7 posts tagged “deployed”
We knew that this time would arrive and while we are excited to return home, we must thank each and every one of you for your support over the past year. A very special "THANK YOU!!" to the guys and gals at VOX for assisting us during the initial stages and we definitely could not have done it without them! When we first started this blog, they understood the complications of our internet connectivity here and kept in touch with us to ensure that everything was running smooth.
We hope that this site brought some newsworthy information, but if you want to keep up with the news here in Fallujah, Regimental Combat Team 1 has started their own VOX blog. They have already posted a few articles and we encourage you to give them a look and once in a while, give them a shout.
We decided to post a picture of the crew that has brought you the Fightin' 6th blog.
Pfc. Brian Jones just returned from the city and brings us the State of Fallujah Address where city officials tell you about what has taken place over the past year to strengthen their home:
FALLUJAH, Iraq —City officials and leaders gathered at the newly developed Fallujah television station to deliver a live broadcast of the state of Fallujah address to the people recently.
Sheik Hamid Ahmed, the chairman of the Fallujah city council, and Col. Faisal Ismail Husayn, the chief of police, spoke on behalf of the city recounting their history and announcing the current state of affairs.
Both Ahmed and Husayn thanked the service members and commanding officers with Regimental Combat Team 6 and Multi National Force-West for their support in security, reconstruction efforts and taking interest in the future of the city.
“The real picture of Fallujah is what you see today,” said Ahmed, translated by an interpreter. “It is living in security and reconstruction because the leadership of the city was put in the hands of the good people.”
Currently, the local tribal sheik council and city muktars are diligently working in accordance with the mayor and city council elected by the citizens of Fallujah in guiding the city’s future as Coalition Forces remain in a supporting role as advisors and security.
“When we united the city council, the mayor and the muktars of the city, the situation of the city turned for the better,” said Husayn. “Everybody knows that the security situation in Fallujah before 2006 was killing in the streets, destruction and no one could say any righteous word anywhere. Today the situation is special, very secure and peaceful. That is not our own evaluation, but it is the citizens of Fallujah who have evaluated the situation and have told us the status of the city.”
Husayn said that as security improved within the city all other efforts in rebuilding the city became a success and due to the city’s new leadership the city is moving in the direction of progress and stability.
All this was not possible without the help of the Coalition Forces and their help with the reconstruction efforts that work side by side with the security efforts in the city, said Husayn.
As security drastically improved the people of Fallujah received nearly 1,000 government jobs granted by the central government of Iraq, opened new and old businesses and have managed public services. Special efforts have also been made in supporting the students and youth of Fallujah, from school supplies to recreational sports.
The Fallujah Business Development Center has opened to manage reconstruction efforts for the district and is also used as the central foundation to inviting Arab and other investment companies into the city.
“Fallujah is ready for major investment,” said Ahmed. “From this place, we call on all the investors from the Arab nations and international nations to come and invest in the district of Fallujah.”
Ahmed attributed the reason for investing in the city is because of the city’s location on the Euphrates River that is an intersection for all the international roads and also, the city contains all the main ingredients necessary for development, such as human and construction resources and the availability of the experience and expertise.
Husayn addressed government representatives and brothers from the Arab nations around Iraq in his speech asking that they come and visit the city that sacrificed more than many other cities in Iraq and deserves that the people stand by its side and provide the services that it needs for support.
“I want them to come and see the reality of Fallujah today,” said Husayn. “They will see that Fallujah is very secure and that the citizens of Fallujah are very generous and very brave and are here to welcome anybody that comes to Fallujah.”
“All want the peace and are looking forward to building good relations and friendships with all the peoples’ nations,” said Ahmed. “We will turn the page of the past and will open a new page with the grace of God. We swore to ourselves that we will keep our city as a star shining among the stars of the other cities of Iraq.”
We had some pictures submitted to us (finally!) by a Marine with one of our subordinate commands. 1st Lt. Vreeland brought us some pretty darn good shots of Marines and Iraqi troops playing football (that's soccer to us Americans) on a dusty pitch here. Seems like it's a tradition for American guys to play football any time they stop somewhere. I can't tell you how many matches I've watched with different foreign countries over the years.
