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GLOBE Serving Camp Lejeune and surrounding areas since 1944
Global Combat Support System implementation begins within II MEF
FIRE BASE SAENZ, AFGHANISTAN Photo by Sgt. Earnest J. Barnes
Lance Cpl. Christian R. Stark, a field radio operator and a provisional artillery cannon crewman, pulls the lanyard of the M-777 A2 howitzer. The cannon crewmen making up each gun are from various military occupational specialties, each performing duties within their certifications. A field radio operator may be qualified to fire the howitzer, but only a field artillery cannoneer can handle powder charges and ammunition.
SGT. JUSTIN J. SHEMANSKI 2nd Marine Logistics Group
BRINGS STEEL RAIN TO HELMAND SGT. EARNEST J. BARNES 2nd Marine Division (Forward)
An infantry squad leader can exercise a few options when engaged by insurgents. He could assault through the attack, while weighing the possibility of losing one of his Marines in the crossfire, or he can use one of the many assets available to him and call for artillery support. The Marines of Alpha Battery quickly stir up a storm to bring steel rain to the enemy when they receive the call for support. The battery from 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division out of Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, is currently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They provide timely and accurate artillery fires for ground maneuver units in the northern-half of the province. The round which is most requested is the satellite-guided Excalibur XM982 Precision Engagement Projectile. “The infantry can just fight it out or call for artillery,” said Staff Sgt. John Kellam, the position battery gunnery sergeant at Fire Base Saenz. “I’d say 99 percent of the time, we get a call. The most important thing is being able to call for indirect artillery support rather than sending a Marine into a building where they are risking their life…(it’s important because we are) protecting Marines from having to
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put themselves in situations like that.” The battery is much like a game-show lifeline — whenever a unit is in a tight spot, they just have to pick up the line and phone a friend. The battery is ready to launch rounds downrange whenever a call comes in, whether it is the Excalibur round, a highexplosive round, or just an illumination round. “We provide a 24 hours a day, seven day a week security blanket,” said Capt. Richard H. Lee, the commanding officer for the battery. “We can shoot a projectile accurately within five meters with minimal collateral damage.” Lee understands how this support element can affect the troops on the ground. He was the artillery liaison and the executive officer for Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, when he deployed to Iraq in 2005. He said that deployment opened his eyes to the importance of his Marines’ support and said there were several instances where they could have used artillery support. Though the art of artillery is complex in nature, Lee said the easiest way to explain the support his Marines provide can be summed up in three simple words: eyes, brain and brawn. “The eyes are those forward observers or any unit requesting fires. Their fires get transferred to the Fire Direction Center (referred to as the
brain). ” Lee illustrated. “The FDC is where they receive the call for fire and compute the data…the deflection, quadrants, how far left or how far right do they want the howitzer tube to go — once that data is computed it is sent to the gun line, which is the brawn.” The infantrymen of 2nd Marine Division (Forward) and other coalition forces supporting counterinsurgency operations in the northern portion of the province act as 1st Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment’s forward observers. Whenever they find themselves in an undesirable position, they can call, relay coordinates and wait for impact. The Marines who receive the call for assistance work in the FDC. Lee mentioned their mission is to provide the requesting unit with timely and accurate fires — exactly what the Marines of the FDC aim for. The FDC can go from silence to utter chaos in a matter of seconds. Two fire direction controlmen sit side by side at a table rapidly punching numbers being yelled at them. They yell back the exact information they receive for absolute verification. They push send as Staff Sgt. Joe A. Palacios, the operations chief for the battery peers over their shoulder to triple check work. Palacios scrambles like a quarterback in the fourth
quarter of the championship game-checking, rechecking the data and verbally relaying it to the gun line over a radio. Palacios knows if one number is off or the powder charge is relayed wrong, the very Marines they are supporting could be put in harms’ way. Palacios may move like the championship is on the line, but he said this is not a game because Marines lives are at stake. “Eighty-five percent of the missions we shoot are danger close,” said Palacios. “Danger close is anything less than 600 meters from friendly forces.” Palacios added that is just six football fields and they have shot missions where the projectiles have landed on target less than 200 meters away from friendly forces. One miscalculation and the round fired could have landed right on top of the very people who need the help. “Perfection is demanded,” Palacios exclaimed, as he slammed his index finger on the table to drive home his point. “We are going to get perfection to the gun line. Every round means something to me because someone needs it.” The Marines on the gun line are made aware of the upcoming mission and quickly gear up in their personal protective equipment as they receive the data required to set their M-777 A2 Howitzer on target. The gun chief, who SEE BATTERY 3A
