II Marine Expeditionary Force (Fwd)

Story by Cpl. Triah Pendracki

AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq – As the responsible drawdown of forces and equipment in Iraq continues, Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (Forward), aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, have implemented their own program to extract Marine gear that has accumulated on the base since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"This is the first time the Marine Corps has conducted a responsible drawdown on this scale," said Sgt. Nelson Velazquez, the retrograde chief for II MHG (Fwd). "In the past, there was no standard operating procedure for removing all gear from forward operating bases."

With the end of the Marine mission in Iraq drawing closer, the gear has to find a new home. Some items will be sent back to the United States, while other equipment will be sent to aid Marine efforts in other operations around the world.

"Some of the gear we're turning in has been here since the Marines first deployed in support of [Operation Iraqi Freedom]," said Lance Cpl. Alonzo Johnson, assistant warehouse chief for transition team supply with II MHG (Fwd). "It is important we turn it in so it can be used elsewhere."

As II MHG (Fwd) units identify excess equipment through the responsible drawdown process, they contact the supply office. Velazquez signs for the gear, removing it from the original unit's roster.

Then he contacts the II MHG (Fwd) Truck Company and engineer section to arrange for the transfer of gear to the Marine Corps Logistics Command (Forward) retrograde lot at Camp Al Taqaddum. The engineers load the gear onto the back of Truck Company's 7-ton trucks and prepare it for transport.

Truck Company Marines, accompanied by Velazquez and other Marines from the II MHG (Fwd) supply section, convoy to Camp Al Taqaddum for the final turnover of gear from II MHG (Fwd) to MCLC (Fwd).

"When I went to [Camp Al Taqaddum], we turned in humvees," said Johnson. "We had to make sure they were all cleared of excess gear and trash and that all the serial numbers matched."

The responsible drawdown of gear from II MHG (Fwd) not only allows proper redistribution of supplies to Marines deployed in support of other operations, but it also helps save money by reducing the amount the government spends on buying new gear for other operations.

"Through the retrograde process II MHG (Fwd) is conducting, we are ensuring that the Marines on the front lines have the proper working gear they need, while at the same time saving money for the American tax payers," said Velazquez.

The Marines with II MHG (Fwd) continue to meet and exceed the given timeline for the responsible drawdown of II MHG (Fwd) gear in Iraq thanks in large part to the cooperation between Marines from Truck Company and the supply and engineer sections, who work to ensure the process is smooth and efficient.

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