But before the soccer pics, here are a few gratuitous boom shots to satisfy those among us who love explosions (and sunset silhouettes).
With that out of the way, here go the football pics.
We will actually have more on a similar story soon!
Marines with Regimental Combat Team 6 recently got their hands on the Marine Corps’ newest counter to attacks by terrorist forces in Anbar Province.
The Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Rapid Response Vehicle, or JERRV, is the latest melding of technology and combat firepower to find its way onto the battlefield in Iraq. Like any new weapon fielded to Marines, instructors are needed to certify potential operators in its use.
One of the JERRV operator instructors for the regiment is Cpl. Miarco T. McMillian, a motor transportation operator with Headquarters Company. He is one of a handful of instructors responsible for training the Marines who will be driving the trucks on combat and logistics patrols throughout Al Anbar Province.
The JERRV is one type of vehicle in the category of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, or MRAPs. It’s the usual alphabet soup of military acronyms that all boils down to one thing: protecting Marines in combat. Unlike the humvee, the current workhorse of the American vehicle fleet, the JERRV chassis was designed with heavy bomb-proof armor in mind.
“There’s a higher sense of security with brand new vehicles. They’re designed to carry the weight of the armor,” said McMillian, a Las Vegas native and 1998 graduate of Meadows High School. “(The JERRVs) are 40,000 lbs. but they can go up to 52,000 lbs. with extra modifications. Being surrounded by all that armor makes you feel safe.”
Gunnery Sgt. Matthew A. Larson, the motor transportation maintenance chief for RCT-6, echoed McMillian’s sentiment.
“They're like no other vehicle I have ever driven,” Larson said. “They are like riding in a bank-vault with wheels. You can't help but feel safer in the JERRV than in an armored HMMWV. These vehicles will definitely save lives.”
Larson said the process of training Marines on the JERRV will be a “continuous process.”
“The intent is for RCT-6 instructors to train instructors in all of the subordinate units, while simultaneously teaching all potential operators in the RCT headquarters,” said Larson, a Hubert, N.C., native. “When all is said and done, we should have in the ball park of 700 or so Marines trained to operate the MRAPs.”
RCT-6 will need every one of those operators to man the fleet of vehicles it is slated to receive. Around 500 MRAPs, including the JERRV and other variants, will make an immediate impact on the mission in Anbar Province, according to Capt. Russell W. Wilson, the motor transportation officer for RCT-6.
“The MRAP will go a long way in the IED force protection of our Marines, sailors and soldiers; however, this added protection comes with a price. The price is reduced visibility, maneuverability, off road capability … and (experienced operators),” he said. “That is where training becomes critical to the success of the vehicle and the adaptation to accomplish the mission.”
McMillian said his first experience with the JERRV was something any civilian can identify with.
“It smells like a brand new car. It’s got that nice, plastic, clean car smell,” said McMillian. “There’s nothing else like it in the world.”
More important than the smell, McMillian said, is how the 20-ton, six-wheeled vehicle handles.
“Surprisingly, it handles very well. It’s a lot more nimble than you would expect from a 20-ton vehicle. Its turning radius is amazing, and its versatility and terrain capability is way up there,” he said.
A versatile vehicle requires a versatile operator. This is the value in having Marines like McMillian in the instructor seat, said Wilson.
“The Marine Corps is one of the only places in the world where a corporal, with relatively minimal training, teaching, and public speaking experience, can get out there and teach all ranks and grades with confidence and professionalism,” he said. “With the training of Cpl. McMillian and the cadre of instructors like him, we aim to safely and rapidly field the MRAP for convoy security and give Marines a better fighting chance against the tactics of the enemy.”
-------------------
Rolling around in the desert 24/7 with an insane patrol schedule that doesn't have any scheduled breaks makes for a hectic life. Cpl. Joel Abshier talks about how one of the companies in his battalion, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, took a "day off" for a little relaxation in observance of Father's Day:
“Most of us don’t get a chance to see each other,” admitted Lance Cpl. Adam E. Chavez, a field radio operator with the company. “Everyone is constantly in and out from missions, so it’s nice to have a chance to sit down and relax for once.”
