Reply With QuoteHey vor... where did you get these photos. I though I saw a familiar face on there, and wonder if it is Keeper0311's reserve unit (Golf Company, 2nd battalion, 23rd Marines).Originally Posted by vor033
all these photos make me crave to be a marine
but there are .... difficulties in my way
Hey vor... where did you get these photos. I though I saw a familiar face on there, and wonder if it is Keeper0311's reserve unit (Golf Company, 2nd battalion, 23rd Marines).
Hi Mate, They are from the Estonian Defence Force Website, have added the link for you as there are a few more from that set.
http://www.mil.ee/~fotek/gallery/vie...mName=album877
Amphibious Assault Exercise in Estonia
U.S Marine Amphibious Assault vehicles deliver Marines and Estonian Soldiers ashore during an Amphibious assault exercise and demonstration on the Baltic Coast of Estonia – 15th June 2010
Combined Arms Exercise
FORT A.P. HILL, Va. - The art and science of combined arms operations is to present the enemy with an inescapable dilemma, to make him choose between movement while under precise and constant fire or wait for their destruction to come from above. The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Marines employed this science during several exercises at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., during their Realistic Urban Training.
More than 600 Battalion Landing Team 3/8 Marines negotiated squad and company live-fire battle courses, June 6-11, which required them to move over uneven terrain, to secure target areas and conduct urban warfare. During these events, the Marines often utilized air power from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 and indirect fire support from 81mm mortars. The combined use of direct and indirect fires against an enemy force is the very definition of combined arms.
One of the major factors in the training exercises was coordination with other elements of the MEU to practice combined arms attacks, said Sgt. Brett A. Dayton, a squad leader with Company K, BLT 3/8, 26th MEU.
"Combined arms involves combining the ground element and air element," said Dayton. "An example of combined arms is when performing an attack, your aviation asset flies-in, attacks from the air, indirect fire provides suppression from afar, and both allow us to go in and take our objective."
Marines employed a broad set of weapons during the training. Small arms included M16 and M4 service rifles, M249 Squad Automatic Weapons, M240B machine guns, mortars, and rockets such as AT-4s and Shoulder-launched Multi-purpose Assault Weapons.
"Employing a wide array of weaponry allows us the flexibility to conduct all types of operations," said 1st Lt. Daniel M. Yurkovich, assistant operations officer for BLT 3/8. MV-22 Osprey, UH-1E Huey, CH-53E Super Stallion, and AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters from VMM-266 provided air support.
"Bringing all elements to a combined arms effort brings the MEU commander the ability to put the enemy within the horns of the dilemma," said Yurkovich. He explained that within a Marine Air Ground Task Force like 26th MEU, the combined arms concept is scalable to meet a range of combat situations. "We can perform anything from squad-sized to battalion-sized attacks," he said.
Dayton said the Marines' responsibilities to the MEU require they train to conduct the full spectrum of military operations, from combat to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
"We support the MEU by conducting raids, ground attacks, humanitarian services and training foreign forces," said Dayton. "During RUT, we can go out there, test our abilities, and tweak things here and there, so we can be effective in real-life combat situations."
With more MEU-wide training exercises planned for July and August, Dayton added his and all BLT 3/8 Marines are well on their way to being fully prepared for their deployment later this year.
"We have come a long way since we first started training for deployment," said Dayton. "We will be more than ready when it comes time to deploy. We have a lot of seasoned leaders out here who have a lot of knowledge and are passing it on to their Marines."
US and Moroccan Troops Wrap Up Exercise African Lion 2010
CAP DRAA TRAINING AREA, Morocco — U.S. service members taking part in African Lion 2010 wrapped up their training, June 9, in a final combined arms exercise with the Royal Moroccan army.
“African Lion in Morocco is very important for both the Marine Corps and the United States government. This is a strategic relationship with one of the United States’ oldest allies,” said Marine Corps Reserve Maj. Gordon Hilbun, assistant operations officer for Task Force African Lion. “This relationship maintains a strong collaborative training opportunity for both militaries and ensures that the Marine Corps maintains its expeditionary capabilities and mindset.
More than 1,000 Marines, sailors and U.S. Air and Army national guardsmen participated in African Lion this year, with the preponderance of troops coming from Marine Forces Reserve units throughout the United States.
