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BAGHDAD - Roughly 47, 000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn. A small portion of those are Marines. Among those Marines, there is a select group of men and women who have left their civilian lives behind to join in sustaining daily military operations to closeout the war in Iraq. They are the United States Marine Corps Reserve.
Ninety-five years ago this week, the Marine Corps Reserve took its place in history, as it was established as the eighth component of the U.S. armed forces. Since then, the Reserve has become the largest command in the Marine Corps, and has served in every U.S. foreign conflict since its start in 1916.
“There are only about 90 Marines in Iraq at this time,” said Maj. Jeffery Reichman, a reservist and plans officer with United States Forces- Iraq. “The Marine mission has gone, but we each continue to contribute proudly here to the USF-I mission.”
In lieu of the U.S. military drawdown in Iraq, the need for combat troops was replaced with a mission to rebuild and revitalize this country.
“Most reservists are Marines who have completed their time on active duty, but continue to serve,” said Reichman. “They’ve deployed already. They have the experience.”
The Marines deployed to Iraq are now lending their expertise to ensure the successful transfer of authority from U.S. to Iraqi military forces.
“The impact and the opportunities the Marine Corps has provided to me are amazing, “ said Reichman, a native of Keokuk, Iowa. “There is not an organization that I could be more proud to be a member of. “
Upon the completion of their tour of duty, most reservists will pack their bags and head home to a civilian life. Unlike their active-duty colleagues, reservists will return and train one weekend a month, two weeks a year to remain combat-ready.
“Being in the Reserve, it’s a different set of challenges,” says Reichman. But once we’re in country, we’re all Marines,” Reichman said.
The few, the proud; the ready, relevant, and sustainable, Marine Corps Reserve.
| Date Taken: | 08.29.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.29.2011 03:52 |
| Story ID: | 76100 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 135 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The few, the proud: Marines deployed to Iraq celebrate 95th birthday of Marine Corps Reserve, by SSG Kellen H. Leech, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
