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II MEF (Fwd) hits the road to Iraq

US Marine Corps News

1/23/2009 By Cpl. Meg Murray , II MEF (FWD)
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. —
Multiple waves of II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Marines and sailors loaded on buses over the last few weeks amongst cheers of friends and families as they began their journey to Iraq, where they will help Iraqis rebuild and strengthen their country.

II MEF (Fwd) will become Multi National Force-West as they transition to Iraq for their 13-month deployment.

From combat marksmanship to cultural awareness, predeployment training helped mold II MEF (Fwd) into a combat-ready fighting force. Some of the service members have been preparing for this day for more than six months.

“We’ve been training for so long,” said Maj. Steven Barriger, a provincial reconstruction team operations official with II MEF (Fwd). “Now we’re ready to get out there and do it.”

II MEF (Fwd) will be replacing I MEF (Fwd), who deployed to Iraq from the West Coast about a year ago.

“We hope the transition will be smooth,” said Capt. Paul Aboud, a II MEF (Fwd) comptroller. “We’ve had contact with I MEF in Iraq, and it’s time to concentrate on making the changeover.”

Though many of the Marines and sailors have deployed before, it can still be rough on their families and friends.

“Deploying was harder this time, because my family and I knew what we were in for,” said Barriger, who has deployed once before. “But, my wife plans big quarterly events for my three small children, and that helps pass the time.”

Service members with II MEF (Fwd) are scheduled to individually receive a break approximately midway through their deployment to spend time with their loved ones.

“Our family has already started planning trips for when we meet on my mid-deployment break,” said Aboud, who is also deploying for his second time. “Planning now gives us a big event to look forward to.”

Although family readiness has been a key concern during predeployment training and will continue to be encouraged throughout the deployment, the men and women of II MEF (Fwd) will ultimately focus on the operation.

“Our focus is right,” said Aboud. “We are helping the Iraqis help themselves and teaching them to put their experience to work.”

The deployment marks the third time II MEF (Fwd) has been activated to lead Marine efforts in Al Anbar province since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. As the years pass, operational focus changes, but Marines continue to train Iraqi Security Forces, aid in the rebuilding process, and help bring stability to the region.