Photo By Sgt. Tiffany Edwards | Pfc. Kiara Tolliver and Spc. Teddy Mulenga with Company A, 148th Brigade Support...... read more read more
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LAS CALDERAS NAVAL BASE, Dominican Republic - Rounds flew down range, vehicles were searched, close quarters combat skirmishes were conducted under the Caribbean summer sun at Exercise Tradewinds 2014. While the Marines of 4th Law Enforcement Battalion, the Royal Canadian Army and the Dominican Republic Armed Forces conducted law enforcement and military operations training with 13 Caribbean partner countries, the Army National Guard provided crucial logistical support to the exercise.
Headquarters Company, 348th Brigade Support Battalion from Ellenwood, Ga. staffed and ran the field kitchen that supplied troops with two hot meals every day of the exercise. Sgt. 1st Class Walter Marion of HQ Co, 348th BSB was the staff non-commissioned officer in charge of the field kitchen, with his staff of 10 soldiers providing over 600 meals per day. Marion said that Tradewinds 2014 gave him and his soldiers a unique opportunity to support foreign nations.
“I’ve enjoyed meeting soldiers from different countries,” Marion said. “I’ve enjoyed intermingling with them and seeing how the world outside of the U.S. lives.”
For some of Marion’s soldiers, it was the first time working in a joint-service environment.
“Being able to work with the Marines like this helps to build cohesion between the two services,” Marion said. “They are just like us, here to do their job and complete their mission.”
In addition to the field kitchen, the National Guard provided many other crucial day-to day services. The 242th Quartermaster Co., 4th Expeditionary Sustainment Command from Conroe, Texas, provided a field shower system to give the participants reliable showers after long days in the Caribbean heat. A Co., 148th BSB from Dublin, Ga., provided water treatment for the entire base, supplying running water for plumbing and potable water for the field mess, showers, and drinking water. Soldiers from the 229th Multifunctional Medical Bn., 70th Troop Command from Jefferson City, Mo. provided medical support and 410th Contracting Support Brigade from San Antonio, Texas, was responsible for coordinating and finalizing support from contractors within the Dominican Republic. Contracted supplies included security lighting, air-conditioning units, generators, bus transport and laundry services.
Tradewinds 2014 is a joint, combined exercise conducted in order to build partner nation counter-transnational organized crime missions, humanitarian aid and disaster response operations capacity. The ultimate goal of Tradewinds 2014 is to promote interoperability and multinational relationships throughout the Caribbean theater.
| Date Taken: | 06.24.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.24.2014 18:36 |
| Story ID: | 134272 |
| Location: | LAS CALDERAS NAVAL BASE, DO |
| Web Views: | 135 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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