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22nd MEU Embarkers Support 4th FSSG's Deployment

USMC News

Story Identification Number: 200322012299
Story by Sgt. Matt Preston

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Feb. 20, 2003) -- On the top deck of a transport ship overlooking a field of stacked green metal cargo containers in a bustling East Coast sea port, two Marines quickly yet thoroughly inspect similar containers awaiting transport to points unknown.

Sgt. Jason Haggenmiller and Cpl. Travis Albrecht, embark specialists with the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit, recently augmented the 4th Service Support Group during the unit's recent embark of supplies bound for the front line of the war against terrorism. Haggenmiller and Albrecht lent the 4th FSSG their planning expertise and assistance in the embarkation of supplies and vehicles aboard the outbound ships.

Shortly after their arrival at the port, the two Marines were presented with a dilemma. Some containers had been loaded aboard the cargo ship prematurely against the load plan, and the Marines had to track down the missing containers and put everything back on track.

"It's a big jigsaw puzzle," said Albrecht, of Houston, Texas. "It's definitely a challenge. There's a lot of small stuff that if you don't do [properly], things get fouled up."

The consequences of some of the 'small stuff' can be permanent. On top of making sure the gear gets on the right boat at the right time in the right order, it has to be properly secured. A loaded vehicle or container must have a chain capable of handling its weight or greater. Failure to do so could result in a catastrophe should the chain break.

"If it snaps, it could take somebody's leg off," said Albrecht.

Embarkation Marines are responsible for figuring out how to get gear from point A to point B in the most efficient manner possible, according to Haggenmiller, a New York City native with six years in the Marine Corps. First, they receive gear lists from the units putting their gear on the ship.

From those lists, the embarkers develop a plan to fit all the equipment, containers and vehicles onto the ship. They make liaison with the local Port Operations Group, which is in charge of actually moving the gear, and then help coordinate the actual loading.

"Once you get to point B, it's the same thing in reverse," said Albrecht.

The 22d MEU isn't the only unit lending a hand.

"[The II Marine Expeditionary Force] is supplying all the augments," said Capt. Matt Seipt, port operations group officer in charge, who says the conditions have been less than favorable because of the weather.

"The Marines have been working twelve hour days. It's been cold; it's been wet. "

In spite of the risks, the Marines have been performing well, he said.

"We've had no injuries or incidents," said Seipt. "It's a credit to the Marines' ingenuity and safety."

Haggenmiller and Albrecht make their way through the maze of passageways and ladder wells aboard the ship, continuing to look for the missing containers. Finally deep within the middle cargo decks, they link up with some other augment embarkers, who have located the wayward containers. They're already chained down, and with most of the ship filled with gear already, removing them is near impossible.

However, the situation is salvageable. The unit that the containers belong to has other gear on this ship: at the offload point, they can consolidate it there. In terms of the sheer amount of gear being deployed on the ship, the hiccup is a minor one.

Ultimately, getting the job done is the most important thing to the two Marines.

"With all the hard work that goes into this, once the ship's loaded and you can see it sail away, that's job satisfaction."