Saturday, January 31, 2009

Astronauts visit Afghanistan Marines


Date written: Jan. 31, 2009
Story by: Sgt. Juan D. Alfonso


KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Astronauts with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration visited deployed service members Jan. 31 on Kandahar Air Field, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

According to Air Force Col. Eric Boe, NASA astronaut, he and his colleagues came to Afghanistan to show all service members their support.

“We just wanted to thank all the troops in the field,” he said. “To us, you are the heroes. We want to salute everyone for the job they’re doing out here and thank them for their service.”

During their tour, sponsored by Armed Forces Entertainment, the officers spoke about their last mission in space, Space Transportation System – 126, a re-supply mission during which they took more than 15,000 pounds of supplies to an orbiting space station.

The supplies are used to improve the station to support six astronauts as soon as summer 2009, according to Army Lt. Col. Shane Kimbrough, NASA astronaut.

After entertaining Kandahar’s soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, to include Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan, the astronauts answered questions about their experiences in outer space.

“The question we get the most is ‘how do you use the bathroom in space?’” Kimbrough said laughing. “But all joking aside it was nice to get out and talk to the troops. It’s a tough mission they have and we appreciate the hard work they’re doing out here.”

Kimbrough had one last thing to say on the subject of space and the war.

“My favorite part of being an astronaut is looking out the window and seeing our wonderful planet. It looks pretty peaceful, but we know it’s not. We hope all the troops come home safe.”

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Air Combat Marines conduct convoy ops

Date written: Jan. 28, 2009
Story by: Sgt. Juan D. Alfonso


CAMP HERO, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines attached to Marine aircraft wings spend the majority of their time flying and maintaining their equipment, but every so often, those Marines are given the opportunity to serve in another manner.

The Marines of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan’s air combat element have conducted convoy operations in Afghanistan for the past three months. Despite the discovery of several improvised explosive devices along their routes during the past year, these Marines have embraced the opportunity to conduct operations on the ground.

“We really don’t get to do these kinds of operations in the wing,” said Staff Sgt. Jason R. Rochefort, a dynamic component mechanic with Marine Aerial Logistics Squadron 16 who also serves as the air combat element’s convoy commander. “These convoys are a good opportunity to put down our wrenches and pick up our rifles.”

The Marines conduct semi-monthly convoys to transport their command’s flight surgeon to a women’s medical clinic on Camp Hero, where Navy Lt. Christine Stehman trains and mentors an Afghan midwife to help curb the mortality rate of women and children in a country with one of the highest rate of maternal and infant deaths in the world.

“These guys have been awesome – very motivated and willing to help out,” Stehman said. “My second trip out, prior to the ACE taking over transportation duties, I rode with (Combat Logistics Battalion 3) – the folks who have been trained on this and do this on a regular basis. Since I started riding with the ACE guys, I have been impressed that my trips with them have been smoother, more organized and I have felt just as safe as compared to my trip with CLB.”

To prepare for their task, the MALS Marine received extensive ground operations training prior to their first mission.
According to Cpl. Clintt F. Hazlet, a flight equipment mechanic with MALS-16, he and the team of Marines conducted basic fire team, squad and humvee formation training, in addition to several escalation of force and Afghan culture briefs. Drivers and vehicle commanders received additional training.

“The training these Marines have been through has improved their situational awareness and their ability to detect and avoid dangerous situations,” Rochefort said. “We may be with the wing, but we are Marines: we have to be prepared for anything.”

Despite their precautions, there was one obstacle for which their training did not prepare them.

“There is no prior training for fending off a swarm of children,” Hazlet said jokingly as he passes out candy to Afghan children and watches them tear through a box of toys. “This mission is about helping them, making sure these kids are healthy and grow up knowing we’re just trying to help.”
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CLB-3 sets bar in Afghanistan

Date written: Jan. 30, 2009
Story by Lance Cpl. Ronald W. Stauffer



CAMP BARBER, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Swapping the sandy beaches of Oahu for the sands of Afghanistan, Marines and sailors of the Hawaii-based Combat Logistics Battalion 3 are leaving their footprints while forward-deployed to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

The Corps’ newest battalion serves as the logistics combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan and provides direct support to the success of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), the ground combat element of SPMAGTF-A.

The unit made its mark in the history books June 27, 2008, when it transformed from the nondeployable Combat Service Support Group 3 to the smaller and more deployable CLB-3. A little more than 100 days later, the battalion began deploying its members to Afghanistan.

“The battalion had already assumed that it would be deploying by the time the official order was issued,” said Capt. Robert Barber, CLB-3’s operations officer. “We were already conducting predeployment training and while training quickly, we trained thoroughly.”
Barber said CLB-3 was not officially issued a deployment order until Sept. 27, 2008. The combat logisticians deployed a quartering party Oct. 1, the advance party Oct. 15 and its main body Nov. 2 – all of which they completed within 37 days’ notice.

Barber also said in addition to the predeployment training, there were numerous additional requirements regarding personnel and equipment readiness and the logistical planning required in order to move the battalion from Hawaii to Afghanistan for combat.
Cpl. Joseph W. Iovinelli, Headquarters Company’s noncommissioned officer in charge of organic supply, said it’s a testament to the fact that Marines are always ready at a moment’s notice.

Within the battalion, Headquarters, Support and Motor Transportation Companies supply the unit with the right mix of Marines and resident expertise necessary to create a self-sufficient logistical force ready to complete any mission it’s tasked with.

