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VOLUME 73 EDITION 44
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 3, 20 2011
KAJAKI SOFLA DISTRICT, AFGHANISTAN
Photo by Cpl. Dwight A. Henderson
Marines with second platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), take up a position and set an ambush for insurgents. The Marines and sailors of Company B are participating in Operation Eastern Storm to drive out insurgents in the area as part of their clearing efforts to free Route 611 from insurgents. CPL. JAMES CLARK
Regimental Combat Team 8
The Marines and sailors of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), are engaged in Operation Eastern Storm, a major offensive operation to root out the Taliban-led insurgency in the Upper Sangin Valley region of Kajaki. The battalion is accomplishing its mission to secure Route 611 from Sangin to Kajaki by moving companies into designated areas across the district and relying on individual platoons and squads to operate independently in heavily vegetated, rough terrain. The men of second platoon, Co. B, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, recently inserted by heli-
copter, under the cover of darkness and, at first light, began a five-day march prior to establishing Patrol Base Pennsylvania. “Things have been going pretty slow, but good,” said Lance Cpl. Joshua Kennedy, an M-240 machine gunner. “We don’t want to go fast. It’s been pretty successful where we’re at right now – nobody’s been hurt. We expected it to be way more kinetic, but luckily it hasn’t been too bad so far.” Carrying all the ammunition, weapons, food, water and other assorted equipment they could fit into their packs, they travelled roughly three miles amidst infrequent and abrupt ambushes and, at times, rounding corners that put them face-to-face with enemy fighters armed with rocket propelled grenades.
“Everyone’s feeling the pain, everyone’s sore,” said Kennedy. “It’s hard to pick up your feet as is, and going through the canal systems and corn fields (with all our gear), it’s bad on your knees and feet. Your knees are taking a sheer beating the whole time, not to include your back.” Kennedy, who hovers around six feet tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds, carries on his body approximately 120 additional pounds of equipment, including rounds for his M-240B medium machine gun, the weapon itself, a slew of other munitions, and a few personal comforts, such as a sleeping bag and hygiene supplies. Seeing a column of Marine Corps infantrymen move through a maze of corn fields, more laden with gear than the
most unloved pack animal, one would expect a ceaseless chorus of complaints and sighs, but the few moans they make are drowned out by an endless stream of banter and surprisingly upbeat humor. “We pick up morale by joking around,” explained Kennedy, who proudly fulfills the role of stand-up comic for his squad. “We all joke around and act like we’re having a good time – laugh at our misery. If you ain’t gonna laugh, (you’re) gonna cry.” As trivial as humor may seem to the overall success of the mission, it serves as an indicator of the unit’s morale, which, with all they have been through, remains high, explained 1st Lt. Danny Graziosi, the second platoon commander. “The morale is never a ques-
tion. They can accomplish whatever I ask them to do,” said Graziosi. “They just look to the left and right, and that’s all the motivation they need.” “Kajaki Sofla is now buzzing with citizens who have never seen the Afghan National Security Forces and have known only murder and intimidation for the last several years,” said Brig. Gen, Lewis Craparotta, commanding general, 2nd Marine Division (Fwd.) Task Force Leatherneck. “Villagers are now approaching our coalition forces and returning to their homes.” For more information concerning Task Force Leatherneck operations, contact Major Bradley Gordon, Task Force Leatherneck public affairs officer at bradley.gordon@afg.usmc.mil.
Group, Division prep for deployment with Gunner’s Course PFC. FRANKLIN E. MERCADO 2nd Marine Logistics Group
Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, participated in a gunner’s course at the 2nd Marine Division Training Center aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Oct. 26 to 29. The course is a part of pre-deployment training for their upcoming tour in support of International Security Assistance Forces in Helmand province,
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Afghanistan, next year. During the four-day training exercise Marines with the battalion learned the ins and outs of several machine guns the Marine Corps uses in Afghanistan. The M-249 squad automatic weapon, .50 caliber machine gun, MK-19 grenade launcher, M-240 golf and M-240 bravo medium machine guns were the weapons shown during the class. Not only did they get a chance to learn about them, but they also got hands-on training with each one. The Marines learned how to assemble
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
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a field artillery fire control man with 2nd Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, but it isn’t stopping him from ensuring he will be ready for it. “I don’t really know what to expect since it’s my first time,” Dodd said. “I was told a lot of other Marines are used as gunners on patrols, not just infantrymen, and I want to be ready for whatever I’m told to do.” No matter what their designated duties may be in Afghanistan, these Marines will be ready for the fight in support of their brothers-in-arms.
Marines, Navy come together for at-sea integration exercise CAPT. ROBERT SHUFORD
SUPPLY PROVIDES FOR TASK FORCE BELLEAU WOOD PAGE 6A
and disassemble weapons, and how to load and fire the weapon during practical application. “I like the fact that we are getting all the hands-on training,” said Pfc. Eduard Yakobchuk, a motor transportation mechanic with CLB-2. “It’s a lot better than just reading a book. Actually getting to do the steps and learning them as we go along is great.” Though they are participating in the course, some of the Marines don’t know if they will have the chance to step in as a gunner, such as Lance Cpl. Paul Dodd,
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Amphibious Squadron 8 began their first of a series of at-sea training exercises where they will work on refining their ability to conduct amphibious operations to prepare for a deployment scheduled for early next year. The current exercise is called PHIBRON / MEU Integration Training, commonly called PMINT. The focus of PMINT is to allow both services to work on building the Navy-Marine Corps team and to refine procedures and practices necessary to conduct amphibious operations. “This is the starting point for our predeployment training cycle and represents 24th MEU’s first opportunity to operate at sea as a Marine Air Ground Task Force. Our focus for the next 10 days is on establishing a positive and professional partnership with the ships and crews of our
Amphibious Ready Group and developing proficiency operating our vehicles and aircraft in, around and on the ARG’s very specialized amphibious ships,” said Col. Frank Donovan, commanding officer, 24th MEU. PMINT is the first of three combined training exercises the 24th MEU and PHIBRON 8 will conduct together in the coming months. Such at-sea periods allows the Marines to get familiar with operating on ship, and allows the Navy-Marine Corps team to train on ship-to-shore procedures, pilot and vehicle operator qualifications, and provides the overall experience necessary to conduct a variety of missions from the amphibious assault ships USS Iwo Jima, USS New York and USS Gunston Hall. Photo by Capt. Robert Shuford The training will test the Navy-Marine Corps team’s ability to plan and conduct An AV-8B Harrier commences a vertical landing on such missions, using various scenarios they the flight deck off the USS Iwo Jima during deck could face while deployed. Some of these landing qualifications as part of the Amphibious Squadron 8 / 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration Training, Oct. 24. SEE INTEGRATION 5A