3/12 conducts rapid resupply

Photo By Sgt. Erik Brooks | Marines from 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force load a seven-ton truck with food during a resupply mission here Nov. 17. The battery calls in their needs daily through a log-sum request and later pick up their request at a rapid resupply point. An RRP allows the battalion to continue to execute its primary mission of providing fire support to maneuver units.  

NORTH FUJI MANEUVER AREA, CAMP FUJI, AICHI, JAPAN

11.17.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Erik Brooks 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP FUJI, Japan - 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force performed a rapid resupply in the field here Nov. 17 as part of Artillery Relocation Training Program 11-3.

Golf, Hotel and Headquarters Batteries, all with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment are executing ARTP 11-3 to maintain the essential skills of an artillery battalion.

When in the field, the batteries use a lot of supplies to stay operational including fuel, water, food and ammunition. Sooner or later, they need to stock up to continue their operations. This is where rapid resupply points come into play.

“The idea behind an RRP is to sustain the force for continuous combat operations,” said Maj. David L. Padilla, the logistics officer for the battalion. “In artillery operations, this means ensuring the batteries are constantly supplied and their equipment is operational in order to provide instant and on-target support to the infantry.”

The first stop at the RRP is the fuel station, according to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Lawrence W. Lookabill, the motor transport officer for the battalion.

“The batteries bring in their seven-tons and humvees to fill up on gas,” said Lookabill. “We have roughly 800 gallons of fuel to dispense, more than enough to fill our 100 vehicles.”

After leaving the fueling station the battery travels to the trash drop-off point. Here, the battery can unload all trash they have produced and leave it to be transported back to base camp.

“If the battery has used up their water supply they can then drop of their empty water bulls, and pick up full, new ones,” said Lookabill. “We take the empties back and refill them for the next resupply.”

Following the water station is the food station. The Marines are able to pick up all necessary food to feed the battery and then continue on to the next station which consists of a mechanic and a wrecker.

“If any of the battery’s vehicles are broken, we have a mechanic on standby to fix routine problems,” said Lookabill. “If the problem cannot be fixed on site, there is a wrecker available to tow the vehicle back to camp to be fixed.”

The last station is for ammunition. Here, the ammunition trucks pull up and gets the necessary rounds needed to fire.

“The amount of supplies the batteries are given is based on their request,” said Lookabill. “Every day they fill out a log-sum request.”

According to Lookabill, the battery calls in everyday with their needs. After the request is sent, it is processed at the Administrative Logistics Operations Center. The ALOC then retrieves the needed supplies and sends them out to the batteries, sometimes via an RRP.

“The batteries get three days’ supply when they fill up at an RRP, which is the planning factor we would use in combat operations” said Padilla.

This allows the batteries to not reach their culminating point when changing positions in support of a maneuver.

“The batteries are required to advance with the maneuver element so they can support with direct fire,” said Padilla. “In combat, two batteries continuously provide fire support while one battery goes to the RRP. After resupplying, that battery would advance to occupy a new position while another battery goes to the RRP. This cycle would repeat until all batteries are fully supplied.”

According to Padilla, when deployed, the logistics section will scout the area and set up an initial defense around the RRP. When a battery arrives, they assume the defense of the RRP, allowing the logistics Marines to focus on the resupply. This ensures defense of the RRP’s perimeter and safety for everyone during the resupply mission.

“It is important we rehearse this during the training exercise,” said Lookabill. “RRPs save the batteries time so they can continue to focus on their main mission: supporting the infantry with accurate fires.”

• Date Taken: 11.17.2011
• Date Posted: 11.22.2011 01:37
• Story ID: 80367
• Location: NORTH FUJI MANEUVER AREA, CAMP FUJI, AICHI, JP