Combat replacements come from far and wide
USMC News
Story Identification Number: 2003411184133
Story by Cpl. Jose L. Garcia
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif.(April 10, 2003) -- Individual Ready Reserve Marines are trickling into Camp Pendleton and gearing up as potential combat replacements for Marines liberating Iraq.
A few come from right up the street. Others come from far and wide.
One came all the way from Ireland.
"It was a Monday. I was working on wiring a house when my cell phone rang," said Staff Sgt. Denis J. Daly, a native of Dunamaise, Ireland. "It was a friend from Camp Pendleton, saying he saw my name in the system having orders to mobilize.
"I was in shock. Here I was in a different country, living in Ireland, and I was getting mobilized. Next thing you know, it's Thursday that same week, and I'm on a plane flying back to the U.S.," Daly said during a break from combat refresher training at the School of Infantry here.
Daly is an electrician - one of countless professions represented among the IRRs. The collection of IRRs - Marines who served their active-duty obligation but hadn't finished their military contract - includes husbands, wives, sons and daughters.
One Marine said the call-up literally came like a thief in the night.
"I was asleep in my house, in bed, when my mother-in-law walked in hysterical, asking me to come to her house," said Sgt. Tony L. Black, a sheriff's deputy from Dallas who had been out of the Corps for two years. "My wife was over at her house crying, and she couldn't calm her down. I was confused. I thought something was wrong with my 8-month pregnant wife.
"We take off to my in-laws" house, and there's my wife in tears, telling me I was going to war," Black said, "Everything came into picture when she said that. I had received a mailgram telling me I've been mobilized."
Once IRR Marines arrive at Mobilization Support Battalion at Camp Talega, they are processed in four days. Processing includes medical evaluations, dental exams, clothing issue and other official business.
Following the in-processing, IRR Marines undergo seven days of combat refresher training designed to refamiliarize them with infantry tactics, including patrolling, throwing hand grenades, first aid, land navigation and urban warfare.
"What it all comes down to is the Marine Corps credo - every Marine is a rifleman," said Maj. Christopher J. Lopez, commanding officer for B Company, Combat Replacement Company. "So it's important - regardless (of their) military occupational specialty, which is always secondary - that every Marine be equipped and prepared to act as a rifleman in combat."
After completing the course, the current group of 170 IRR Marines fall into three categories.
The first group - 0300s or "grunts" - will undergo two additional weeks of combat training at SOI. The second group consists of 1833s, or Amtrackers. They'll get four days of additional training, hosted by the Assault Amphibian School Battalion at Camp Del Mar. The rest will join a gaining force command.
"The GFC ... could start out here in the rear, or they may just turn around next week and head out to Kuwait," Lopez said.
"It's been a shock to the majority of these Marines to get recalled. ... especially the ones who have been out for a long time. But I have to say, I am humbled by the commitment, sense of duty and the patriotism these Marines have shown. You have to admire them because they have ... left their families in various parts of the country (and) left their jobs to support our cause. I think the shock wore off once the uniform came on."
About 40 percent of the IRR Marines don't show up due to medical problems or other life issues, he said.
He said the mobilization hasn't reached full swing.
"If we go to a full-scale mobilization, my understanding is that we could essentially be looking at training 1,000 to 1,500 IRR Marines per week. Now that's the extreme," Lopez said. "I think a lot of that has to do with the results that we see over in Iraq right now - that's going to play a large part in determining how many more mailgrams are sent out."
Despite the life disruptions, Lopez said the IRRs in general are taking it well.
"Overall, these IRR Marines are happy to be here and are looking forward to joining their units over in Operation Iraqi Freedom," he said.
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