This is the seventh year in a row that U.S. troops have come here for this exercise, which Marine Corps Forces Africa, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, has the lead on facilitating.
The final exercise was a culmination of more than four months of planning, mass logistical movements and detailed coordination between U.S. and Moroccan diplomatic and military leadership.
In the exercise scenario, several enemy mechanized units had intentionally crossed into Moroccan territory. A joint U.S. and Moroccan task force was formed to repulse the enemy with a combination of air and ground capabilities. These included helicopters, tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, mortars, combat engineers and mobile assault platoons.
After Moroccan Kornet guided missiles initiated the attack, combat engineers from 4th Combat Engineer Battalion in Roanoake, Va., used their Bangalore torpedoes to blast a hole through the breach.
“It was excellent,” said Cpl. John Saunders, a reserve Marine with 4th CEB who helped to emplace the 33 pounds of high explosives and secured the fuse igniter systems. “Our goal from the time we dismounted, emplaced the charge and withdrew was 90 seconds, and we beat it. When that bunker buster went off, it was incredible.”
The Moroccan army provided the air power with Gazelle helicopters strafing their targets with missiles.
U.S. and Moroccan tanks closed in, hammering old tank hulks with high-explosive rounds and machine gun fire.
The American M1A1 Abrams tanks came from Company F, 4th Tank Battalion headquartered at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
“It was a good show, and great practice maneuvering and firing as a platoon,” said platoon commander 2nd Lt. Peter Heiman, who is on his first deployment as an officer in the Marine Corps Reserve. “The Moroccan tankers seem to really know their stuff.”
Heiman explained that earlier in the week, he and his Marines had the chance to meet with the Moroccan tankers, climb inside their tanks and shoot their weapons.
“It was really great training,” said Heiman, “One of their sergeants had been on the same tank for 26 years. One thing I can say is that they’re really experienced.”
Cpl. Matthew Ross, a 23-year-old vehicle commander with 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in Quantico, Va., also had the chance to work with Moroccan troops prior to and during the final exercise.
“My initial impression is that they are very professional,” said Ross, a five-year reserve Marine who is a senior at Georgetown University. “They know what they need to be doing at all times. There is no laissez faire leadership. They’re like us; mission oriented. They always knew what was going on.”
A linguistics major with a focus on Arabic and Dari languages, the exercise gave a Ross both a chance to exert his leadership as a first-time vehicle command and to practice Arabic with the Moroccan soldiers.
“There are a lot of things you can take away from the exercise,” said Ross. “It proves to the Marines that you can work with a foreign military force in a (military to military) exercise and see that they can have an equal level of professionalism. We can integrate with foreign militaries if the mission dictates. The Marines at the [non-commissioned officer] level have confidence that they can work successfully with a foreign military that speaks another language, and with a culture that is really different. There is a very specific commonality between them and our Marines: military professionalism.”
While the tanks were blasting away at their targets, Marine Corps mortarmen from Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment fired their 81 millimeter mortar rounds.
“This was a very positive experience overall,” said Sgt. Timothy Gena a reserve Marine mortars section leader with Weapons Company, who also had the chance to train with his Moroccan counterparts prior to the final exercise.
“They have the French and Spanish versions of the weapons [81 millimeter mortars], but it’s the same concept. What was amazing is that we were able to work with them without an interpreter, and these guys, [the Moroccans] were really good. This kind of thing is very important, especially for the junior Marines, who may not have done this before, or who might have had a negative experience in the past. It’s great to come here for [annual reserve training] and come away with a respect for the Moroccans. I think we had a mutual respect here.”
While the troops on the ground put the pincers on the notional enemy forces, the U.S. and Moroccan senior leadership sat together watching the fiery show from a vantage point on a hill nearby.
After the successful completion of the live-fire, Moroccan Gen. Abdul Al Aziz Benani, General of the Royal Moroccan Army Corps, spoke to the American delegation, which included Samuel L. Kaplan, the U.S. ambassador to Morocco, and Marine Corps Reserve Maj. Gen. James M. Croley, the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing commanding general.
