Lejeune Deployed

New River sergeant major hands over reins

May 14th, 2012, 5:14 pm by Amanda Hickey

By LANCE CPL. KYLE RUNNELS

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER – “A lot of men serve with honor; a lot of men come and go,” said Navy Lt. Chad C. McCain, Marine Corps Air Station New River chaplain. “Occasionally a new person emerges whose qualities are obvious, and so we give thanks to Sgt. Maj. Squires whose tour is complete. He is now going on to the first tee in the next course of his life.”

Sgt. Maj. William F. Squires relinquished his duties as the sergeant major of the air station to Sgt. Maj. Robert A. Allen Jr., during a relief and appointment ceremony, May 4.

During the ceremony, Squires received the Legion of Merit from the president of the United States of America for his exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service while serving as the air station’s sergeant major from May 2010 to July 2012 in an unprecedented period of growth in the Marine Corps.

“I extend to you my personal thanks and the sincere appreciation of a grateful nation for your contribution of honorable service to our country,” wrote President Barack Obama in a message read aloud during the ceremony. “You have helped maintain the security of the nation during a critical time in its history with a devotion to duty and a spirit of sacrifice in keeping with the proud traditions of military service.”

Squires has been the sergeant major of the air station since May 2010. Over the two years he served at New River, he made an impression on countless Marines, including Col. Jeffrey M. Hewlett, MCAS New River commanding officer.

“I have been blessed in my Marine Corps career to have four different sergeants major, but among those four great sergeants major, Squires has been the best,” said Hewlett. “It is incredibly impressive what he has done in 30 years. Above all, he is a leader and a warrior; he is a gunfighter. Sergeant major, you are a titan in the Marine Corps.”

Squires shared a list of the top four priorities that got him this far in his life.

“I have always said this,” said Squires. “God, country, Corps and family. Without the Corps, I don’t know where I would be today. I love the Corps, it’s my life. I always said them in that order and people used to say, ‘you put your family last?’. Think about it, I believe in God, I serve my country and I serve my corps, so if I was always doing those three, my family was always taken care of.”

Allen, a Portland, Maine, native, was selected to become the air station’s sergeant major after a two-year tour as sergeant major of Marine Wing Support Squadron 272. Before taking the reins of the air station, Allen gave words of praise to Squires for all the work he has done through his Marine Corps career.

“First I want to thank you for your 30 years of honorable and faithful service,” said Allen. “You are the embodiment of institutional core values and you have led your Marines and sailors with firmness and dignity for 30 years. I am honored to know you and greatly indebted upon you in my career.”

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‘Bulldogs’ return from Afghanistan

May 14th, 2012, 1:18 pm by Amanda Hickey

Staff Sgt. Sahr A. Musa, an airframe mechanic with Marine Attack Squadron 223, holds his daughter at the squadron’s hangar after returning from a 6-month deployment to Afghanistan (USMC Photo)

By LANCE CPL. STEPHEN STEWART

It was an exciting week for more than 180 Marines and sailors of Marine Attack Squadron 223 as they returned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan.

After being delayed several hours due to a storm, the main portion of the squadron, more than 130 Marines and sailors, returned in the early hours of May 6 to the squadron’s hangar to impatient and enthusiastic families and friends.

The commanding officer and nine pilots flew 10 of the squadron’s AV-8B Harriers home arriving May 7, followed later in the day by the final group of Marines and sailors.

During the deployment, the squadron provided close-air support and aerial reconnaissance to Marines and Afghan and coalition partners in southwestern Afghanistan.

“The Marines worked great together as one unit,” said Lt. Col. William R. Sauerland, executive officer of the squadron. “They did a remarkable job every single day, never failing a mission.”

After a full high-tempo tour, the squadron turned over their mission to Marine Attack Squadron 211 from MCAS Yuma, Ariz.

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2nd MAW receives more F-35B production aircraft

May 14th, 2012, 1:12 pm by Amanda Hickey

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT – The fourth and fifth F-35B short takeoff vertical landing production aircraft were ferried from Lockheed Martin to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing’s F-35 training squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Friday.

The aircraft, BF-9 and BF-10, departed Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, for the 90-minute flight to 2nd MAW’s Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501, which resides with the host 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin. The aircraft arrived around 3 p.m. CDT. One more STOVL production jet, BF-11, is expected to be delivered in the coming days, bringing 2nd MAW’s total to six F-35B aircraft.

