and Brew, enabling Marines older than 21 access to a full service bar with a menu consisting of an array of beverages and food. The SMP is also looking into providing vending machines or a soda mess to provide food and drinks while the Brig and Brew is not serving food and drinks.
Brigadier Gen. Paul E. Lefebvre, commanding general, MCRD Parris Island/Eastern Recruiting Region, showed his support and appreciation for the SMP by cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of the new center.
"Individual Marines have told me this will be a great place for Marines, and I'd like to thank the Single Marine Program for providing this for them and EMBARQ for their contribution," said Gen. Lefebvre.
The SMP Liberty Center's hours are currently Sundays and Mondays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to midnight and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., but are subject to change based on how often Marines and sailors use the center.