Lt. Gen. McMillian attends 49ers practice

    Lt. Gen. Rex McMillian, commander of Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North, was invited to observe a 49ers’ practice session, Nov. 4, 2016, in preparation for Sunday’s “Salute to Service” game against the New Orleans Saints at Levi’s Stadium.

    The half-time show of Sunday’s game will recognize the Marine Forces Reserve Centennial.  

    As a lifelong “Niners” fan, McMillian was fascinated to see everything the stadium had to offer and gain insight on the day-to-day life of the players.

    “Seeing the hard work these guys put into each game, it really boosts the morale of the troops,” said McMillian. “Sports are huge with the men and women out in the field. Having the help and support of the 49ers is great.”

    Along with the tour, McMillian was also given the opportunity to talk with head coach Chip Kelly and multiple players; including Colin Kaepernick and Torrey Smith.

    While professional athletes have a certain degree of mysticism about them, the likeness to Marines is apparent.  Both organizations value realistic training. 

    “During practice, the coach will turn on the sound system to simulate what it’s like to be in a stadium, playing a game, in front of thousands of viewers,” said Brandon Moreno, the community relations manager for the 49ers.

    Like Marines, players learn to perform under pressure and in stressful conditions.

    “With what Marines go through in boot camp, simulating live fire, it’s easy to see some similarities,” said Moreno.

    Marine Forces Reserve celebrated its 100 years of service on Aug. 29, 2016. From World War I to the current wars in the Middle East, Reserve Marines have been called upon to fulfill mission critical skill sets that the active component needs to provide security and stability, at home and abroad.