“This is a beautiful thing, when you shoot and hit your target,” said Benani. “I want to tell you how satisfied we are, and I want to thank you for your work to make this exercise successful.”
Although this year’s African Lion has come to a close, U.S. and Moroccan planners are already looking at next year’s exercise, which is expected to bring even more Marine Forces Reserve units here and involve a broader range of U.S. and Moroccan troops.
“The evolution of this exercise would entail an amphibious offload and a larger training force to include expanding our current combined training relationship with Moroccan forces,” said Hilbun. “Marine Forces Africa is becoming a focus of effort for the Marine Corps. This exercise provides us with continued access to one of our key strategic partners in Africa as the United States continues to maintain a national focus on expanding our involvement on the African continent.”
Artillery Direct-Fire Exercise
Artillerymen with Fox Battery 2/12, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepare and fire an M777 A2 Howitzer during a direct-fire exercise as part of Realistic Urban Training aboard Fort A.P. Hill, Va., June 11. During the 18-day training evolution, the MEU will conduct several urban and other unit training exercises as part of its pre-deployment training. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall.
I'm about to deploy. I'll post a bunch of pics in 7 months when we get back.
Good Luck and God Speed!!!! we wait for your pictures!!!
Does anyone have the original of this picture?
Realistic Urban Training
Marines with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, clear a building during a simulated night raid at a local lumberyard in Tappahannock, Va., June 16, 2010. During Realistic Urban Training (RUT) at nearby Fort A.P. Hill, Va., the MEU conducted several urban training exercises in a realistic environment as part of its pre-deployment training. The urban environment is among the most challenging tactical environments MEU Marines may face. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall.
A Marine with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides security during a simulated night raid at a local lumberyard in Tappahannock, Va., June 16, 2010. During Realistic Urban Training (RUT) at nearby Fort A.P. Hill, Va., the MEU conducted several urban training exercises in a realistic environment as part of its pre-deployment training. The urban environment is among the most challenging tactical environments MEU Marines may face. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall.
Marines with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, provide security and covering fire during a simulated night raid at a local lumberyard in Tappahannock, Va., June 16, 2010. During Realistic Urban Training (RUT) at nearby Fort A.P. Hill, Va., the MEU conducted several urban training exercises in a realistic environment as part of its pre-deployment training. The urban environment is among the most challenging tactical environments MEU Marines may face. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall.
Marines with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, clear a building during a simulated night raid at a local lumberyard in Tappahannock, Va., June 16, 2010. During Realistic Urban Training at nearby Fort A.P. Hill, Va., the MEU conducted several urban training exercises in a realistic environment as part of its pre-deployment training. The urban environment is among the most challenging tactical environments MEU Marines may face. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall.
Marines with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, clear a building during a simulated night raid at a local lumberyard in Tappahannock, Va., June 16, 2010. During Realistic Urban Training (RUT) at nearby Fort A.P. Hill, Va., the MEU conducted several urban training exercises in a realistic environment as part of its pre-deployment training. The urban environment is among the most challenging tactical environments MEU Marines may face. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall.
Marines with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, enter a building during a simulated night raid at a local lumberyard in Tappahannock, Va., June 16, 2010. During Realistic Urban Training (RUT) at nearby Fort A.P. Hill, Va., the MEU conducted several urban training exercises in a realistic environment as part of its pre-deployment training. The urban environment is among the most challenging tactical environments MEU Marines may face. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall.
Marines with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, offload from vehicles during a simulated night raid at a local lumberyard in Tappahannock, Va., June 16, 2010. During Realistic Urban Training (RUT) at nearby Fort A.P. Hill, Va., the MEU conducted several urban training exercises in a realistic environment as part of its pre-deployment training. The urban environment is among the most challenging tactical environments MEU Marines may face. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall.
A Marine with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides security during a simulated night raid at a local lumberyard in Tappahannock, Va., June 16, 2010. During Realistic Urban Training (RUT) at nearby Fort A.P. Hill, Va., the MEU conducted several urban training exercises in a realistic environment as part of its pre-deployment training. The urban environment is among the most challenging tactical environments MEU Marines may face. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall.
