Keeping the line supplied: H&S Co. supports Battalion Assault Course

Photo By Cpl. Garrett White | Marines and Sailors with Headquarters and Support Company, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, pack up field tents to set them up at a new location during a Battalion Assault Course aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Nov. 14, 2014. In a four-hour period, the Marines and Sailors of H&S Co. were able to pack up, relocate, and set up their encampment again.  

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

11.14.2014

Story by Lance Cpl. Garrett White 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Marines with H&S Co. kept track of and provided logistical support to more than 1,300 Marines and Sailors over a two-day training period.

“Logistics support is the backbone of the whole operation,” said Maj. Mike D'eredita, 3rd Bn. operations officer. “Without it, the battalion couldn't function as a fighting force.”

Over the course of two hours, Marines of H&S Co. established their forward operating center which consisted of the Combat Operations Center (COC), Administrative and Logistical Operations Center (ALOC), Battalion Aid Station (BAS), and all other resources and equipment required to command and control a battalion-level operation.

D'eredita explained the most critical responsibility of H&S Co. is sustaining the battalion during operation. Supply convoys are constantly moving food, water, ammunition and vehicle recovery capabilities right up to the front lines to ensure the Marines in the fight can remain combat effective.

Logistics support aside, Marines with various military occupational specialties worked hard to keep the operation running smoothly.

“You had administrative Marines to keep track of all the Marines, Sailors and equipment moving in and out of the area of operation,” said D'eredita. “There were communication Marines making sure all our methods of communication were up and running properly, and the Marines in the operations section actually orchestrating the whole show.”

During the BAC, H&S Co. moved with the main body of attack, seamlessly maintaining command and control of the operation while relocating troops and equipment.

“In only a four-hour period we were able to tear down our camp and move to the new location to set everything back up again,” said 1st Sgt. Andrew Suthers, H&S Co. first sergeant. “That is a vast improvement from the previous months of training exercises we have conducted. It’s great to see all the hard work our Marines have put in building up to this exercise has paid off.”

Suthers explained the training was a process that was built up during the last few months. The battalion started with platoon and company-level exercises before integrating elements of tracks or tanks, culminating in the BAC.

“The Marines of H&S Company did a fantastic job of facilitating the success of the BAC,” said D’eredita. “A lot of the time nobody really realizes all the work that goes into setting up the COC and making everything run smoothly until something isn’t working right. It was great that all their hard work came to fruition.”

• Date Taken: 11.14.2014
• Date Posted: 11.24.2014 18:25
• Story ID: 148728
• Location: TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US