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Artillery battery arrives on Okinawa for six-month tour

Marine Corps News

Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification #: 2004812129
Story by Lance Cpl. Brandon R. Holgersen

CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan - (Aug. 5, 2004) -- Marines with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, from Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., arrived here Aug. 5 for a six-month Unit Deployment Program tour with 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.

The 140 Battery B Marines, also known as "the Beastmasters," replaced Battery M, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines, which returned to Twentynine Palms Aug. 5 after a seven-month UDP tour here.

Battery B is scheduled to conduct artillery sustainment training on Camp Fuji, and Ojojihara Maneuver Area, Hokkaido, Japan, according to Gunnery Sgt. Carl Coca, the battery gunnery sergeant.

"We won't always fight in wars in the desert," Coca said. "Someday, we may have to go to the tropics, and we have to be prepared to do that as well."

The battery will conduct firing missions at Camp Fuji or the Ojojihara Maneuver Area because there are no artillery ranges on Okinawa. This will give each Marine more time to focus on marksmanship training, swim qualification and training at the Jungle Warfare Training Center while on Okinawa, according to Coca.

Many Battery B Marines will also further their Marine Corps Martial Arts Program training by attending the Green Belt Instructor's Course.

We are trying to be well-rounded Marines so we will be ready for war, Coca said.

"The last time I did MCMAP training was right after (the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001)," said Cpl. Andrew Pagano, a field radio operator who will train Marines in his section up to the gray belt level once he completes MCMAP instructor training. "I know a lot of my Marines are tan belts and want to get their gray belts."

Besides the artillery and MCMAP training, the Marines are also looking forward to spending time in a foreign country and interacting with the Okinawans. This will be the first overseas experience for 80 percent of the battery, according to Coca.

"I really want to check out the local history and see the local historical sights along with learning some of the Japanese language," said Lance Cpl. David Young, a field artillery cannoneer.