WWW.CAMPLEJEUNEGLOBE.COM
VOLUME 75, EDITION 41
The
GL BE SERVING CAMP LEJEUNE AND SURROUNDING AREAS SINCE 1944
ATV Training, certification for all –terrain vehicles | 4A
AA Bn graduates first first Corporal’s Course| 7A
THURSDAY OCTOBER 3, 2013
WWW.LEJEUNE.MARINES.MIL
First female Marines attend infantry course CPL. CHELSEA ANDERSON Defense Media Activity
The first female Marines to ever attend infantry training with the Infantry Training Battalion, School of Infantry-East, at Camp Geiger, N.C., completed the first week of training Sept. 28. Fifteen female Marines began the training following graduation from boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., as part of ongoing research on the incorporation of women into combat-related jobs. The research is a result of the lifting of the 1994 Direct Ground Combat Assignment Restriction earlier this year, which required all services to implement a plan to completely integrate women into combat positions by 2016. The 15 female students were among 119 recent graduates from recruit training. Forty-eight of the women met the initial physical requirements for the course, but only 19 volunteered to join Infantry Training Battalion. Four later opted out of the training, instead choosing to attend Marine Combat Training, a course required for all Marines, regardless of occupational-specialty. All Marines attending the infantry training are expected to meet the same physical standard, known as the “ITB standard,” during scored events — regardless of gender. The standards of the battalion have not changed; they are the same standards outlined by the Marine Corps prior to the start of the current research. The remaining 15 students chose to go above and beyond what is required of female Marines by attending the infantry course. Upon completion of the course, the female Marines will not be awarded the 0311 infantry job designator and will proceed to their previously selected occupational specialty training. “I asked them why they are doing this,” Staff Sgt. Kevin Hayden, a combat instructor with Company D at ITB said. “Their answer to me was that they wanted a challenge. I think all Marines come to the Marine Corps for a challenge, and this was a way for them to put in a little more effort and do something that most people wouldn’t volunteer for.” The students spent the first week completing rigorous physical screenings to include the physical fitness test, the combat fitness test, the high intensity tactical training assessment and a 5-kilometer hike. Hayden said he and his fellow combat instructors aren’t treating any of the female Marines differently. “These are Marines,” Hayden said. “No matter what, they’re going to be treated the same as every other Marine.” One female Marine did not meet the physical fitness test minimum score and chose to drop from the current cycle to work on her strength SEE INFANTRY 3A
Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Ryan O’Hare
Service members are greeted by locked doors at the Harriotte B. Smith library aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune due to a government shutdown, Tuesday. Only operations and activities essential to safety, protection of human life and protection of our national security are authorized to remain open, and only the minimum number of civilian employees necessary to carry out those activities will be exempt from furlough.
Government shutdown affects base services STAFF REPORTS Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
T
he rec e n t government shutdown has affected a number of programs and services aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and will continue until federal funding has been restored. During a government shutdown, only operations and activities that are essential to safety, protection of human life and protection of our na-
tional security are authorized and only the minimum number of civilian employees necessary to carry out those activities will be exempt from the furlough. These include but are not limited to security and emergency services (police, fire, and EMS), utilities, training ranges, chow halls, and more. Non-appropriated fund activities (Marine Corps Community Services) are generally exempt with a few exceptions. Programs and services that will remain open include: Marine Corps exchanges,
child development centers, base schools, fitness centers, counseling offices and more. Programs and services that will be closed include: the commissary, libraries, the education center, the outdoor recreation office, hobby shops, the relocation assistance office, professional development services and more. Some of the programs and services that will be operating on reduced staff or operating hours include: the ID card center, traffic court, the installation per-
Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Ryan O’Hare
Customers patiently wait in line, which wrapped throughout the store, at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune commissary to purchase their last minute groceries Tuesday before the doors close due to a government shutdown. sonnel administration center, civilian human resources and more. For a complete list of impacted base pro-
II MHG conducts field exercise at LZ Falcon
grams and services, please visit www. lejeune.marines.mil/ Resources/FurloughImpacts.aspx.
Inside
LANCE CPL. JOSHUA BROWN II Marine Expeditionary Force
Marines and sailors with II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, conducted a field training exercise at Landing Zone Falcon, recently. The exercise prepared II MHG Marines and sailors for expeditionary readiness, which included various classes and activities that tested the skill and proficiency of all participants. 1st Lt. Jason Pecore, the II MHG camp commandant, said the exercise demonstrated the capabilities of II MHG. “We’re still very much an expeditionary force,” said Pecore, “This exercise demonstrates that we can get set up quickly and act effectively without the need of elaborate facilities.” The camp consisted of a command operation center and several other temporary facilities. Pecore said giving personnel the opportunity to improve their skill sets while demonstrating expeditionary capabilities was the purpose of the exercise.
Honoring Beirut victims, families
1B
Photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua Brown
Col. James Stopa, the commanding officer of II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, addresses Marines and sailors during a field exercise at Landing Zone Falcon, recently. Marines and sailors participated in a number of collective and individual training events which included military working dog capabilities demonstration, live firing with M240B medium machine guns, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear defense, as well as routine operations, logistics, communications and security procedures. Lance Cpl. Andrew Webb, a
CBRN specialist with II MHG, said being in a field environment enhanced the CBRN training for participants. “It was more realistic and taught Marines proper use of their protective gear,” said Webb. Marines wore Military Oriented Protective Posture gear during CBRN training. The gear provides protection from the effects of toxic environments.
“The training let participants experience battlefield concentrations of gas,” said Webb. “The amount of gas each person experienced varied based on the wind and how close they were to the gas.” Small units within II MHG encountered a different number of challenges and experiences that the exercise offered. SEE FALCON 3A
Onslow County Fair comes to town 1C