A Navy Corpsman with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, provides medical aid to a mock casualty during a simulated night raid at a local lumberyard in Tappahannock, Va., June 16, 2010. During Realistic Urban Training (RUT) at nearby Fort A.P. Hill, Va., the MEU conducted several urban training exercises in a realistic environment as part of its pre-deployment training. The urban environment is among the most challenging tactical environments MEU Marines may face. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall.
Navy Corpsman and Marines with Company K, Battalion Landing Team 3/8, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, attend to mock casualties in a triage area during a simulated night raid at a local lumberyard in Tappahannock, Va., June 16, 2010. During Realistic Urban Training (RUT) at nearby Fort A.P. Hill, Va., the MEU conducted several urban training exercises in a realistic environment as part of its pre-deployment training. The urban environment is among the most challenging tactical environments MEU Marines may face. 26th MEU is scheduled to deploy later this fall.
3/1 Marines Enhance Marksmanship Skills at Makeshift Range in Garmsir
GARMSIR DISTRICT, Afghanistan – Marines with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, enhanced their marksmanship techniques at Patrol Base Koshtay, Helmand province, Afghanistan, June 16, to help keep the Marines vigilant throughout their seven-month deployment.
Under the company commander’s guidance, all Marines with Lima Co., 3/1, are required to ‘zero’ their weapons, adjusting and perfecting their combat ‘optics,’ while using proper sight alignment and sight picture.
“Every Marine is a rifleman. If we are going to say that and continue to preach it, then we need to back it up,” said Gunnery Sgt. Patrick E. Fay, company gunnery sergeant for Lima Co., 3rd Bn, 1st Marines. “Marksmanship is what is going to help us win the war. These guys aren’t sticking around too long for us to fire, so whether you shoot one round or one thousand rounds, it may be only that first shot that you fired that’s the most important one.”
Using what they have seen from their previous patrols they are able to make adjustments helping them be more prepared for future engagements.
Using different types of battle site zero also helps keep the Marines ready for anything. Firing the weapons without gear allows the Marines’ technique and form to be critiqued and adjusted accordingly.
“There is no point putting a Marine in 60 pounds of gear if he can’t even shoot (without gear). You have to build up from the basics,” said Fay, 31, from Rialto, Calif.
Firing their weapons helps prepare Marines for some of the situations they may encounter while in Afghanistan.
“As generic as it does sound, being in the pits at the range is probably one of the most conducive training objectives that the Marine Corps has available to relate to a combat firefight situation,” said Sgt. Mark Peters, a squad leader with Lima Co., 3/1, from Chicago. “When we were just down south recently in a compound and rounds were whizzing over our head, I said, ‘Hey we’re at the rifle range boys, we’re in the pits.’”
Sticking to the basics helps the company stay combat effective.
“We try to keep it simple at Lima Company,” said Fay. “If you can’t fire your weapon system properly, what are you doing on a battlefield? You need to put the right tool for the right job.”
Dragoons Storm, Conquer Range 410 in Day, Night Exercises
Marines of Company D, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, trained the light armored vehicle scouts and crewmen to seamlessly integrate in battle at Combat Center Range 410, June 9-11.
Dragoons ran the range over and over again, practicing their trench-clearing and fire-suppression tactics day and night, scorching heat and deafening wind to become better scouts and LAV crewmen, said Capt. Michael Simon, the company’s commander, and a native of North Canton, Ohio.
“When doing a range like this, we look to make sure we do the basics correctly and efficiently from the [private first class] up to the leadership,” Simon said. “What we’re going for is fluid integration of our LAV-25s and their organic scouts, which is a difficult skill to master.”
Simon said his Marines performed to his expectation, but now he’s pushing them to go farther.
“Overall I think they did pretty well,” Simon said. “All the Marines worked very hard, but there’s always room for improvement.”
Simon said the Marines’ hard work and diligence has helped them achieve more solid unit cohesion.
“Running this range is just like everything else,” he said. “To do it well you need sound procedures, quality [non-commissioned officer supervision and realistic, aggressive rehearsals.”
Lance Cpl. Steven Simms, a senior LAV crewman in the company, the lessons they learned on the range will help everyone, especially less-experienced Marines.
“This is good training, especially for the scouts,” said the Fairview, Tenn., native. “It helps the crewmen brush up as well. We always try to use our down time to educate the new guys.
