Native American History Month Profile - Lacrosse Pro, Master-at-Arms Craig Day Marvin

Craig Day Marvin is no stranger to running down adversaries. As a Navy Master-at-Arms, he has trained physically and mentally to engage with numbers of opponents. But prior to doing standing a security watch, he was doing it on the lacrosse. The security specialist with Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Four Detachment Patuxent River has a profound love for the sport of lacrosse which he plays professionally, but also shares a personal connection to.
 
“I have been playing lacrosse since I could hold a stick,” Marvin claims. “I am Mohawk & Wolf Clan from Saint Regis Mohawk Reservation [Akwesasne] from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy [People of the longhouse] in upstate New York and Canada. It's part of my heritage and called the Creators Game and when we are born, we are given a miniature wooden lacrosse stick, and it is put in our cradle. It is a medicine game for us as we play it for the creator and healing purposes.”
 
Marvin has had many years’ experience with the sport, playing in leagues since he was 12 in New York, and rising through the competitive ranks. He earned bronze playing in 2002 The North American Indigenous Games in Winnipeg, Canada, before going semi-pro with the Canadian-American (CAN-AM) Lacrosse League’s Senior B league Onondaga Redhawks and the National Lacrosse League Rochester Knighthawks. CAN-AM Allegany Arrows, and eventually becoming an owner-manager of the CAN-AM Rochester Greywolves team.
 
“In 2016 I was asked to manage and coach the Pinewoods Smoke CAN-AM team where I ended up playing as well,” said Marvin. “I assembled a winning team making it to the Championship both seasons only to fall short to the Native Sons both times. At this time, I was starting a family and at 35 I decided to retire and hang my gloves up.”
 
In addition to lacrosse, Marvin had also established himself in the field of graphic design, working in the industry for 19 years before changing course.
 
“I felt it was time to make a change and do something that would benefit myself and family long term,” said Marvin, “and I had a great job set up and was waiting to start my new career, then the 2020 pandemic hit, and my new job decided to shut down and work with minimal manning. At this point days turned to weeks then months and I needed to make moves; nobody was hiring for what I was looking for and I needed so I looked into the military. I have a long military family tree tracing back to the Civil War and my dad being a Marine and an uncle who was a Mohawk Code Talker in WW2. I always wanted to join the armed forces, but I had a career and at this point in my life I thought I was too old, but there I was shipping out to Boot Camp in April of 2021 at age 38.”
 
Despite being an older recruit, Marvin thrived in Navy life, even drawing parallels between his old passion and new career.
 
“I was looking for health benefits, retirement plan and job security, and ultimately joining the Navy gave me pride and to serve a greater purpose and honor the warriors that came before me, said Marvin. “Like the Navy and team sorts, you have to work together, communicate and execute the play/mission to be successful.”
 
Marvin enjoyed his new role in the Navy, but still felt something was missing from his civilian life.
 
“After Joining I would see be driving by a park or a school and see kids play and I would remember how I felt when I was that age, and the joy that the medicine game gave me, said Marvin. “So, when I knew I was coming back to the East Coast especially Maryland which is a hotbed for lacrosse, I knew I would have an opportunity to play again. After speaking to a few of my contacts in the league office I was referred to the four teams in Mid-Atlantic Division of the North American Box Lacrosse League and I had two teams reach out wanting to take a look at me. Ultimately, I decided to go with Virginia as they understood I was active-duty Navy and offered to work together with my schedule.”
 
He has since been called up to the Senior A Virginia Golden Bears team since rejoining the sport. Now 40 and considered a veteran player, Marvin relishes the opportunity to not only play but mentor on and off the field.
 
“Being older and having life experience I'm able to mentor and give advice to my junior Sailors so they can become good leaders, and being a veteran player and I feel that translates to the field as well knowing I can communicate to my teammates when, where and what to do to execute all aspects of the game.”