“The missions that we’re here to (accomplish) are to conduct operations to rid the country of insurgencies and eventually turn it over to the people of Afghanistan, and train and mentor the Afghan National Police,” said 1st Sgt. Michael W. O’Donnell, Headquarters Co. first sergeant. “We support the battalion by making sure that everyone out here has what they need.”

O’Donnell went on to explain that the key role of Headquarters Co. is supporting staff functions, such as intelligence, logistical supply, medical, administration, legal, communications and more.

The Marines of Support Co. are the architectural force of the battalion, making something of nothing using ingenuity and craftsmanship, while utilizing their engineers, bulk fuel specialists and other assets to cover all maintenance aspects.

“We’re the builders and fixers,” said 1st Sgt. Mike Lanpolsaen, Support Co. first sergeant.
Lanpolsaen went on to say that he’s very impressed with their performance of the Marines and the battalion and is proud to be a part of it.

Turning the wheels for success, Motor Transportation Co. brought everything it needs to support 3/8 in the way of supplying and resupplying the forward operating bases to ensure the Marines at the FOBs in the remote reaches of southern Afghanistan receive everything they possibly need to do their jobs. Motor Transportation Co. accomplishes this through its robust combat logistics patrol capability.

“Any logistics items we can take to make their day a little better, we’re going to take to them,” said Staff Sgt. Chris O. Ross, platoon sergeant for Motor Transportation Company’s 2nd Plt.

Ross said the Marines of Motor Transportation Co. are very efficient at what they do and are some of the very best Marines in the Corps.

Proving that it’s the sum of all parts that matters most, each company works with the other to accomplish any task, whether it’s gathering supplies, loading them on the trucks, providing construction support or moving equipment from FOB to FOB.

“Once we get to the FOBs, we are repairing equipment, revamping power grids, providing sustainment supplies, delivering mail, disbursing money and operating mobile post exchanges, building survivable positions and providing life support in the form of laundry, shower and heat to the Marines,” Barber said. “We then return to Camp Bastion and prepare for the next FOB.”

Working around the clock, the battalion has thus far completed 22 combat logistics patrols and participated in strategic operations in support of 3/8.

“We have the ‘North Pole’ model of work,” said Lt. Col. Michael Jernigan, the CLB-3 commanding officer. “In CLB-3, we have the Marines and sailors that do the (work) behind the scenes like Christmas elves making toys, so 3/8 can get the magic of Christmas every day.”
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3/8 Marines perform DANCON March

CAMP BASTION, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), participate in the Danish Contingent March at Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jan. 23, 2009.
The 23-kilometer hike was held to honor fallen Danish soldiers, and the proceeds generated by the $20 registration fee will be donated to the soldiers’ families. Eight Marines from 3/8 marched in the event to show their support.
3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. SPMAGTF-A is here to reinforce success and sustain the momentum of the ongoing progress by the alliance.
(photo by Lance Cpl. Ronald W. Stauffer)



CAMP BASTION, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Lance Cpl. Jerome J. Estrella marches alongside Danish service members during the Danish Contingent March at Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jan. 23, 2009.
The 23-kilometer hike was held to honor fallen Danish soldiers, and the proceeds generated by the $20 registration fee will be donated to the soldiers’ families. Eight Marines from 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), marched in the event to show their support.
Estrella is a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense specialist with 3/8, the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. SPMAGTF-A is here to reinforce success and sustain the momentum of the ongoing progress by the alliance.
(photo by Lance Cpl. Ronald W. Stauffer)


CAMP BASTION, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Pfc. Omar Horta stays focused during the Danish Contingent March at Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jan. 23, 2009.
The 23-kilometer hike was held to honor fallen Danish soldiers, and the proceeds generated by the $20 registration fee will be donated to the soldiers’ families. Eight Marines from 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), marched in the event to show their support.
Horta is a bulk fuel specialist with 3/8, the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. SPMAGTF-A is here to reinforce success and sustain the momentum of the ongoing progress by the alliance.
(photo by Lance Cpl. Ronald W. Stauffer)
CAMP BASTION, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (reinforced), and Danish service members present their certificates of completion at the finish line of the Danish Contingent March at Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jan. 23, 2009.
The 23-kilometer hike was held to honor fallen Danish soldiers, and the proceeds generated by the $20 registration fee will be donated to the soldiers’ families. Eight Marines from 3/8 marched in the event to show their support.
3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. SPMAGTF-A is here to reinforce success and sustain the momentum of the ongoing progress by the alliance.
(photo by Lance Cpl. Ronald W. Stauffer)
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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Afghan villagers build irrigation ditch

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Afghan National Police hand out candy to local children while providing security for an irrigation ditch project along Route 515 in Delaram District, Farah Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jan. 21, 2009. Dozens of local Afghans showed up to work on the project, which will increase the output of local crop fields by ensuring they have sufficient water. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), and Combat Logistics Battalion 3 recently completed Operation Gateway III along Route 515 in southern Afghanistan. The operation was a strategically planned effort to clear the route of deadly improvised explosive devices laid by insurgents and provide an alliance presence. CLB-3 is the logistics combat element and 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan.
(photo by Gunnery Sgt. James A. Burks)

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Chief Warrant Officer Philippe E. Chasse hands out candy to children along Route 515 in Delaram District, Farah Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jan. 21, 2009. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), and Combat Logistics Battalion 3 recently completed Operation Gateway III along Route 515 in southern Afghanistan. The operation was a strategically planned effort to clear the route of deadly improvised explosive devices laid by insurgents and provide an alliance presence. CLB-3 is the logistics combat element and 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan.
(photo by Gunnery Sgt. James A. Burks)


FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – An Afghan man carries a shovel while walking along Route 515 Jan. 21, 2009, in Delaram District, Farah Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Dozens of local Afghans showed up to work on the irrigation ditch project, while the Afghan National Police provided security. The project will ensure that local crop fields have sufficient water, increasing their output. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), and Combat Logistics Battalion 3 recently completed Operation Gateway III along Route 515 in southern Afghanistan. The operation was a strategically planned effort to clear the route of deadly improvised explosive devices laid by insurgents and provide an alliance presence. CLB-3 is the logistics combat element and 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan.
(photo by Gunnery Sgt. James A. Burks)

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – U.S. Navy corpsmen treat an injured Afghan man while assisting local villagers with an irrigation ditch project along Route 515 in Delaram District, Farah Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jan. 21, 2009. Dozens of local Afghans showed up to work on the project, while the Afghan National Police provided security. The project will ensure that local crop fields have sufficient water, increasing their output. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), and Combat Logistics Battalion 3 recently completed Operation Gateway III along Route 515 in southern Afghanistan. The operation was a strategically planned effort to clear the route of deadly improvised explosive devices laid by insurgents and provide an alliance presence. CLB-3 is the logistics combat element and 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan.
(photo by Gunnery Sgt. James A. Burks)
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Saturday, January 24, 2009

A Road More Traveled

Date written: Jan. 20, 2009
Story by Lance Cpl. Ronald W. Stauffer


FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The once deadly, improvised explosive device-laden path of southern Afghanistan’s Route 515 is now safer for everyday vehicle traffic due to the efforts of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), and Combat Logistics Battalion 3.

During Operation Gateway III, Dec. 28 – Jan. 25, 2009, the Marines and sailors of 3/8 and CLB-3, the ground and logistics combat elements of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan, cleared any existing IED and insurgent threats on this important east-west route in Farah Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Prior to Gateway III, the last time Route 515 saw measurable traffic was July 2008, when 2nd Bn., 7th Marines, last operated on its dirt surface, experiencing several casualties. The absence of an alliance or Afghan National Security Forces presence left broad opportunities for insurgent forces to move at freewill, using it as a resupply route to fuel their insurgency.

Now that the route is clear and combat outposts have been constructed along its 43-kilometer length to boost security, Afghan leaders are hopeful that the reopened route will increase Afghan commerce in the region by enhancing security and allowing freedom of movement for their citizens. The thoroughfare also provides quicker accessibility to and from several of the alliance’s forward operating bases in the region.

In the past several months, both alliance forces and Afghan locals were forced to use Route 1, a path that took them 25 kilometers out of their way, as an alternate means to travel to the southwestern village of Bakwa, despite the realization that Route 515 promoted faster movement.

Lance Cpl. Matthew D. Ellis, an intelligence analyst with SPMAGTF-A, explained insurgents use “rat lines,” which intersect Route 515, to transport supplies and weapons from the south. Rat lines are old caravan routes thought to date back to biblical times, stretching from Pakistan to Iran.

“The 515 goes all the way to Iran, and that’s why the insurgents have been using it to transport weapons and supplies,” Ellis said. “They’ve had time to build up and have freedom of movement for the past six months since 2/7 stopped using the route. Route 515 was the insurgents’ main supply route in this region. We’ve already taken control of Route 1 and now the 515, so they’re not going to be moving a lot of supplies through either route any more.”

CLB-3 supplies success during Operation Gateway III

Date written: Jan. 20, 2009
Story by Lance Cpl. Ronald W. Stauffer


FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines with 2nd Platoon, Motor Transportation Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, conducted multiple combat logistics patrols in support of Operation Gateway III in Farah Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Dec. 28, 2008, through Jan. 25, 2009.

The logistics combat element Marines, part of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan, endured more than two weeks behind their steering wheels and gun turrets in improvised explosive device-laden terrain during the initial phases of the operation. Military planners with SPMAGTF-A designed Operation Gateway III as a deliberate plan to clear southern Afghanistan’s Route 515 of any existing IED and insurgent threats on the important east-west route.

The combat logisticians directly supported 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), the ground combat element of SPMAGTF-A, with the essential supplies and construction support necessary to erect three combat outposts at strategic locations along Route 515. In a limited amount of time, the three locations were successfully developed from barren land into safe havens for the 3/8 Marines occupying the area.

“Ultimately I was surprised,” said Staff Sgt. Chris O. Ross, platoon sergeant. “The COPs were built quickly, and the Marines were working overtime to do it.”

Ross also said the timing and coordination required to conduct the operation came together well.

Second Lt. Juliann C. Naughton, 2nd Platoon’s convoy commander, explained it’s shocking for the locals to wake up the next morning to see that a military outpost has appeared from nowhere during the course of the night.

“The logistical support was a success, and we delivered the materials in a timely manner,” Naughton said. “We’ve also been interacting with the villagers and letting them know why we’re here.”

Fortifications including concertina wire, a parapet several feet tall and dirt-filled protective barriers ensured the Marines on the interior of the COPs were shielded from outside threats. Multiple observation posts and several heavy and medium machine guns provided security and over-watch for the combat logisticians as they performed their craft.

The interior of the COPs offer living quarters, hygiene facilities, combat operations centers and more to accommodate its current and future residents.

