Mechanized, sustainment training brings Marines to kuwait

Courtesy Photo | (center), 1st Lt. Chris Upton, platoon commander, Tank Platoon, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines and (right), Lance Cpl. David Hanson, tanker, Weapons Company, BLT 2/6, chain their M-1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank to the deck of a landing craft air cushioned amphibious vehicle.  

CAMP PATRIOT, KUWAIT

10.12.2008

Story by Pfc. Alicia Clark 

20th Public Affairs Detachment

By Alicia Torbush
20th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait - In preparation for a mechanized, sustainment training exercise, Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Lejeune, N.C., offloaded track and assault vehicles at Camp Patriot, Kuwait, Oct. 12, 2008.

The training exercise, which is scheduled to take place at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, in November, is a refresher training they received and is intended to sharpen their skills, said Staff Sgt. Keith Garber, motor transportation chief, 26th MEU.

The movement included offloading the equipment from ships, using landing craft, air-cushioned hovercrafts and relocating both personnel and equipment.

According to Chief Petty Officer Michael McDonald, LCAC pilot, Assault Craft Unit 4, an LCAC is a hovercraft used to transport heavy loads from ship-to-shore and shore-to-ship.

Timing was also a factor in the movement and the heavy loads slowed the LCAC down.

"We were under a time constraint," said Garber. "The ships had to be [underway] by a certain time, so we were moving at a very fast pace."

"One of the obstacles for the LCAC is that the tanks are very heavy," said Garber, a Philadelphia native.

"The LCAC can carry a combat ready M1A1 Abrams Battle Tank," added McDonald, a Detroit native. "But the tank puts the load capacity of the craft at its maximum."

In order to help alleviate the stress, the time limit put on the MEU and LCAC crews, the service members had to offload the equipment at two different beaches where the equipment was staged for movement farther inland.

"Running two beaches simultaneously is very hard to do," said Garber.

As with any military logistics operation, protocol and procedures are important.

Knowing what equipment needs to be moved, knowing its location on the ship and moving it around so that the equipment could be easily transported from the ship to the shore is important, said Garber.

Once all of the equipment was located on the ship, loaded on to the transport vessels and offloaded on shore, the other needs of the MEU had to be taken care of.

"Some of the logistics include finding billeting, sustainment, and transportation of equipment, gear and personnel," said Garber.

Despite weight issues and time constraints, the MEU successfully moved several pieces of equipment and personnel from ships-to-shore and then to different locations around Kuwait.

"The MEU, as a whole, is pleased with the support that they have been given here at Camp Arifjan as well as Camp Patriot," added Garber.

• Date Taken: 10.12.2008
• Date Posted: 10.22.2008 09:55
• Story ID: 25380
• Location: CAMP PATRIOT, KW