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U.S. Marine Corps uniforms hang on turnstiles at the dry-cleaners on Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., Jan. 10, 2017. The station dry-cleaners is a service provided by the Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) to Marines and civilians, which provides them the opportunity to get their garments cleaned, pressed, fitted, altered or a combination of services if needed. (U.S. Marine Corps photo taken by Cpl. Isaac Martinez)

Photo by Cpl. Isaac Martinez

Ironing it out: MCAS Yuma Marines Depend On Station Dry-Cleaners

30 Jan 2018 | Cpl. Isaac Martinez Marine Corps Air Station Yuma

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. (Jan. 10, 2018) – Picture this: You’re a Marine and the Marine Corps Ball is only a few weeks away. Your uniform was inspection-ready, until you got assigned for a funeral detail unexpectedly. After performing your duties as part of the rifle detail, you realize that your uniform has been tarnished and needs some attention. Where do you go to restore your uniform’s brilliant luster? If you are stationed at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, Ariz., you could go to the station dry-cleaners.

The dry-cleaners, located inside the Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) on MCAS Yuma, is staffed with the enthusiastic workers who are prepared to handle any dry-cleaning needs.

MCAS Yuma’s station dry-cleaners helps countless Marines each year, with the busiest season, ball season, starting in the month of September and ending in November. During this time, the staff gets so busy that they stop taking non-uniform items after the month of October.

As an extra incentive for Marines to bring in their uniforms earlier than the peak season, the dry-cleaners offers a 15 percent discount on any Marine Corps dress blue uniform alterations.

Jasmine Templin, the station dry-cleaner’s supervisor, knows the hardships that the busy season brings to the shop. Templin, in addition to supervising her coworkers, often has to pick up the measuring tape and ensure that their clothing will be tailored to the perfect fit.

“Training was very tough at first, I didn’t think that I’d ever get it down,” Templin said. “There’s just a lot of things that you do all by yourself, from measuring the customer to making the alterations that they need, but once I learned how to do those things, everything got a lot easier.”

From chevron placement on service or dress blue blouses, to basic stain removal and pressing, no matter what needs to be done to get the uniform item ready for an inspection, the dry-cleaning staff is more than prepared to handle it, Templin explained.

In addition the dry-cleaners being open to military personnel, many spouses, civilians, and even the Canadian ‘snow birds’ entrust the station’s dry-cleaners to take care of any clothing they have.

Nica Saucedo, the station dry-cleaner’s manager, has been working in her position for over nine years and remembers always wanting to work on MCAS Yuma.

Saucedo enjoys the customers, Marine or civilian, and takes pleasure in making sure that their garments return to the customer nicely fitted, she said.

                “I really like my job,” Saucedo said. “In a small way, it makes me feel like I’m doing my part for the Marines – by keeping them looking sharp,”

Marines are known on a global scale to be the top fighting force, rising to any occasion and holding themselves to the highest standards, which includes their military uniform appearance. Luckily, for MCAS Yuma Marines the station dry-cleaners is another tool that they have to do so.


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