The posts were strategically placed along the route to show an alliance presence, as well as enable safe travel.

“We cleared 515 to make it safer for the Marines, but also the Afghan people and to gain ground for future operations,” said Lance Cpl. Kevin L. Tobler, a turret gunner with 2nd Plt.

Tobler said he was excited to contribute to the operation and felt he was doing his part, ensuring the safety of the Marines in his vehicle and those around him.

Making their first initial push down Route 515 Dec. 28, the combat logistics patrol of mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, humvees, 7-ton trucks and logistics vehicle systems made their move down the 43-kilometer-long stretch of dangerous roadway.

Naughton explained that Route 515 hadn’t been traveled by the U.S. military since July 2008, and it is notorious for the IEDs buried in its dirt-packed surface.

Driving more than 290 miles on a series of interconnected asphalt roads and carving their own path into the Afghan soil of Route 515, the combat logistics patrol provided 3/8 with more than 100,000 pounds of supplies, consisting of tents, communications equipment, food, water and other provisions to supply the COPs.

Team Smasher, 3/8’s route clearance and heavy weapons element, was used as a buffer between CLB-3’s supply trucks and potential IEDs placed in the road. Although Smasher came into contact with multiple IEDs, 2nd platoon was able to avoid any complications due to Smasher’s mutual support.

“Marines are first to fight,” Naughton said. “We put ourselves at the point of friction and now have a presence. 515 is dangerous, everything we do is dangerous, but it’s a risk we take.”

Naughton explained that the Marines have to ensure their own safety, as well as those around them and those they can’t see. On the road, every Marine was on the alert and aware of their surroundings.

“It can be rough being on the road for long periods of time, but I love driving in the convoys and our missions,” said Lance Cpl. Tyrone Young, a motor transport operator with 2nd Plt. “I feel we’re helping the Afghan people and the fight against the insurgents, but mostly that we’re making a difference.”

Upon arrival at each coordinated destination, CLB-3 was given a 48-hour time limit to construct a security perimeter and continue building the COPs.

Once the supplies were removed from the vehicles, Support Co. Marines with CLB-3 began construction on the defensive barriers using heavy equipment to fill them and military bulldozers to create and push mounds of dirt.

Once the walls were built, tents were set in place, ground communications were established, and an inner defense of mortars was set.

“The Marines were excited to be part of the operation and help out in any way possible,” Ross said. “They never showed signs of slowing down.”

While at COP Barrow, the Marines were attacked twice with mortar fire but were quick to respond, using radio communications, vehicle movement and 3/8’s mortar fire.

“Communication at all levels,” Naughton said. “The Marines know how to react, and they respond well to any situation.”

Much coordinated planning was implemented by CLB-3 and 3/8 before Operation Gateway III began.

“It’s a team,” said Lt. Col. Michael Jernigan, the CLB-3 commanding officer. “As a MAGTF we were able to do this with the ground combat element. We provided the logistics backbone.”

Jernigan said the Marines work long days and nights, and workdays are sometimes 36 to 48 hours; however, each Marine carries their weight, whether they’re driving in a truck to resupply a position, or they are operating heavy equipment.

“In CLB-3, we have Marines and sailors that do the things behind the scenes. They work all night, they work all day and they work all year round,” Jernigan said. “Additionally, we’ve got the team at Bastion that’s resetting all the maintenance parts and sending out contact teams to fix all the equipment from 3/8 and (CLB-3), so we can continue the mission.”

The work of the Marines is always impressive, he said.

“(We were) a key component because we had to do a lot of the backstage work,” Jernigan said. “We moved into an hostile environment, brought what we needed to survive and built three (COPs), to enable the Afghan police to move in and coordinate with the U.S. Marines to make that area safer for the local Afghans.”

Once all three COPs were complete, CLB-3 regrouped back to Camp Barber to reset for future operations. “Our mission here is direct support to 3/8. This is what we expect,” Jernigan said. “The Marines have always come through and done what is required of them. They use innovation and think of solutions to problems that people haven’t seen yet.”
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Marines of 3/8 clear southern Afghanistan’s deadly Route 515

Date written: Jan.21, 2009
Story by Lance Cpl. Monty Burton



FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), and Combat Logistics Battalion 3 successfully completed Operation Gateway III, Dec. 28, 2008, through Jan. 25, 2009, in Farah Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

As the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan, 3/8 dispatched Weapons Company’s “Team Smasher,” a task-organized element comprised of a Route Clearance Platoon with heavy weapons elements, to clear southern Afghanistan’s Route 515. The Marines of CLB-3, SPMAGTF-A’s logistics combat element, followed in trace, constructing three combat outposts along the important east-west route.

Marines of 3/8’s Co. I provided security for Team Smasher and CLB-3’s combat logisticians by conducting joint patrols with Afghan National Army soldiers, and then manned the outposts once they were constructed.

Route 515, which is notorious for improvised explosive devices laid by insurgents, has been a road few have dared to travel, but it is an important roadway that provides a direct route between the districts of Delaram and Bakwa in the east of Farah Province.

“By opening Route 515, we will decrease travel time for alliance forces, as well as enable civilian goods, that are vital to the community, to pass through the area with less resistance,” said Lt. Col. David L. Odom, 3/8’s commanding officer. “The clearing of the route will also open the lines of communication between the two major district centers.”