The F-35B Lightning II is a multi-role, fifth-generation fighter slated to replace the Marine Corps’ aging F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier and EA-6B Prowler with one tactical, fixed-wing aircraft. The aircraft supports the Marine Corps’ tactical and operational needs for close air support in austere conditions and locations that may be inaccessible to traditional fighters.

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24th Marine Expeditionary Unit participates in largest partnered exercise in the Middle East

May 14th, 2012, 11:17 am by Amanda Hickey

Approximately 1,000 Marines and Sailors from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit are set to participate in the largest multi-nation exercise in the Middle East region this year.

Over the past few days the Marines dis-embarked the amphibious assault ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group to bring ashore personnel, equipment and supplies as they prepare to conduct a variety of training events with Jordanian forces and other participating nations at different locations throughout Jordan.

The focus of their efforts is to conduct partnered training with other countries, to share knowledge, and to demonstrate the interoperability and flexibility a Marine Expeditionary Unit brings as a forward-deployed crisis response force capable of responding to a variety of contingencies.

“When a crisis happens in the world our team has to be ready to work with other countries and their militaries immediately,” said Col. Frank Donovan, commanding officer, 24th MEU. “By conducting exercises like Eager Lion 12 we build strong relationships with partnered countries, we learn from each other and overcome hurdles in a training environment so that we can operate more effectively during a real mission.”

This is the second major exercise for the 24th MEU and Iwo Jima ARG since deploying in March. In April, they participated in African Lion 12, the largest bi-lateral annual training exercise in Africa.

“These types of exercises are a great opportunity for the Marine-Navy team to practice what we preach as a forward-deployed, crisis response force ready for anything,” said Donovan. “Conducting cooperation exercises like this are a key mission for us on our deployment. We appreciate the hospitality from the country of Jordan, we look forward to the opportunities presented during Eager Lion 12 and we’re excited to work with our partners.”

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Happy Mother’s Day from area Marines

May 10th, 2012, 11:05 am by Amanda Hickey

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EOD Marine awarded for heroic actions in Afghanistan

May 8th, 2012, 10:15 am by Amanda Hickey

By Lance Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki

Staff Sgt. Bernard J. Coyne doesn’t like being thought of as a hero, but that didn’t stop his chain of command from awarding him a Bronze Star with a combat distinguishing device at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, March 16.

Coyne is currently an explosive ordnance disposal technician for Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, but his assignment from April 9 to Sept. 15, 2011 was clearing improvised explosive devices for Company K, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, in Afghanistan. When on the job, he faced the dangers of both the explosives he sought to disarm and enemy combatants who sometimes launched ambushes when the technician was in the middle of disarming a bomb.

“Staff Sgt. Coyne operated within one of the most kinetic battle spaces inside of Regional Command Southwest,” read an email from Chief Warrant Officer Christopher M. West, a platoon commander in Afghanistan. “At the height of the fighting season, insurgent forces daily attempted to maintain some semblance of control over the local populace in Nahr-e-Saraj, despite Marines’ efforts to root out and expel them from the area.”

Insurgents relied heavily on the use of IEDs to inflict coalition casualties, West said. Due to the actions of Coyne and his team, their effectiveness was drastically reduced.

“We had a call when they found an IED a couple hundred meters from the base,” said Coyne. “So we went out and started finding more and more in a 50-meter area. With my teammate, Sgt. Jacob Cody Hostetler, we found nine other IEDs and had to take care of them while we were getting radio traffic that the enemy was watching us and maneuvering into position to attack. We kinda had to do it fast.”

With the threat of attack imminent, the Marines stuck to their job, destroyed the explosives and withdrew to safety before the attack was launched. Despite the threats his team encountered, Coyne said his job was actually peaceful.

“We always kept really cool,” he said. “I projected a calm demeanor while working so the security cordon could also remain calm. It’s important because they’re in just as much danger watching the technician’s back. There could be secondary IEDs in their area too and the wrong move could set them off.”

West said Coyne succeeded in his mission exceedingly well and deserves his Bronze Star.

“An EOD staff sergeant is expected to be a consummate professional who is capable of operating independently and without day-to-day supervision,” said West. “Staff Sgt. Coyne exemplified this while operating in extremely arduous conditions against a determined enemy. Daily, he led his team in protecting the lives of his fellow servicemen and civilians alike, while also acting as a vital subject matter expert to infantry battalion leaders.”

