News America Marketing Continues Tradition Of Sending Marines To Super Bowl

NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Sergeant Renata M. Rock and Sergeant Jeremy Johnson, of the U.S. Marine Corps, will attend the Super Bowl and the weekend-long festivities leading up to the game as guests of News America Marketing, the premier single-source provider of consumer marketing services in the U.S. and Canada.  

Rock, originally from Seattle, Wash., and Johnson, of Pecatonica, IL, will be given transportation to and from the bases where they are currently stationed to this year's Super Bowl Headquarters in New Orleans.  When they arrive on Thursday night, they will be greeted by their News America Marketing hosts and treated to four nights at the Roosevelt Hotel. Both service members will bring a guest for the full weekend package, including tickets to the Super Bowl game as well as invitations to the NFL's Super Bowl Tailgate Party, and News America Marketing's own Super Bowl Kick Off Party at the National World War II Museum's newest pavilion, the US Freedom Pavilion, where they will be recognized on stage and thanked by their hosts for their service. Rock will bring her mentor who is also a fellow Marine, and Johnson plans to bring his girlfriend.   

"We are thrilled that these Marines have accepted our invitation to come to the Super Bowl with us," said Chris Mixson, President of News America Marketing. "Military service is truly the greatest gift a person can give their country, and it's a gift that many of our own employees, clients and friends have chosen to give. We are so grateful for their selflessness everyday and are honored to be given this opportunity, for the fifth year in a row, to have these incredible American heroes join us.  We are also grateful to the Marine Corps for working with us to give these Marines this opportunity."

Sergeant Rock volunteered to serve in Afghanistan in 2011 where she was an analyst and collection manager, providing real-time targeted information to several U.S. and coalition partners. Her outstanding performance in Afghanistan earned her the Army Commendation Medal.  Sergeant Rock was also assigned the position of Headquarters Platoon Sergeant while still a corporal, due to the fact that she exhibited leadership rarely seen in a Marine of her grade and experience. In late 2012, she attended a Marine Analysis and Reporting Course and during her absence, several leaders within the Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado, where she is stationed, requested to have her assigned to their division. She was ultimately hand-selected to serve in her current position as an interagency liaison, a post normally reserved for more senior personnel. In addition to her very accomplished military service, Sergeant Rock also mentors at-risk youth through the Young Marines Program.

Sergeant Johnson was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for superb dedication to duty during a Marine Corps Administrative Analysis Team Inspection in 2007. Prior to that honor, Johnson had received an unexpected promotion. Due to his professional proficiency his billet was changed from Lance Corporal to non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the Pay section.  In 2009 Johnson received temporary assignment orders to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron, and was selected for meritorious promotion to Corporal during his first few months with the team. Johnson reenlisted for three more years in January 2010 and deployed a month later to Afghanistan with the Helicopter Squadron. He was recognized on his deployment with another Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Currently, Sergeant Johnson serves as the Assistant Substance Abuse Control Officer and Single Marine Program Coordinator at Fort Meade. Last year he was promoted to his current rank.

Rock and Johnson were chosen out of more than 173,500 active duty enlisted Marines by the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Micheal P. Barrett, the top enlisted Marine.  These outstanding Marines were recommended by their commanding officers for their leadership, dedication to their units, and accomplishments above and beyond the call of duty.

News America Marketing
News America Marketing is the premier marketing partner of some of the world's most well-known brands. From our iconic Sunday coupon insert, SmartSource Magazine, to our pioneering coupon app, SmartSource Xpress, News America Marketing's SmartSource® branded advertising and promotional programs are an integral part of America's shopping routine. We reach millions of consumers each day through our network of 1,700+ publications¹, 50,300 retail stores², 300 partner sites including our own SmartSource.com³ as well as through our rapidly expanding coupon app SmartSource Xpress® for iPad®. Since 1988, we have delivered advertising and promotions that are proven to help brands succeed.

For more information, please visit newsamericamarketing.com or smartsource.com.

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¹NAM market list effective 7.22.12
²Based on NAM's SSCM as of cycle 1, 2013 for all COT except Domestic COT is based on NAM's Cart programs.
³As of June 2012

SOURCE News America Marketing