The construction of the COPs provides an alliance presence in a volatile area, which in turn provides a safer environment for local villagers by eliminating many of the imminent dangers that locals and Marines faced while traveling through the region.

“There is more danger during the commute to work than there is actually at work, so it will be in everybody’s best interest to have a Marine presence in the area,” said Capt. Mike Hoffman, Co. I. commanding officer.

Odom said the COPs are designed to deny the insurgents the ability to disrupt the security that’s now established on Route 515.

While at the COPs, Marines conducted both mounted and dismounted security patrols and provided a quick reaction force, designed to respond at short notice to any contingencies that arose during the operation. When the Marines were not on patrol or on standby with the QRF, they were constantly fortifying their position, which included filling thousands of dirt-filled protective barriers and laying hundreds of coils of concertina wire.

The COPs were reinforced with machine guns and 120 mm mortar systems provided by 3/8’s Weapons Co., 81mm mortar platoon. The Marines were also supported from the sky with close-in fire support provided by several AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters of Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, a component of the SPMAGTF-A’s air combat element, and Scan Eagle unmanned aerial vehicles to keep an eye on insurgent activity.

The Marines conducted several face-to-face engagements with local villagers to ensure they knew the Marines were there to provide a safer environment for them. During one meeting, a local villager said he enjoyed the Marine presence in the area and thinks the clearing and plans to pave the route in the future could definitely bring more commerce to the Afghan villages.

Throughout the operation, the Marines at the COPs remained vigilant and ready for enemy resistance. During an indirect fire attack during which COP Barrow was targeted by numerous enemy mortar rounds, the Marines returned fire with 120 mm mortar systems and dispatched a QRF in a matter of minutes.

“We always have to be ready,” said Lance Cpl. Anthony Lostal, a mortarman with 3/8’s Weapons Co., and one of the mortarmen who quickly responded to the IDF attack. “One second too late, and that could cost a Marine his life,” he said.

During the course of the operation, the Marines located and defeated dozens of IEDs, apprehended and tactically questioned several persons of interest and eliminated several insurgents.

The three COPs along Route 515 will eventually transition from just a U.S. Marine presence into a combined presence of Afghan National Police and U.S. Marines to ensure the safety of local villagers and alliance forces, Odom explained.
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Huskies help Marines lead way in Afghanistan

Date written: Jan. 21, 2009
Story by Lance Cpl. Monty Burton


CAMP BARBER, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines are employing a unique piece of equipment that’s helping lower the threat of improvised explosive devices in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Operation Gateway III, which involved the clearing of southern Afghanistan’s IED-laden Route 515, marked the first time the Route Clearance Platoon of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), used the Husky tactical support vehicle in combat operations.

The Husky, equipped with an Interim Vehicle Mounted Mine Detector to detect hidden metallic explosives, is similar in construction to the mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle, also known as the MRAP, with a V-shaped undercarriage to direct the blast away from the vehicle and protect its driver.

Its single-operator cockpit is fitted with armored steel, ballistic windows and an on-board automatic fire extinguisher. The vehicle detects IEDs with its IVMMD, which employs both metal detection and ground penetrating radar sensors to find the deadly IEDs.

“This is a very safe vehicle,” said Andrew Jorgensen, the lead field service representative of the Husky[s1] . “There have been a lot of safety upgrades to ensure the operator is well protected. I have known operators to have had an explosive detonate underneath this vehicle, and then 15 minutes later they are outside taking pictures with the vehicle.”

First Lt. Samuel Murray, the Route Clearance Plt. commander, said his Marines feel very secure in the Husky.

“This is an overall better vehicle than previous models,” Murray said. “If a mine were to detonate underneath the vehicle, I am sure the operator would come out of it just fine.”

During Operation Gateway III, the upgraded Huskies proved to be effective after encountering pressure-plate IEDs that detonated beneath the vehicles. Reports confirmed that the vehicles sustained mostly minimal damage that did not require outside assistance to repair and no injuries were reported. In most cases, the vehicles were back on the road in less than two hours.

Once the Husky’s IVMMD detects an IED, it sounds an alarm to the operator in the cabin.

“The sensors on the IVMMD pin-point exactly where the explosives are hidden,” Murray said. “Once we figure out where it is, we mark it using water-based paint.”

The finding is then exploited by explosive ordnance disposal teams.

The Husky has also been used in Iraq since 2003 to battle the threat of IEDs, and now the vehicles are a vital asset for saving lives and completing the overall mission in Afghanistan.

“The Husky keeps us from having to put Marines on the ground to sweep for mines,” Murray explained. “Although this isn’t the sexiest job in the Marine Corps, it is a job that has to be done and we are well prepared to handle it.”




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Sunday, January 18, 2009

Marine logistics patrol pushes through IEDs, insurgent attacks in Afghanistan

Date written: Jan. 17, 2009
Story by Lance Cpl. Ronald W. Stauffer


HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Not even a series of potentially deadly events was enough to stop a Marine combat logistics patrol from meeting its objective recently in southern Afghanistan.

The 1st Platoon of Combat Logistics Battalion 3’s Motor Transportation Company proved its combat abilities and calmness under fire when insurgents attempted to waylay one of its combat logistics patrols traveling from here to Forward Operating Base Musa Qala, Dec. 13, 2008.

While enroute to the FOB with a load of British and American supplies, the platoon, part of the logistics combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan, experienced several improvised explosive device strikes and discoveries, damaged vehicles and a coordinated attack by insurgents.

