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CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Earlier this month, approximately 700 Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 3, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), arrived here to begin their seven-month deployment in support of the International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan. The battalion’s mission while deployed is to provide direct support combat logistics support to various subordinate units of Regimental Combat Team 1.
Prior to conducting independent missions within their vast area of operations, the Marines and sailors of CLB-3 must first conduct relief in place operations with their Camp Pendleton-based counterparts, Combat Logistics Battalion - 5, 1st MLG (FWD). For several months, CLB-5 personnel successfully supported RCT-1’s units within their area of operations and are now preparing to transfer the region’s logistical responsibilities to CLB-3.
The units’ reliefs in place operations have been as diverse as they’ve been numerous. These operations have included route familiarization and clearance, combat logistics patrols, resupplying forward operating bases, road maintenance, intermediate level maintenance and vehicle recovery missions.
The operational tempo is high and the terrain is difficult, but the members of CLB-3 have several readily- available resources to help them perform, said 1st Lt. Greg Cummings, platoon commander, Security Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, CLB-3, 1st MLG (FWD). The “relief in place” operations, which will culminate with the official transfer of authority, have been quite helpful to CLB-3.
“The learning curve is steep, but my Marines are picking it up quickly,” the 25-year-old West Chester, Pa. native said. “As general support security, we’re here to do whatever [the battalion] needs: personnel escorts, detainee handling, wrecker missions, fixed site security, basically anything that occurs within our area of operations.”
Given the projected size of CLB-3’s area of operations and scope of their future missions, the unit’s versatility as a logistics battalion will play a key role in the successful execution of logistical and counter-insurgency operations.
Road repairs serve a dual purpose, Cummings said. Not only do these operations help increase RCT-1s and CLB-3’s mobility, which is vital for a logistics battalion, but ultimately they help rebuild Afghanistan’s infrastructure.
In June, the Hawaii-based CLB-3 was augmented with nearly 450 additional Marines and sailors from Marine Corps bases throughout Japan. After conducting more than 60 days of pre-deployment training in the U.S., the battalion is finally on the brink of conducting operations in Afghanistan.
For Pfc. Daniel K. Marks, a combat engineer with CLB-3’s Engineer Company, arriving in Afghanistan is an exciting and surreal experience.
“I’m ready to get out there and start doing [my job],” said Marks, a 20-year-old native of Maiden, N.C. “The terrain [here] is the most difficult aspect to adjust to. During the Enhanced Mojave Viper training exercise [at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.], we could simulate everything except the ‘moon dust.’”
The Marines and sailors of CLB-5 are set to depart Afghanistan in a few weeks after finalizing their changeover with CLB-3. The official transfer of authority between the two logistics units is scheduled to occur later this month.
| Date Taken: | 10.08.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 10.13.2010 01:47 |
| Story ID: | 57987 |
| Location: | CAMP DWYER, AF |
| Web Views: | 232 |
| Downloads: | 10 |
This work, CLB-3 and CLB-5 conduct a mission together during their relief in place, by Sgt Daniel Woodall, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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