“We’re always stressing gear accountability and to always be aware of what they’re doing,” he said. “I always make sure they’re in a learning state of mind so they get as much out of it as possible for their own good.”
Lance Cpl. Anthony Sgarlata, a mortarman attached to the company, said he learned a lot about another military occupational specialty and gained some valuable experience.
“I’m not even a scout,” said the Orange County, Calif., native. “Just doing this over the past couple of days I’ve learned a lot about being a scout. I’ve never cleared a trench before, which I guess is going to help out a lot when we’re in country.”
The battalion will continue to train through the coming months until their deployment this fall in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Routine Operation Meets Resistance
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 2, combined with Afghan National Security Forces, headed north to show face in an area not often visited by friendly forces, June 9.
The mission’s purpose was to reach the northern villages and engage with the local elders while gaining information about their neighboring town, Bar Now Zad.
“We wanted to get the (Afghan National Army) and (Afghan National Police) a little further up north, and to see how well they operate together,” said 2nd Lt. Gene Price, the executive officer of Alpha Company. “We decided to go to Badam, a place we haven’t been to in a while. We also wanted to hit some other spots in the area of operation to include Towrah Ghundey, a town with a possible (Taliban) mortar site we wanted to check out.”
Both locations are a few miles north of Now Zad, and they border Bar Now Zad, possibly one of the largest Taliban strongholds in Helmand province, said Price.
“The intent was to get out to the local population, let them know what is available for them verses the Taliban persuading them,” said Price. “The Taliban tells the people that their government won’t be able to help them.”
Although Price explained the benefits of what their government can do for the townsmen, the people still stated that Taliban would kill them and they were not leaving the village.
The convoy departed Forward Operating Base Caffereta with not only a fleet of vehicles, but with the manpower to make things happen.
“On the convoy to Badam, we hit an improvised explosive device at a choke point just south of Kenjak Olya,” said Sgt. Javen Roberson, the platoon sergeant for 2nd platoon, Alpha Company. “We lost one Marine from the fight that was medically evacuated out with a grade-three concussion, but we moved on and staged just outside of Badam for the night.”
Badam was anticipated to be a calm and friendly area; however, it was anything but.
While in the middle of a conversation between Price and the local elders, an explosion rattled the ground and shots started to pop off. Marines, ANA and ANP rushed towards the firing, but came to find nothing.
“We pushed out to a hilltop to observe where they were firing from as five rounds of small arms fire were shot at us,” said Price. “They also fired one more round of indirect fire at us while we were on the hill.
“It felt like they were bracketing us, so we pulled back and went around the backside to Towrah Ghundey.”
Once at Towrah Ghundey, the ANA spotted a suspicious compound and insisted they search it.
“We always listen to the ANA, said Roberson. “We listen to them because they know what to look for and even know the people that belong by the different accent in their voice. Just like back in the states if you know someone is from Texas they have that accent. Here, the ANA are the locals and they know best.”
“While searching a compound, we started receiving small-arms fire and indirect fire,” said Price. “As soon as we received contact, the Marines didn’t hesitate, they pursued the enemy and forced them into a valley where there was an egress point leading to Bar Now Zad.”
The Marines tried to isolate the enemy to avoid losing site of them, but as the Marines pursued, the enemy slipped away into the populace.
“A turret gunner saw four guys run out of a compound and open up with AK47s and then run into a herd of sheep and go back into the village,” said Lance Cpl. Will MacDonald a squad leader for the machine-gun section of Alpha Company. “After that, we lost positive identification. We pushed up and tried to cut off their egress route, but they were gone.”
The Taliban fired rounds and ran.
“They are not able to influence us at all,” said Price. “They shoot more sporadic fire then anything and they are not accurate with their weapons. They just take pop shots and run away. Well, the next time they try to run away, we will be sitting there ready for them.”
After the contact, the convoy pushed to patrol base Sofla, to make them aware of the situation and stay for the night.
“We returned to Towrah Ghundey the next day,” said Roberson. “We went into that same building again and the same thing happened, we got shot at, only this time we had Marines waiting.”
“We also detained the guy that had IED making material, and was manufacturing homemade explosives in his compound,” said Roberson.