“There were three things I said would happen during this convoy,” said Sgt. Benjamin C. Chesterbristow, the dismounted sweep team noncommissioned officer in charge for 1st Plt.

Chesterbristow predicted the combat logistics patrol would find an IED, hit an IED and engage in a firefight – his predictions became reality.

The combat logistics patrol struck two IEDs, uncovered four additional IEDs, received indirect and small-arms fire and rocket-propell
ed grenade fire all within a 54-hour period before reaching its destination more than 60 kilometers away.

“My whole cab filled with dust, and I couldn’t see in front of my face,” said Pfc. Christopher M. Reep, a motor transport operator with 1st Plt, who was operating a 7-ton truck that day.

Reep’s truck was the first to roll over a hidden IED, and he said it was the loudest pop he’d ever heard in his life.

In the process of approaching Reep’s battered truck, sweep team members, trained specifically to find IEDs, uncovered two more IEDs buried beneath the earth and called for their explosive ordnance removal team to destroy the threats.

Once Reep’s immobilized vehicle was rigged to be towed, the combat logistics patrol pressed forward through the unmarked terrain with no road to guide them.

“I knew about Musa Qala and the route,” said 23-year-old 2nd Lt. Rebecca M. Turpin, 1st Platoon’s convoy commander. “It wasn’t surprising that we were hit.”

Shortly after, the combat logistics patrol hit another IED during the night that destroyed the lead vehicle’s mine roller, a device used to pre-detonate IEDs and protect the vehicles and their occupants.

“I don’t remember the sound of the blast, all I remember is smoke flying in front of us, as well as the laughter in the back of my vehicle and someone yelling-out ‘we found one,’” remarked Chesterbristow.

Having to stop for the night, the patrol set up a defensive position and attempted to get some rest until it could acquire a new mine roller.

Fortunately, CLB-3’s combat operations center arranged the air-lift of a replacement mine roller, which arrived at midnight via a British CH-47 Chinook helicopter.The Marines worked diligently to install the replacement mine roller in order for the patrol to continue its push forward.

At first light on Dec. 14, the combat logistics patrol continued its movement but was attacked with rocket propelled grenades and small-arms fire courtesy of insurgents outside a nearby village. One of the RPGs struck the patrol’s refueling truck, rendering it immobile and leaving the patrol no choice but to set up another defensive position until the truck’s damaged wheel could be repaired.

Air support consisting of a pair of AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters from Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, part of SPMAGTF-A’s air combat element, was dispatched to give the patrol further assistance, suppressing the insurgents’ attack, while F/A-18 Hornets and a B-1 Bomber from other alliance forces waited on standby.

“I’ve never seen anyone shoot RPGs accurately before, but all our movements were right. Everyone posted security where they needed to, and the gunners were on-point with their weapons,” said Sgt. Steven K. Smith, a motor transport operator with 1st Plt.

Smith said he’s encountered similar situations but never in such close succession.

“You’re drained and tired,” Smith explained. “You want to sleep, but you want to stay up. Your body and your mind are fighting each other at the same time.”

“It’s a new battlefield for me,” said Chesterbristow, who has three tours in Iraq under his belt. “It’s definitely an eye-opener to see a force that actually wants to stay and fight.”

Through training, combat proficiency and cool thinking, the combat logistics patrol reached its destination in Musa Qala, off-loaded its cargo, and then returned to base with no casualties.

“Before stepping off, everybody knew what to do, and that’s exactly what they did,” Turpin said. “The Marines are efficient and are the most professional and calm group of Marines I have. It’s an absolute honor to serve with them.”
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Saturday, January 17, 2009

Marines construct construct and guard combat outposts

FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), fire 120 mm mortars on a combat outpost during Operation Gateway III Jan. 2, 2009, in the Farah province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. (photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau)
FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marine Sgt. Brian Morris (right), a mortarman with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, supervises Marines filling dirt-filled protective barriers on a combat outpost during Operation Gateway III in the Farah Province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Jan. 6, 2009. 3/8 is the ground combat element for the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan. (photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau)
FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Marines with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), maintain security on a patrol during Operation Gateway III in the Farah province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Jan. 7, 2009. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. (photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau)
FARAH PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Lance Cpl. Christopher Hudson, with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), maintains security on a patrol during Operation Gateway III in the Farah province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Jan. 7, 2009. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan. ( photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau)



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Friday, January 16, 2009

Cobras strike in Afghanistan

Story by Capt. Justin M. Welan
Photos by Lance Cpl. Brian D. Jones

CAMP BASTION, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – The shriek of the air horn breaks the silence of the day, the peaceful calm of the flight line violently interrupted. In seconds, papers fly, chairs are knocked out of the way, and shouts fill the air as maintainers and aircrew sprint to the aircraft.

To the casual observer, it seems nothing more than chaos erupting. But for Marine Light/Attack Helicopter Squadron 269, Detachment B, Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan, this is an intricate and rehearsed reaction, as each member moves with the rapid precision reminiscent of a NASCAR pit stop. One hundred meters and thirty seconds later, pilots are already donning their flight gear. Just minutes later, the aircraft are already started, armed and pilots are grabbing last-minute details for the troops in contact from the battalion air officer. As they pull in collective, clawing into the air, the aircraft momentarily shudder as every single ounce of lift is allocated to getting a full load of fuel, rockets, rounds and missiles airborne. As the Cobras disappear on the horizon, silence again fills the air along with the nervous anticipation among the mix of airframers, avionics technicians and ordnance men. They turn-to in preparation for hot reloading, troubleshooting and battle damage assessment, as the next evolution of managed chaos is about to begin.

