Comm Marines conquer contingency MAGTF drill

Photo By Sgt. Abbey Perria | Cpl. Nick Robbins, a Mansfield, Massachusetts, native, sets up a communication satellite for a secure internet connection July 22 at Camp Courtney. Marines ran an alert contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force drill to prepare for future operations and exercises. In the event of a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operation, Marines need to provide support and communication capabilities within 4-24 hours. Robbins is a satellite communications operator with 7th Communication Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. (U.S. Marine Photo by Lance Cpl. Abbey Perria/Released)  

CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA, JAPAN

07.22.2014

Story by Lance Cpl. Abbey Perria 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP COURTNEY, Japan – Marines with 7th Communication Battalion ran an alert contingency Marine Air-Ground Task Force drill July 22-23 at Camp Courtney to practice for future exercises and operations.

ACM drills improve Marines’ proficiency at packing and staging equipment to provide communication and support.

“This is a level five recall drill,” said Maj. Howard Wolfe III, a communications officer with G-6, communications, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “7th Comm. (Bn.) can execute the logistics and administrations required to get the unit set up for a real-world operation.”

For a level five recall, Marines receive no notice of the drill and have a certain amount of time to pack their gear and arrive at a predetermined location. If Marines are on a light team they have four hours to do the drill versus a medium team, which has 12-24 hours.

The smaller initial teams need an establishment with power to operate, according to Wolfe, a Palm Bay, Florida, native. The larger teams that arrive later bring generators to sustain operations.

Staff Sgt. Filemon Flores III and his team were the first to arrive due to the direct support they provide to the 3rd MEB commanding general.

“I got a call at 2:30 this morning,” said Flores, a radio chief with 7th Comm. Bn., III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF. “They said we were doing a level five recall drill. I got to the shop, and right away Marines were there ensuring we were ready to go.”

For humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, to include Operation Damayan in November 2013, Marines need to provide expeditious support and communication capabilities.

“We have to be prepared to recall at any time because we never know when the commanding general is going to show up and need communications or when a disaster is going to happen,” said Lance Cpl. Taylor Asher, a tactical switching operator with 7th Comm. Bn. “Just last week we thought we were going to support the Philippines.”

To meet the team’s needs, its equipment is light and small, so it is easy to transport.

“Our equipment includes the Expeditionary Command and Control Suite,” said Flores, a Stockton, California, native. “Basically, it is set up to provide non-secure internet protocol routing, virtual tactical communication, single channel radio and secure internet protocol routing.”

Along with being highly mobile, the equipment is designed to be easily set up and reliable, according to Wolfe.

“In theory, we should be able to land and start working, but we run into problems,” said Asher, an Arvada, Colorado, native. “Every time we have an opportunity to set up the gear, it’s a great learning experience.”

Altogether 18 Marines participated in the drill. Each team had four Marines with additional radio operators, generator technicians and helpdesk Marines supporting the recall.

“We are pretty fluent with these drills,” said Flores. “It gets easier every time.”

• Date Taken: 07.22.2014
• Date Posted: 08.13.2014 03:11
• Story ID: 139172
• Location: CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA, JP
• Hometown: ARVADA, CO, US
• Hometown: DOVER, DE, US
• Hometown: MANSFIELD, MA, US
• Hometown: PALM BAY, FL, US
• Hometown: STOCKTON, CA, US