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OKINAWA, Japam- When deployed to a hostile environment, Marines count on each other for more than just security and mission accomplishment. Fellow deployed Marines also represent a shoulder to lean on and a listening ear in the absence of relatives and loved ones back home.
Staff Sgt. Jesus Ortega came to this realization while deployed to Afghanistan as a member of Embedded Training Team 7-5, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7 from August to April.
Ortega’s original unit is 7th Communications Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF, where he serves as maintenance chief.
This was Ortega’s second deployment, his first being in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from January to June 2003.
RCAC 3-7 is a combined unit that deployed with 154 Marines and sailors, according to Lt. Col. Jeff Tlapa, chief of staff for RCAC 3-7.
During the deployment, the unit served in 11 provinces such as Kabul, Kapisa and Nangarhar, said Tlapa.
The unit’s mission while deployed entailed advising, mentoring and training the elements of the 201st Corps of the Afghanistan National Army on an array of subjects from infantry tactics and medical aid to personnel issues.
Ortega’s team, consisting of 21 Marines, was collectively responsible for assisting in the training of soldiers from 3rd Brigade, 2nd Kandak, 201st ANA Corps.
Ortega said his team’s trust and confidence in each member was vital to their success while in country.
ETT 7-5, more commonly known as the “Sheep Dogs” by their comrades, quickly developed a close bond while training side-by-side during pre-deployment training at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, Calif., and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., according to Ortega.
“We were fortunate to bond in a fairly short amount of time,” Ortega said about his team’s camaraderie. “Because each member of the team trusted each Marine to the highest degree, we excelled while in training as well as in theater.”
Ortega describes a training hike in the mountains of Bridgeport as the defining moment that cemented the brotherhood between the team.
“We were traversing mountains at an elevation of more than 10,000 ft. in full personal protective equipment,” Ortega said. “It was a very tough work-up, but our team was the only one that started and finished the training without any member getting dropped for any reason. It snowed, hailed and rained on us all in the same day, but none of us would quit, no matter how bad it got. Not because we were the toughest men alive; but, because we had a team to think of. From that moment on, I knew I could trust these Marines with my life.”
The Sheep Dogs’ indomitable spirit enabled them to successfully counter continuous contact from Taliban forces.
“We were in one of the most kinetic areas of operation in Regional Command East, which made for an interesting time,” the El Paso, Texas, native said. “I’m proud to say that although we received constant action from insurgents, (our team) all made it home safely to our families.”
Ortega depended on thoughts of his family to get him through the toughest times, and trusted his fellow Marines to have his back when the going got tough.
“I knew the Marine next to me would look out for me just as much as I would look out for him,” Ortega said. “We all thought about our families constantly, and we were determined to make it back home to see them. Our confidence in each other was invaluable.”
In the rugged, mountainous terrain of western Afghanistan, ETT 7-5 herded the new Afghan soldiers through the intense learning process of soldiering in a place where mistakes can kill. That coupled with their fierce loyalty to each other and the mission demonstrate that their nickname of “Sheep Dogs” was well placed.
“Not only did we rise to the challenge, but we embraced it and overcame all obstacles in our way,” Ortega said. “Even more importantly, we all made it home to our families.”
| Date Taken: | 06.04.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.01.2010 02:20 |
| Story ID: | 52207 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 172 |
| Downloads: | 108 |
This work, Marine from Okinawa deploys, develops brotherhood, by Cpl Jovane Holland, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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