The Marine Corps’ 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, originally scheduled to deploy to Iraq, was redirected a month prior to deployment and by April found itself operating in the Helmand province of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Tasked with the mission of training and mentoring the Afghan National Police, 2/7 was baptized under the full assault of Taliban and insurgent forces. They faced rocket and mortar indirect fire, or IDF attacks, direct-fire engagements from small-arms, rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns, as well as a vast network of Improvised Explosive Device manufacturers and emplacers.

The mission of 2/7 was to establish, train and mentor local ANP units in order to build confidence in their ability to deter and interdict the insurgency. Reinforcements assigned to assist 2/7 with its mission included a combat engineer platoon, a shock trauma platoon, a radio battalion detachment, reconnaissance Marines, DynCorp civilian contractors and personnel specializing in civil military operations.
No deployment is complete, however, without the presence of “Mr. Murphy.” The Marines of 2/7 rapidly found themselves deeply engaged in combat operations and quickly realized that their training and mentoring mission would have to be complimented by significant counterinsurgency and combat operations. The mission for 2/7 formally changed and the wheels at Headquarters Marine Corps were set in motion to reconfigure the Marines in Afghanistan for full combat support. Among the shortfalls identified immediately were rotary wing close air support assets.

“Be prepared to leave for Afghanistan as early as this weekend.” Those were the words of our executive officer, as he spoke to us on a Tuesday morning in early August, in our ready room aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River, Jacksonville, N.C. Even though the squadron had spent the previous months preparing for its fifth deployment to Iraq, rumors had been swirling around about an alternate tasking to provide a detachment in support of 2/7.

In the end, the decision was made to deploy HML/A-269, Det. B, to Afghanistan to support Task Force 2/7. The detachment, comprised of four AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters, ten pilots and approximately forty aircraft maintainers, ordnance men and support Marines, arrived at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, in mid-August of 2008.

Upon its arrival to Kandahar, HML/A-269, Det. B, was initially placed under operational control to the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s air combat element formed from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 365, also stationed out of MCAS New River.
That first week in-country was filled with a variety of briefs with topics ranging from rules of engagement to first aid. In addition to theater in-briefs and acclimatization, pilots began their orientation flights while the maintainers quickly got acquainted with the aircraft. Frequent IDF attacks reminded everyone that even though Kandahar Air Field was a sprawling multinational base hosting thousands of service members and civilian contractors with a steady flow of U.S. and international heavy-lift aircraft, foreign attack jets, and a wide array of transport helicopters, both civilian contractor and military, it was located in the middle of a dangerous combat zone.

The advantages of Marine Corps rotary wing close air support became readily apparent to the operational forces in Regional Command – South. HML/A-269, Det. B, was comprised of experienced pilots and maintainers, most with two previous combat deployments under their belts. Within one week of arrival, HML/A-269, Det. B, repositioned from Kandahar to its present home at Camp Bastion and began conducting flight operations in support of 2/7. The mission was simple: provide close air support in direct support of 2/7, 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. With no end date established, the Marines of HML/A-269, Det. B, were ready to get to work.
On several early flights in 2/7’s area of operations, surface-to-air fire was encountered and dealt with appropriately and effectively. The mission of forward air control (airborne) was also frequently executed to control aviation and surface fires at the outposts. Much like 2/7, HML/A-269, Det. B, quickly found itself immersed in a kinetic fight on a regular basis.

The move to Camp Bastion was a step back in time to the days of the Corps’ combined arms exercises at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. A single airstrip, with a small contingent of general purpose medium-sized tents represented the entire Marine Air-Ground Task Force footprint. Looking off to the north, Hildago was replaced by Kuh’e Khvajeh Ultat Baba, and at about the same distance to Gay’s Pass was FOB Cafferetta, on the edge of a town called Now Zad, a war-torn village that conjures images of no-man’s land from WWI. Thankfully, the offensive smell of the waste-water treatment pond, also know as Lake Bandini, was left back at Kandahar.

Built in early 2006, Camp Bastion is the largest British overseas military camp built since World War II and the main British military base in Afghanistan. It is situated northwest of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province. Originally quartering only British forces and a small number of U.S. Special Forces and civilian contractors, Camp Bastion became the home of 2/7 and, after a brief stay in Kandahar, home to HML/A-269, Det. B.

In spite of its small size, Camp Bastion revealed itself to be a busy place. HML/A-269, Det. B, shared the air field with British Apaches, CH-47s, H3s, and Lynx. U.S. Army Blackhawks flew out of Camp Bastion, filling the medevac role for the area of operations. In addition to these aircraft that called Camp Bastion home, the airspace was continuously transited by Marine CH-53s and C-130s, Air Force C-17s, coalition unmanned aerial systems and a wide variety of coalition and civilian cargo aircraft.

Task Force 2/7’s area of operations was greater than 35,000 square kilometers (more than twice the size of Connecticut), with terrain that varied from flat, open desert to rugged 9,000-foot mountain peaks. Population centers ranged in size from small groups of tents, erected by sheep herders, to cities with populations in the thousands. Nowhere in their AO was there a safe haven for the Marines that was free from the constant threat of enemy attack. Such attacks were, at times, as simple as pressure plate IEDs, or as complex as coordinated small-arms and mortar attacks complete with support-by-fire positions and maneuver elements.

