MSSG-22 sustains RCAX warriors, Allows units to focus on training
Marine Corps News
Story Identification #: 2004127153129
Story by 1st Lt. Katherine L. O'Neill
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif. (Dec. 7, 2004) -- Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group-22 is currently located at Camp Wilson here serving as the backbone of the Revised Combined Arms Exercise, a training evolution that prepares Marines and sailors for upcoming deployments.
Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group-22, formerly Combat Service Support Group-22, was activated in September and assigned to support all RCAXs for deploying units. The group, which consists of approximately 270 Marines and Sailors, provides everything from supply and maintenance to health and quality of life services for service members participating in RCAX.
"We are here to facilitate pre-deployment training, and our intent is to alleviate the burden of combat service support functions as well as camp life services from training units. Marines do not have to worry about preparing meals, standing guard, ordering supplies and can solely focus on preparing for deployment," said Lt. Col. Chuck G. Chiarotti, commanding officer, MSSG-22.
The MSSG-22 staff is responsible for a motor pool containing more than 200 vehicles and an Ammunition Supply Point with approximately 90,000 pounds of ammunition. MSSG-22 also provides postal and mess hall services as well as aviation and engineer support.
The MSSG-22 warriors stay busy running all camp facilities and services. Camp Wilson, unlike some field training environments, has billeting and indoor restroom facilities, a fitness center, an exchange, laundry services, two eateries and a chapel.
MSSG-22 also handles all range coordination and equipment issues for the participating units.
"MSSG-22 provides us whatever we need, which allows us to solely focus on training," said 1st Lt. Chris D. Hathaway, RCAX-4 operations officer, Combat Service Support Detachment-25.
"Their assistance helps us efficiently and effectively get our Marines on ranges, such as the convoy operations course, we ordinarily do not get to train on," said Hathaway, an Alexandria, Va., native.
"With an 11 day turnover, the units just do not have time to coordinate ranges and fix equipment, so we do it for them," said Chiarotti, a native of Aviano, Italy. "It is critical we support the units, so they can focus on training for war."
The units conduct an extensive training package at RCAX that exercises units' abilities to maneuver under live fire conditions as well as develop tactics, techniques and procedures. The Tactical Training and Exercise Control Group is responsible for putting together the package and is made up of instructors, otherwise known as "Coyotes," who train and evaluate the units.
The majority of the instructors are combat veterans and have recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. They have studied tactics, techniques and procedures of enemy forces as well as I Marine Expeditionary Force and have developed a cohesive training package that prepares troops for deployment, Chiarotti said.
"We are like a big school house with a huge training area, a golden opportunity for 11 days of training," said Chiarotti. "Our goal is for service members to leave here with confidence that they have received the appropriate amount of training and are prepared for war."
Chiarotti expressed pride in his Marines and their hard work. "The Marines have great attitudes and believe in what they are doing here, you can see it in their daily work. They understand the mission and are here to support their fellow Marines, who are getting ready to deploy."
In addition to supporting RCAX training, MSSG-22 also conducts their own training, which will carry them through their upcoming deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
The MSSG-22 Marines and Sailors plan on returning to Camp Lejeune, N.C., in March.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
