3rd Radio Bn. year in review
Marine corps News
Story Identification #: 20041229151614
Story by Lance Cpl. Bernadette L. Ainsworth
MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Kaneohe Bay (Dec. 28, 2004) -- Third Radio Battalion has made it through another year with flying colors. This year, the Marines of 3rd Radio Bn. continued to maintain a very high operational tempo, and continued to meet the demanding missions that the Marine Corps set for them.
Third Radio Bn. provides signals intelligence and electronic warfare to the Marine Air Ground Task Forces. The battalion is staffed with more than 500 Marines that, at any given time, can be deployed any place in the world to fulfill any obligation with their special skills.
Third Radio Bn. welcomed a new commanding officer this year. Lt. Col. Robert W. Coate assumed command of 3rd Radio Bn. July 23 in a ceremony at MCBH.
The largest mission the battalion underwent this year was their support of I Marine Expeditionary Force during their deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
The detachment sent in support of OIF II consisted of 14 officers and 150 enlisted Marines. The detachment included a MEF liaison detachment to the I MEF Command Element, an Operations Control and Analysis Center to the 1st Marine Division, and two detachments supporting Regimental Combat Teams with their communication assets.
Although, the battalion has had a great number of its Marines on deployment supporting OIF II, it has also continued to support other operational commitments throughout the year including support of the 11th, 13th, 15th and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Units.
The 13th MEU Signals Intelligence Support Platoon deployed from Southern California to the Central Command Area of Responsibility in August 2003 with two officers and 22 enlisted Marines. The 13th MEU Special Operations Capable (SOC) conducted bilateral training and other operations in the Horn of Africa in January 2004. The detachment returned to Hawaii in February after a 15 month deployment.
The 11th MEU detachment was activated in September 2003 with two officers and 26 enlisted Marines. The detachment conducted work-up exercises with the 11th MEU in Southern California. The 11th MEU(SOC) deployed from Southern California and passed through Hawaii on its way to support OIF II operations in the CENTCOM AOR in July 2004.
The 15th MEU detachment was activated in March with one officer and 26 enlisted Marines. In June, the detachment deployed to Southern California on the USS Bonhomme-Richard to begin work-up exercises with the 15th MEU. The 15th MEU deployed from Southern California to the CENTCOM AOR in December 2004.
The 31st MEU detachment deployed to Camp Hansen, Okinawa in December 2003 and remained in support of the 31st MEU until June. While deployed, the 31st MEU conducted pre-deployment training, SOC qualifications, and shipboard deployment throughout the Pacific Command AOR. After support to III MEF exercises in the Asia-Pacific region, the detachment returned to Hawaii in June.
A second detachment was sent to the 31st MEU in April. The detachment conducted two months of pre-deployment training in Hawaii and then deployed to Camp Hansen, Okinawa in June. The detachment remained in support of the 31st MEU until November.
Third Radio Bn. also supported III MEF in exercise Balikatan in the Philippines. Balikatan is aimed at improving the Republic of the Philippines and U.S. combined planning, combat readiness, and interoperability while enhancing security relations and demonstrating U.S. resolve to support the Republic of the Philippines against external aggression.
Third Radio Bn. also participated in exercise Rim of the Pacific off the waters of Hawaii. RIMPAC is designed to enhance the tactical capabilities and cooperation of participating nations in various aspects of maritime operations at sea.
On a continual basis, Third Radio Bn. provided Russian linguists to support U.S. Coast Guard patrols in the Bering Sea. The linguists assisted the Coast Guard in communicating with Russian fishing crews.
"The way that 3rd Radio Battalion operates, we have Marines spread out all over the globe supporting different missions. So, for some of our men and women it could be a matter of months when they deploy again, for others it could be more than a year," said Capt. Debra Gomez, 3rd Radio Bn. adjuctant. "It really depends on the needs of the Marine Corps."
Another accomplishment of 3rd Radio Bn. this year is the safe return of all the Marines deployed this year.
"We are all extremely proud of our men and women. We know how fortunate we are that we brought back safely every Marine and sailor we deployed," said 1st Lt. Joseph O'Connor, Headquarters and Service Company executive officer.
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