Beginning July 25, several units within II Marine Expeditionary Force, including the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, will begin transitioning to the new Global Combat Support System – Marine Corps. Over the next 11 weeks, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, along with 2nd Medical and 2nd Supply Battalions, will be among the first units executing the implementation aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. All units are scheduled to be complete by December 2012. Ten years in the making, the new Web-enabled system will replace two existing legacy systems – Marine Corps Integrated Maintenance Management Systems and Supported Activities Supply System — and provide all logistics personnel the convenience of operating from o one common data source. “The im implementation will really set the Marine Corps up to move into the future,” said John Chandler, Headquarters Head Marine Corps’ liaison for Logistics Policies an and II Marine Expeditionary Force. “Impro “Improved asset visibility is one of the greatest improvement provements,” he noted. If a Marine in the field needs anything from brake pads to truck tires to water, they will be able to access the system wherever they have basic internet connectivity and put in a request. An operator on the other end of that request will see it in near real-time, instead of the current day and a half refresh rate, and can begin fulfilling the needs of the warfighter almost immediately. GCSS-MC allows Marines performing maintenance functions to maintain accountability of equipment repairs, parts and personnel, while giving supply personnel greater control over their inventories and enhanced planning capabilities. GCSS-MC is the foundation on which all modern logistics systems will be built, said Chandler.
Photo by Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego
Lance Cpl. Seth A. Peikert, a landing support specialist with Helicopter Support Team, Landing Support Detachment, Headquarters and Support Company, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), ensures chains and straps are properly secured during an HST mission aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, recently.
GERESHK, AFGHANISTAN
INSIDE THE GLOBE
Honey equals money in Helmand province CPL. KATHERINE KELEHER
II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)
BOYS OF COMPANY G PUSH INSURGENCY FROM TREK NAWA PAGE 7A LEJEUNE SPORTS 1B INSIDE LEJEUNE 1C CLASSIFIEDS 4C CAROLINA LIVING 1D
Photo by Cpl. Katherine Keleher
Beekeepers from Gereshk and Kandahar teach nearly 20 Afghan students how to maintain a bee farm during a course in Gereshk, Helmand province, July 26 through 28. The course was hosted by a local beekeeper with the support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, British Royal Army and Danish Army.
Beekeeping is the latest buzz in Helmand province, Afghanistan, after a three-day course during which nearly 20 Afghans learned the perks of farming bees rather than poppy. The course, hosted July 26 through 28 in Gereshk, took place at the province’s master beekeeping teaching farm. Attendees received lectures by Afghan bee farmers from other provinces. These farmers had previously received training on bee farming from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, British Royal Army and Danish Army. “The farmers wanted to have bee hives to be able to generate income,” said Don Welty, a senior agriculture adviser with the USDA. “They all know about the impact that bees and honey can make because it is mentioned in the Quran.” The idea of an alternative crop like bees that would not be harvested and sold by insurgents appealed to coalition forces and the local government. The program began in April. “This is a great program to help the farmers
diversify their farming programs and make additional income for their families,” Welty said. “The goal is to have every farmer own five hives and generate up to $1,000 per year. This would generate much more money than poppy. Once the farmers have alternatives then it is possible for them to move away from poppy.” The course covered several topics related to beekeeping, including hive preparation, pollination benefits, swarm capturing and queen bee management. The session ended with a hands-on practical application of beekeeping for attendees. At the end of the seminar, attendees were given a starter hive, basic beekeeping supply and a set of beekeeping clothes, Welty said. Honey from northern Afghan cities, such as Jalalabad, is sometimes available in the Gereshk Bazaar and locals hope the demand will increase with local production, said Abdulla, the master beekeeper at the course. Coalition forces and local government officials hope to have local farmers begin producing their own honey in weeks to come and plan to provide more beekeeping seminars in the future.