Food was provided for the Marines, including steaks, hamburgers and plentiful non-alcoholic beer.
“It’s better than nothing,” one Marine said after digging a “near beer” from an ice-laden cooler. Under a canopy made of camouflage netting, dozens of Marines within the company ate, drank and took the weight of Iraq off their proverbial shoulders.
“Today is to help build up morale,” said Sgt. David Soto Jr., Weapons Company police sergeant and father of two. “Everyone here works extremely hard and having a day off was the perfect thing this company needed.”
Grilling over 200 steaks on a metal barrel-turned-wood-burning grill, 1st Sgt. John E. Sackett asked everyone who passes, “You hungry? Come and get a plate.” The relentless tactics reinforce thoughts of second helpings while Marines relaxed, shared stories and generally made the best of being deployed to a country where the summer day-time temperature averages around 110 degrees.
“We’re going to be here all day and night,” said Sackett, the company first sergeant. “We won’t close this down until everyone returns from their missions. If it takes us past midnight, we’ll still be here.”
Father’s Day is often associated by celebrating the day with immediate families. Deployed troops, however, regardless of branch, are unable to spend such times with their loved ones.
“This is the closest thing we have to family out here,” Soto said as he motioned to a group of Marines over his shoulder. “We are making the best of what’s available. But what I wouldn’t give to see my kids back home.”
Soto and many other Marines within the battalion have children back home, but those who don’t have children yet weren’t deterred from celebrating the day. Many used their free hours to make phone calls home to wish their fathers a happy Father’s Day.
Although not a father yet, Chavez explained that it will change very soon. “This is kind of my first Father’s Day. My wife is in the third trimester of her pregnancy. This is just another reason to miss home.”
We blogged some about the tribal awakening taking place in Anbar Province earlier in the week, and I wanted to share a short vignette about a practical outcome of said awakening.
I visited one of our training centers for the Provincial Security Forces, or PSF. What these are are non-traditional security forces composed of tribesmen from the greater Fallujah area. When I went, a new class composed mostly of Iraqis from the Albu Issa tribe, on the sweeping tract of land running from just west of Fallujah just on the other side of the Euphrates all the way south to Amiriyah. This is the third class held so far.
These guys are being trained to become a legitimate sort of police auxiliary force, tasked with defending their tribal areas, fighting Al Qaeda in Iraq and other terrorist groups. Once made official, the plan is to have them funded by the Ministry of the Interior for weapons and gear, as well as receiving a paycheck from the Iraqi federal government, according to Maj. Mark Clingan, the operations officer for 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. I interviewed Maj. Clingan today and he had quite a bit of interesting information to pass along, most of which will be in a future post.
However, there was something he said that was very revealing and I feel sheds quite a bit of light on exactly what is happening, and why it is significant:
There really is in Al Anbar Province a huge awakening. You could almost call it a revolution where the Iraqi people are tired of the empty promises and lies of (Al Qaeda) and want to take back their own neighborhoods. The (indigenous counterinsurgency forces) which are growing up from the roots is an indication of that. By taking the ICF and turning them into PSF, now we’ve equipped them, we’ve given them the training and now we’re also legitimizing them and making them more of the process, and the local and national government recognizes them. (This recognition) includes funding from (Iraqi Ministry of Interior) and paychecks for individuals. It also puts them on the road to potentially becoming full-fledged (Iraqi Police), and also it means that they are able to act within the authority of the Iraqi government and sanctioned by the Iraqi government.
Things just feel
There is still significant work to be done, no doubt about that. Watch some of the cable news shows and read some of the mainstream papers. It would be difficult not to find an article about Anbar that does not discuss in depth precisely what is going on.
"Stay tuned" for more information forthwith on this topic.
My Groups
-
U.S. Marine Corps Updated: Yesterday
-
DINFOS Graduates Updated: 4 days ago
-
Deployed Troops (host) Updated: Dec 16, 2009
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