The Marines countered the Taliban tactics and as Price said, the Marines were waiting.
Nearly an hour of lying in the ****e overlooking the village, shots started firing and they were quickly suppressed. The enemy not only fired sporadic small arms from the hilltops, but also fired mortars from the opposite side of the hill.
“After they started firing, we had heavy suppression on the enemy,” said MacDonald. “We saw them running around on the ridgeline so I started to engage them with my [M240 Bravo machinegun]. I fired between 400 and 500 rounds at a sustained rate so my gunner on the [MK-19 automatic grenade launcher] could follow the tracer rounds and open up with the Mark.”
MacDonald wasn’t the only Marine to lay down heavy fire.
“I laid down 150 rounds of fire that way,” said Lance Cpl. Joshua Davis, a turret gunner with Alpha Company. “I was sitting in the turret waiting for them to fire so I could see where they were. Three rounds flew over my head, one hit my bulletproof window on one side of the turret and another hit it on the other side. I began suppressing the hilltop where the shots were coming from and others joined me.
“It was pretty scary,” he added. “My adrenalin was running and I was trying to find where they were shooting from so I could shoot them before they shot me.”
Then there came a moment of silence.
The firefight was over, as the Taliban threat was defeated.
The convoy moved out of the area and although this operation came to a halt, one could bet there will be a similar operation taking place in the near future.
“There will be further operations with increased numbers of Afghan National Security Forces. We are here to mentor them and turn the security over to them,” said Price. “In the past three days the ANA and ANP have demonstrated that they are not afraid to fight the Taliban. They are aggressive warriors and they will pursue the enemy while operating alongside Marines.”
With continued support from Marines of Alpha Company, the ANSF continue to develop into a professional and competent organization, capable of fighting the enemy with little to no assistance from coalition forces.
“It was phenomenal to be part of this operation and to be out there watching the Marines react under pressure. It was even more phenomenal to watch the ANP, ANA and Marines come together as a team while fighting the same enemy,” Price continued.
“We will continue operations up here and keep security for the local population and develop the Afghan National Security Forces to allow them to provide security for themselves,” Price concluded.
Marines Establish New Contacts in Unchartered Territory West of Helmand River
GARMSIR DISTRICT, Afghanistan— Marines from Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, inserted along the unchartered western portion of the Helmand River Valley to conduct patrols and key leader engagements as part of Operation Ozark Mountain, June 14.
Prevented from traveling by foot due to the river’s depth, the Marines used air support to cross west over the Helmand River
The Marines were unable to physically cross because the water in the Helmand River was too high.
“I decided to try and get helicopter support in order to get us over there and figure out what’s going on over there with the people, engage the atmosphere, and try to interdict any of the Taliban ‘rat lines' going north to south,” said 1st Lt. Marcos Ruvalcava, a platoon commander with Lima Co., 3/1.
After the helicopters dropped the Marines across the river and departed, the Marines took off, heading down the river toward the villages. As the sun rose, the Marines headed into the first village, seeking out the village elders.
“I wish we could have had more time. We didn’t anticipate the key leader engagements taking that long, and we ran into more village elders than expected,” said Ruvalcava, 33, from Fillmore, Calif.
Village elders should know when and where the local shuras are so they can go and seek help, knowledge or if it is just to let the Marines know of any Taliban activity in their area, said Lance Cpl. Steven Morones, 19, a rifleman with Lima Co., 3/1, from Earlville, Ill.
“It’s definitely a good thing for the elders to know about the shuras, but due to the Helmand River in between us and them, it would probably be more of a hassle for them to get over here to the shura,” said Ruvalcava. “Taliban are still active in the south, not too far away from them, and they are still intimidated by them.”
Marines stopped a random motorcycle to find one of the Afghans failed a gunpowder residue test. The Marines detained the Afghan and made their way to the helicopter pickup point.
“We accomplished a bunch of key leader engagements from Lt. Ruvalcava, and to get out there and see the elders and let them know that we are here to help aid their country in bettering itself,” said Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Dreyer, 28, Weapons Platoon sergeant, Kilo Co., 3/1, from Dayton, Texas.
“I think the message was sent out there. We are able to get over to the western side of the Helmand River, and the river doesn’t divide us and them,” said Dreyer.
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