Previous generations served as Coyne’s role models. He realized that as bad as it may seem, others before him had it worse.

“You get home and think about it and realize it wasn’t really that bad,” Coyne said. “You think about people from before, like World War II veterans and they had it really bad. I don’t think it ever got as bad as some previous generations.”

Coyne specifically remembered his grandfather, a World War II veteran and fellow Bronze Star recipient. Though Coyne’s grandfather died the day his grandson arrived in Afghanistan, Coyne believes he was there in spirit.

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Marine’s blood saves Afghan soldier’s life

May 8th, 2012, 10:11 am by Amanda Hickey

Lance Cpl. Meng Lu donates blood for a dying Afghan Army National soldier waiting in another room at Forward Operating Base Delaram II’s Shock Trauma Platoon, May 8, 2012 (USMC Photo)

By STAFF SGT. BRIAN BUCKWALTER

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan – Navy corpsmen anxiously waited for the blood flowing from Lance Cpl. Meng Lu’s arm to fill the bag near his feet.

Waiting in the next room was a dying Afghan National Army soldier. Lu’s blood would save his life.

Earlier Tuesday morning, May 8, the soldier stepped on a pressure plate while on patrol, setting off an improvised explosive device that nearly killed him.

The soldier would’ve died had it not been for the response of the Navy healthcare team at FOB Delaram II’s Shock Trauma Platoon and the generosity of Lu and three other blood donors.

The ANA soldier arrived with almost no blood left said Navy critical care nurse Lt. Cmdr. Phillip Boyer, STP assistant officer in charge. “We replaced essentially his whole blood volume.”

To do this replacement, Navy doctor Lt. William Goldenberg, STP medical director, said that immediately after receiving the injury notice, a call went out for volunteers from the STP’s walking blood bank program.

The walking blood bank is a list of pre-screened volunteers maintained by Navy corpsmen Petty Officer 2nd Class Kishaun Jeffers and Petty Officer 3rd Class Patrick Murray. They contact those with matching blood types when supplies run low.

“In the past, when a patient bled a lot, what we would give them was essentially warm sterile salt water to replace the blood they lost. This is still very common in civilian healthcare,” Boyer said. “But battlefield medicine has evolved and changed that.”

Boyer explained that over the past two wars, battlefield medical professionals significantly improved at treating injuries that cause massive amounts of bleeding. They discovered that people had a higher rate of survival by replacing blood with blood instead of saline solution.

“The mantra we use in military medicine now is ‘give them what they’re bleeding’,” said Boyer.

That is more difficult to accomplish when the patient has a rare blood type like the ANA solider.

In life-saving situations like this one, whole blood is used. Donated whole blood has to match the recipient’s type exactly, and it has to be warm – going right from the donor to the recipient. That’s where the walking blood bank comes in said Goldenberg.

When Lu arrived at the STP, he didn’t realize how urgent the ANA soldier needed the blood.

STP medics had to revive the solider three times. Not because of heart problems or any specific injury, but “because he didn’t have any blood left,” said Goldenberg.

Lu said he helped because he wanted to do the right thing.

“I just try to help other people out,” Lu said.

Lu, who is originally from Xi’an, China before moving to El Monte, Calif., has given blood a couple of times in the past, but says he never fully realized the impact of those donations. This time was different, he said.

The ANA solider suffered serious injuries to his arm and femur and may lose his leg, but doctors expect him to live thanks to the four donors.

“We say it all the time at blood drives, but today it is the absolute truth – these guys just saved this man’s life,” said Boyer.

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Makin Island, Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Groups turnover duties

May 6th, 2012, 1:55 pm by Amanda Hickey

By 24TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT

USS MAKIN ISLAND, Gulf of Aden – The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit were relieved of their duties in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility by the Iwo Jima ARG and the 24th MEU, May 5.

The Makin Island ARG deployed Nov. 14, 2011 and conducted maritime security operations, theater security cooperation engagements, and multiple bilateral military exercises with regional partners within the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR.

“I could not be more pleased with the hard work and dedication from every sailor and Marine,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Donald R. Cuddington, commander, Amphibious Squadron Five. “Each individual’s outstanding professionalism and dedication to their training during our pre-deployment phase and through this deployment contributed greatly and was the key to the overall success of the Makin Island ARG and 11th MEU team.”

Following the turnover, Makin Island ARG will depart the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR and return to their homeport of San Diego.

