The last port call; LF Det 2/24 heads home
US Marine Corps News
8/6/2010 By Lance Cpl. Colby W. Brown, Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training
CAMP SCHWAB, Okinawa, Japan — After six months, six countries, six languages and six cultures, Landing Force Detachment, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, is set to head home.
The Marines of the LF are scheduled to travel to their parent commands in mid-August, where most will stay on active orders until late September before being demobilized. They will participate in operations at their home training centers.
The LF spent almost four months on USS Tortuga (LSD-46) in the Southeast Pacific region, stopping in Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia in support of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2010. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness.
“CARAT is a great training exercise,” said Gunnery Sgt. Chedrick Greene, Company A first sergeant, LF Det, 2/24. “It gave the Marines opportunities, like being the first Marine Corps infantry unit to go into Cambodia in a very long time. And to let it be a detachment of reserve Marines to setup a foot hold there and pave the way for future units to come and train – I think says a lot for what reserve units can do for the Marine Corps as a whole.”
In late June, the LF debarked ship and spent a month and a half in the Republic of Korea, where it conducted bilateral training with the ROK Marine Corps and unilateral training operations. “Both exercises were a great success,” said 1st Sgt. Walter Siquieros, landing force sergeant major, LF Det, 2/24.
“Both CARAT and KITP were great opportunities for the active and reserve Marines of the LF. We were able to build upon the relationships in the Southeast Pacific and, in turn, those stronger relations will aid in a safer Southeast Pacific region.”
Now they are back where they started, here, and have started the process to return to their HTC’s, which are scattered at 36 sites across the United States.
“An exercise like this gives the Marines an opportunity to take the blinders off and see how other people and other militaries work,” Greene said. “That will be helpful for the Marines and the foreign military members when we have to work with each other in a real world scenario.”
During their participation in CARAT, the LF conducted amphibious, jungle warfare and urban warfare operations in each country. Although the size and capacity of each exercise depended on the capabilities of each country’s military, the LF was able accomplish the CARAT mission of strengthening relationships with each country and enhancing readiness in the Southeast Pacific region.
“This was a great opportunity to participate in this type of exercise because it brings us back to the roots of the Marine Corps with amphibious operations,” Siquieros said. “This exercise will continue to be a great opportunity because it allows the Marines participating to build on the expeditionary mindset and allows us to strengthen our blue/green Navy/Marine Corps relationship.”
The LF was also the first Marine Corps infantry unit to conduct bilateral exercises in Cambodia, opening up opportunities for future units to train there. Also, a Marine Corps civil affairs detachment was augmented to the LF, which was a first in history of the CARAT exercise.
“Leading Marines is an honor and, for me, anytime a guy has the opportunity to command Marines there is an immense amount of responsibility,” said Maj. Charles Hawthorne, commanding officer, LF Det, 2/24. “But it all goes to the Marines, not me. There have been many times when something could have failed, but due to the skill and professionalism of the Marines in the Landing Force, we succeeded. To lead them has been an honor and a privilege.”
While in the ROK, the LF participated in the Korean Incremental Training Program 2010 Series Four. Training included the ROKMC Basic Ranger’s course, which encompassed fundamental rappelling from 30-meter heights and basics of traversing mountainous terrain. They also conducted basic infantry training both with the ROKMC and unilaterally. The LF conducted a unilateral live fire and maneuver.
“This wasn’t just an opportunity to train with foreign militaries, it was an opportunity to better oneself as a Marine,” Siquieros said. “Not only for what they learned, but how each individual Marine gained the knowledge during training and exercises throughout the deployment. They will be better assets to their parent commands when they arrive home.”
Through the five months of exercises with foreign militaries, the Marines of the LF were able to improve individual skills while conducting small unit training including Marine Corps Martial Arts Program and classes from the Marine Corps Institute. They also experienced a variety of different countries throughout their deployment, learning basic words in each language and customs of each culture.
“No matter who you are it always feels good when you get done with a deployment,” Greene said. “And when you’re done you have to take the positives and remember all the things you were able to accomplish and take the negatives and learn from them to better yourself. And then you just have to look back at what you were able to do because you may never be able to do it again.”
Now, as the dates for flights home near, the Marines are equipped with new skills learned in six countries and stories they can tell loved ones about a once in a life time opportunity.
“This deployment was fantastic for everyone who participated,” Hawthorne said. “Each Marine is going to walk away with a broader understanding and perspective of the world from having the chance to travel to countries they may not be able to visit again. It’s not every day you get to go to Cambodia or stand on the demilitarized zone in South Korea. So the Marines will be able to look back on this deployment and be glad they had this opportunity.”
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