Marjah Marines welcome Bravo Company resupply convoy

Photo By Staff Sgt. Justin Shemanski | Staff Sgt. Timothy Nolte, motor transportation chief for Bravo Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, Marine Expeditionary Force - Afghanistan, guides a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle across a narrowly-bridged canal leading out of the city March 23. Nolte served as the assistant convoy commander during a mission to resupply the Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment operating in the area.  

MARJAH, AFGHANISTAN

03.23.2010

Story by Sgt. Justin Shemanski 

1st Marine Logistics Group

MARJAH, Afghanistan -- The Marines and Navy corpsmen of Bravo Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, Marine Expeditionary Force — Afghanistan, blazed a trail through open desert and across urban canals to reach their brothers in arms at Camp Hanson March 23.

Their mission was to resupply the Marines of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment based in the area with additional comfort items, including most of their personal baggage which had been stored at Camp Leatherneck since the initial siege of the urban population center nearly two months ago.

Bravo Company wasted no time getting here.

After an early start from their home base of Camp Leatherneck, truck after truck — more than two dozen in all — filed through the compound's entry control point before noon. With an extreme sense of purpose, the Marines began staging their equipment for off load as a pair of fork trucks roared to life.

It was a sight 3/6's Headquarters and Support Company couldn't have been happier to see.

"It's always nice to hear trucks roll in out here," said Sgt. Sherod Marks, a mortarman and police sergeant with 3/6. "Naturally, we look forward to getting a little bit of anything, but today we are really hoping some of our personal gear, our sea bags, are in some of those containers."

Prior to the initial assault on the city, the Marines hastily packed their Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE) packs with enough carefully planned items to last approximately 30 days. Currently, they are closing on the two-month mark and some of those perks from home stowed in their additional baggage - including MP3 players, reading material and additional clothing items which were deemed non-mission critical — are sounding pretty good at the moment, noted Lance Cpl. Jovanny Cosme, an intelligence specialist with 3/6.

"Little things like that are awesome morale boosters among the guys here," said Cosme.
Though the personnel of Bravo Company are no strangers to convoy operations in Helmand province, this was their first mission into a high threat area, and their rapidly developing skill and attentiveness showed.

"As a logistical entity our job is to get out here to resupply Marines with what they need to survive and do it as quickly and safely as possible," said Staff Sgt. Timothy Nolte, Bravo Co. motor transportation chief.

"It was a smooth offload. [It was] well organized on 3/6's end and my Marines did an excellent job of staying in that combative mental mindset that is extremely important on runs to places like Marjah," said Nolte, a native of St. Louis, Mo. "Our mission is to do anything we can to enhance their capability out here and Bravo did well."

• Date Taken: 03.23.2010
• Date Posted: 03.27.2010 05:39
• Story ID: 47299
• Location: MARJAH, AF