“As I look back, every ship had some challenges either before or during this deployment; however, each ship met every challenge or every mission with great commitment and determination to succeed,” said Cuddington. “I would say the key to our success was, that the blue/green team always focused on the mission first. It was never a blue mission or a green mission. It was our mission.”

The Makin Island ARG is comprised of PHIBRON FIVE, with detachments from Tactical Air Control Squadron 11, Fleet Surgical Team 5, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23, Beach Master Unit 1, Assault Craft Unit 1 and ACU 5. The ships that make up the Makin Island ARG are San Diego-based amphibious assault ship Makin Island, amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) and amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52).

The 11th MEU major subordinate elements consist of Battalion Landing Team 3/1, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 268 (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 11.

“The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit has completed every task and exceeded expectations in supporting both U.S. Central Command and U.S. Navy Forces Central Command as a forward deployed Marine air-ground task force,” said Col. Michael Hudson, 11th MEU’s commanding officer. “The Marines and Sailors have continuously demonstrated the flexibility and adaptability of the Navy and Marine Corps team as they hit every pitch. This journey started over a year ago, during pre-deployment training and we leave here now proud of what we have accomplished.”

“As we begin our voyage home to our friends and families in southern California, we know that the 24th MEU, who is relieving us, is well led, trained and ready to take the next watch as America’s forward deployed force,” said Hudson.

The Iwo Jima ARG includes PHIBRON 8, with detachments from TACRON 21, FST 4, HSC 22, BMU 2, ACU 2 and ACU 4. ARG ships include Norfolk-based amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story-based amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44).

This is the maiden deployment for USS New York (LPD 21), built with seven and a half tons of steel from the World Trade Center, symbolizing sacrifice while having the watch being forward deployed.

“We’ve been working hard to prepare for our new duties in our new theatre, as we recently completed exercise African Lion off the coast of Morocco shortly after departing for deployment, and we are looking forward to getting work done in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Mark H. Scovill, commodore, PHIBRON 8.

Embarked with the Iwo Jima ARG is the 24th MEU, a U.S. Central Command theater reserve force, comprised of major subordinate elements: Battalion Landing Team 1/2, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 24.

“The 24th MEU is manned, trained, equipped and ready to serve as U.S. 5th Fleet’s forward deployed crisis response force,” said Col. Frank Donovan, commanding officer, 24th MEU. “Teamed with our great Navy partners aboard the amphibious ships of PHIBRON 8, we make a truly flexible, adaptable, decisive, and when required, lethal Navy and Marine Corps expeditionary force. We stand ready to take over for 11th MEU/PHIBRON 5 and continue the superior work they have done across the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR. We wish them fair winds and following seas as they begin their transit home.”

The Iwo Jima and embarked 24th MEU will provide support for maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR.

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Lejeune Marines and Afghan forces unleash Operation Reservoir Dogs

May 6th, 2012, 1:50 pm by Amanda Hickey

Lance Cpl. Jonathan Minier, infantry rifleman, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, posts security for his squad as they move through a danger area during Operation Reservoir Dogs in the small town of Sabzikar, Afghanistan, May 1, 2012. Minier is from Wallkill, N.Y. (Photo by Sgt. Michelle Watson)

By SGT. JAMES MERCURE

SABZIKAR, Afghanistan — After the sun came up, all hell broke loose.

Marines from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, along with Afghan National Security Forces, descended on the small town of Sabzikar to root out and eliminate insurgents operating in the area during Operation Reservoir Dogs, May 1.

In the early morning darkness, MV-22 Ospreys dropped the Marines and ANSF into an open field. From there, they silently moved to their first objective to establish a base of operations before conducting the sweep of the town.

At first light, insurgents unleashed an onslaught of heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and sniper fire on the Marines’ positions. This continued throughout the day.

“After we set up an over-watch position, the first two patrol bases came under fire, so we maneuvered to the compounds the insurgents were firing from and engaged them,” said 1st Lt. Devin Claridy, 3rd Platoon commander, Alpha Company, 1st Bn., 8th Marines and an Akron, Ohio native. “It was very close up, very kinetic fighting. Rounds were snapping off less than a foot over our heads. They came at us with everything in their arsenal.”

Under heavy fire, the Marines and ANSF relentlessly pushed forward, forcing the insurgents to break contact and run.

“We moved up to the next compound, and it felt like everyone in the world was shooting at us,” said Cpl. Justin Christ, a squad leader with Alpha Company, 1st Bn., 8th Marines. “I had a team set up in the building and open up on the insurgents. We kept moving, kept up momentum and continued to push.”

