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VOLUME 75, EDITION 25
The
GL BE SERVING CAMP LEJEUNE AND SURROUNDING AREAS SINCE 1944
Marines complete specialized rescue training spe e course| 6A WWW.LEJEUNE.MARINES.MIL S
Marine Prepositioning Force exercise Marines succeed in mission | 5A THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2013
Retiree council seeks widows
CPL. CHARLIE CLARK Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
The Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Military Retiree Council Widow Support Committee was scheduled to meet at Craig Hall at the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 16 building located at 300 Sherwood Road, Jacksonville, at press time through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The committee’s plan was to discuss problems widows face after their loved one passes and makes recommendations to the Department of Defense on how to improve the process on a national level. “We are trying to figure out what the needs of the widowers are,” said Ret. Col. Paul W. O’Toole, a retiree council member. “I’m a realist. We have people on the committee with a lot of experience, but we need people who have been widows since 30 years ago, five years ago and recently, who struggled to find answers to attend the meeting so we can figure out what their needs were and are.” The term “widow” is meant as the spouse involved and/or the children. It is not the objective of the support committee to be the standing point of contact for individuals to seek solutions to their specific problems. In the experience of the retiree council, there are many difficulties for people seeking assistance to their problems, O’Toole said. During the meeting, the committee planned to discuss how the death of active-duty service members, military retirees, honorably discharged military veterans and civil servicemen and women will affect the families of the deceased. To identify the problem, committee members are requesting input from the military community. Examples of both strengths and weaknesses of the process currently in place need to be given. “We need widows who have lived through this, of course, but we also would like to see families who will face these problems someday,” O’Toole said. If a sufficient attendance and response is given, a request will be sent to have DOD representatives at a future meeting in the Jacksonville area. If only a minimal response, the committee will not send a request. For more information, contact Luis Alers, a committee representative, at luis.alers@ usmc.mil or call 4510287.
Photo by Pfc. Jose Mendez Jr.
A Marine with third platoon, Company C, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion maneuvers his amphibious assault vehicle up a hill, May 31, aboard Army Base Fort A.P. Hill, Va. AA Bn. had a total of 16 AAVs participating in gunnery training exercises.
Realistic training prepares amphibious assault vehicles PFC. JOSE MENDEZ JR.
Fort A.P. Hill is some of the best, well-rounded training we can get on the East Coast. Great for us before we go out to do an ITX, MEU or deployment.
2nd Marine Division
After nearly a seven-hour bus trip from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Marines with third platoon, Company C, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, readied their amphibious assault vehicles for training at Army Base Fort A.P. Hill, Va. The training at Fort A.P. Hill concluded June 3, and the Marines of third platoon knew they needed to take advantage of every moment. “The advantages of Fort A.P. Hill are significant. You can’t get this in Camp Lejeune,” said 2nd Lt. Ryan C. Spangler, the third platoon commander. “We can maneuver off-road and on-road. We can use High Explosive Dual Purpose grenades rounds on certain ranges. Overall, it’s a much larger facility we get to train on compared to Camp Lejeune.”
2nd Lt. Ryan C. Spangler, third platoon commander AA Bn. has different levels of gunnery training. Third platoon spent two days conducting Level 5000 Mission Essential Task training. Level 5000 training consists of assaulting an objective as a whole platoon using all 12 of their AAVs, said Staff Sgt. Brent Wade, the platoon sergeant for third platoon. “Typically you can only get this type of training at Twentynine Palms during an (Integrated Training Exercise),” said Wade. “I think it’s a big deal for
the Marines maneuvering as a platoon at this level and getting live-fire opportunities.” Throughout the exercise, .50caliber machine guns and 40mm grenade launchers echoed through the training grounds as the Marines became more comfortable with maneuvering, firing and working as a platoon. “Training over (at Fort A.P. Hill) captures a much more realistic aspect of maneuvering AAVs, employing their weapon systems and conducting offensive
TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIF.
La familia: CLB-6 Marines share ‘last supper’ before deployment 2ND LT. JOHN PARRY
2nd Marine Logistics Group
La familia. The Marine Corps’ most powerful tool has long been its camaraderie, described as fanatical by some. Marines come from diverse backgrounds, regions and even nationalities, but all share the common bond forged through intense training. And, unlike any other military branch, the Marines exalts its members to the extent that it does not distinguish between service and membership in name - Marines. Once the title’s earned, a Marine does not lose this distinction even upon reentry into the civilian community. As part of this distinct ethos, Marine units traditionally gather for an evening meal known as “Warrior Night” before heading off to war. Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, recently partook in this tradition following the completion of its Integrated Training Exercise here, June 6. “Whether you get out of the
Marine Corps after this tour or spend the next 30 years of your life in the Marine Corps - you’ve made a contribution and made your life better,” said Lt. Col. Brian Mullery, the commanding officer of CLB-6, “Your legacy is to go deploy, give your best every single day, and come back better, faster, stronger and with the experience.” The battalion will set off for Operation Enduring Freedom in the coming months. Along with their infantry, artillery and air counterparts, the Marines worked on combined arms training at ITX to prepare for the upcoming deployment. They spent six weeks in the field under intense evaluation by instructors who go by the name ‘Coyotes’ and received excellent marks despite intense scrutiny. The meal, which also served as reward for more than 500 personnel, consisted of steaks, chicken and corn on the cob. Dessert was also served, but at the expense of friendly jabs by their fellow service members for being “nasty,” rooted in the idea
that a Marine who’s out of shape may not be able to keep up with his or her peers. Contributing to the bonding experience, the battalion’s Marines also intermixed and sat with portions of their peer group they may not have known as well. Sgt. Maj. Roger Griffith, the battalion sergeant major and an experienced infantryman who’s deployed numerous times throughout his career, led the Marines in tribute to the sacrifices of their fore-bearers on the anniversary of the beach landings at Normandy, June 6, 1944. “It’s good to be the hunter,” said Griffith. “But do not forget on 6 June - on days like today to push the pause button sometimes around your family ... They were the same age you are right now, and for most of them, it was probably their first war.” “You stood up, raised your hand when all of your peers did not and said – Send me! I’ll go!” Griffith added. “That’s what you did. And that’s why you’re here right now, and that’s why you’re part of this family – la familia.”
tactics,” said Spangler. “This trains the Marines to understand the capabilities and limitations of the vehicle.” Third platoon prepared throughout the year to conduct this training. “Crew-level, section-level and platoon-level training. You go through all of the levels,” said Wade. “First the single (AAV) crew, then section level training so each section leader controls his section, then what we’re doing now, having all sections work together in a platoon element.” This training is one of the few times AA Bn. has come out to Fort A.P. Hill to take advantage of the training grounds provided. “Fort A.P. Hill is some of the best, well-rounded training we can get on the East Coast,” said Spangler. “Great for us, before we go out to do an ITX, MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit) or deployment.”
Inside
Families enjoy the outdoors 1B
LHS Class of 2013
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