Using the theater call sign “Abusive,” HML/A-269, Det. B, immediately got to work for 2/7 by focusing on a core mission set that centered around close air support, surface and rotary wing escort, and armed reconnaissance. Previous training and experience allowed HML/A-269, Det. B, to quickly get the birds in the air and support the ground troops needing the firepower they had to offer. The detachment quickly established a battle rhythm. In addition to pre-planned missions, HML/A-269, Det. B, was ready at a moment’s notice to respond to mission supporting troops in contact. Within the first week after their arrival, the pilots on both shifts became intimately familiar with the various towns and widely varying terrain as a result of supporting tasking and responding to missions throughout all 35,000 square kilometers of 2/7’s AO.

Word of HML/A-269, Det. B’s arrival at Camp Bastion spread fast throughout the AO and support requests from a wide array of Combined Joint Special Operation Task Force units, Estonian forces and British ground forces started flooding in. The task for the HML/A-269, Det. B, operations officer was to liaise with the MEU operations section in order to balance all of the various requests. HML/A-269, Det. B’s primary mission was to support 2/7, however; great effort was put forth to provide support to other units as asset allocation would allow.

The months of September and October found the Marines of HML/A-269, Det. B, heavily engaged with the Taliban and insurgents. Little by little however, the insurgent fighters learned that shooting while “the skinny gray helicopters” (Taliban description of the AH-1W) were overhead was not a bright idea. Soon, the distinctive sound of the AH-1Ws flying overhead was enough to quell attacks on friendly forces. The pilots of the detachment were faced with the feeling, familiar to any attack helicopter pilot, that the “bad guys” were getting away. However, the security that the presence of AH-1Ws overhead provided was often enough for mission accomplishment, even if a round was never fired.

After an initial honeymoon period of relatively little surface-to-air fire as the insurgents reacted to the presence of AH-1Ws in the AO, the situation gradually evolved and surface-to-air fires became more frequent. Along with radio intercepts discussing their attempts to hide from the helicopters, enemy fighters’ discussions turned frequently to shooting at those same helos, with airburst RPG’s being the weapon of choice. As the threat evolved, the pilots of HML/A-269, Det. B, continually re-examined their tactics so as to best accomplish the mission while reducing the enemy’s effectiveness.

Cowardly one moment, brazen another, the insurgent fighters proved to be a resilient and ever-present threat. They were knowledgeable on the alliance forces’ rules of engagement and were quick to adapt and change their own tactics, techniques and procedures to exploit the limits of the alliance’s ROE. They gave little to no thought to using innocent civilians as human shields. One of the obvious advantages they had was an intimate knowledge of the terrain and population centers. They used this familiarity to mask their movements and to blend in with the local populace.

During the early part of November, the squadron detachment gained a new headquarters element. The 24th MEU departed and was replaced by SPMAGTF-A. Headquartered out of Kandahar, SPMAGTF-A picked up where the 24th MEU left off, taking over command of HML/A-269, Det. B, as well as 2/7.

In late November, after eight intense months of daily combat operations, 2/7 was replaced by 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced). Since HML/A-269 and 3/8 are both stationed in Jacksonville, N.C., the arrival of 3/8 brought a number of familiar faces to Camp Bastion, to include two Cobra pilots from HML/A-269 who were on one-year FAC tours. With their relief-in-place with 2/7 complete, 3/8 rapidly got to work, picking up where their predecessors left off.

In addition to a change in higher headquarters and supported units, November brought another undeniable change – cold weather. Sitting at roughly 3,000 feet mean sea level, Camp Bastion’s temperatures regularly dropped below freezing at night and struggled to break the mid-40s during the day. This presented increasing challenges to the maintenance Marines. With no hangar facilities, all maintenance, from the routine “daily and turnarounds” to in-depth phase inspections, was conducted while exposed to the deteriorating weather. Mid-December also marked the official beginning of the Afghan rainy season, which complicated the situation even further. Camp Bastion’s dirt roads, combined with the influx of rain and heavy vehicle traffic, created a quagmire.

In spite of the worsening weather, the mission and operational tempo did not change. The expected slow-down in insurgent activity that normally arrives with the Afghanistan winter never materialized. In fact, through the first half of December, the squadron detachment flew nearly as many hours at it had in any previous full month. HML/A-269, Det. B, found itself being requested by external agencies and multinational forces even more than usual during periods of degraded weather, when fixed-wing aircraft couldn’t fly. The detachment’s capabilities and training allowed it to operate in conditions considered unworkable for any other rotary wing asset in theater. The AH-1W Super Cobra’s all weather capabilities make it absolutely vital to the fight in Afghanistan, especially during the winter months when the weather traditionally takes a turn for the worse. The pilots of HML/A-269, Det. B, realized that their enemies were bound and determined to hold onto any and all tactical and geographical advantages they had secured throughout the recent months.

Looking back on the time that HML/A-269, Det. B, spent in Afghanistan, it is impossible to ignore the improvements made by U.S. and alliance ground forces. Their efforts have assisted the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in weakening the grip of terror to which Taliban and insurgent fighters had been subjecting the people of Afghanistan. The combination of kinetic operations and civil military interactions to include the training of local forces and in-depth counterinsurgency operations has made significant strides toward pacifying the strongholds of the insurgents. The balanced use of the full-range of mission capabilities of the MAGTF once again demonstrated why the Marine Corps is the force of choice when combating an insurgency.


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