Despite taking fire from multiple positions at once, the Marines and ANSF continued to advance, repelling every attack with an assault of their own.

“We went from compound to compound, shooting almost non-stop at the insurgents,” Christ, from Bel Air, Md., said. “The enemy knew what they were doing, but they couldn’t handle the sheer volume of fire raining down on them.

“My guys knew their job and did their job despite bullets constantly whizzing over their heads. At the end of the day, everyone came home safe, and we killed some bad guys in the process. It was a good day,” he added.

The Marines and sailors of 1st Bn., 8th Marines will continue to partner with ANSF to help stabilize and set the conditions for the transfer of security to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Editor’s Note: First Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment is part of Regimental Combat Team 6. RCT-6 falls under 1st Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.

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Division Psychiatry helps Marines get back in the fight

May 1st, 2012, 10:23 am by Amanda Hickey

By CPL. TOMMY BELLEGARDE

Life as a service member can be quite stressful, especially in the Marine Corps. Deployments, frequent training and even the stress of balancing family life with military obligation, all weigh in on the individual Marine at one point or another and can sometimes overwhelm the service member to the point where they need a helping hand.
Division Psychiatry helps 2nd Marine Division Marines and sailors who need a higher level of medical assistance for stress-related and other mental health disorders to get the service member back in the fight.

“We get a variety of things – mood conditions like depression, … anxiety conditions, panic disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, (post-traumatic stress disorder) or combat stress,” said Rochester, N.Y., native Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Webster, the psychiatrist at Division Psychiatry, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland in 1998 and 1999. “Not everyone who comes out of theater that’s having symptoms has PTSD. Some may have a couple symptoms of combat stress so we’ll work with that too, so you don’t need to have a PTSD diagnosis for us to treat you; we’re going to treat all those other things, too.”

The clinic helps Marines and sailors through therapy—both group and individual – and medication, if needed, to help return struggling service members to functionality in their daily lives. Setbacks are common during therapy, but the key is that progress is being made, which often comes gradually over time, said Saluda, S.C., native Petty Officer 1st Class Jazmin Davis, the psychiatric technician at Division Psychiatry.

“It can be a continuous thing; it might go on for a while. Some people move on to their next command and continue to have therapy – there’s nothing wrong with that – but ultimately it’s that functioning (piece),” said Davis. “If the therapy provides (the ability) for that person (to function), then that’s what we’re looking for.”

Approximately 250 service members from 2nd Marine Division received some level of care from Division Psychiatry last month at the main office so the staff at the office keeps busy. However, in late 2011, Division Psychiatry launched its Operational Stress Control and Readiness program, which has expanded psychiatry services to 2nd, 6th, and 8th Marine Regiments. These OSCAR assets even deploy with the regiments to which they are assigned, allowing for a more intimate relationship with their Marines and sailors.

“So now, say you’re attached to 2nd (Marine) Regiment, you’ve got an asset right there who is going to deploy with you, be with you, know you,” said Davis. “When we’re on deployment, if you’ve got something coming on, you come to me, ‘hey Doc, remember we were talking about such and such,’ and we can continue from where we left off.”

Marines and sailors can be seen by Division Psychiatry and its subordinates by getting a referral from their battalion aid stations. Marines can receive counseling from other services such as chaplains, Marine Corps Community Services and Military One Source. What’s ultimately important is that a service member gets help from somewhere if they begin to feel overwhelmed by their problems. It is especially imperative that a Marine reaches out if they he has thoughts of self-harm.

“The two important things are one, it can get better and two, there really are people who do care about you. It’s just a matter of reaching out,” said Webster, who earned her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, N.Y. in 2002. “We have a number of programs here, we have them at the hospital, we have them through MCCS, and, of course, there’s military one source – there are more programs available than you can shake a stick at here.”

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New River sergeant major hands over reins

‘Bulldogs’ return from Afghanistan

2nd MAW receives more F-35B production aircraft

24th Marine Expeditionary Unit participates in largest partnered exercise in the Middle East

Happy Mother’s Day from area Marines

EOD Marine awarded for heroic actions in Afghanistan

Marine’s blood saves Afghan soldier’s life

Makin Island, Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Groups turnover duties

Lejeune Marines and Afghan forces unleash Operation Reservoir Dogs

Division Psychiatry helps Marines get back in the fight

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