Commandant of the Marine Corps visits frontline troops in Helmand province

Photo By Staff Sgt. Ryan Smith | Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment and 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion listen as Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos addresses them at Combat Outpost Alcatraz, Nov. 24. Amos said his most memorable holidays are spent with his fellow Marines while in harm's way. "It's the spirit of being together in combat and being together as a Marine Corps family even though we are away."  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, HELMAND PROVINCE,, AFGHANISTAN

11.25.2011

Story by 1st Lt. Timothy Irish 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Helmand province - The Commandant and Sergent Major of the Marine Corps visited nine Forward Operating Bases and Combat Outposts spread across all of Helmand province, Afghanistan, in one day, Nov. 24.

General James Amos and Sgt.Maj. Michael Barrett took time to address the Marines for Thanksgiving and to talk about the missions accomplished since their last visits in September.

"You're making a difference," said Amos, addressing the Marines at COP Alcatraz in Northern Helmand province. "We are going to walk out of here under a victory flag because of the progress you are making. The focus of the world has been on this area for so long and we are starting to see the progress we had hoped for when we began our mission in these areas."

Throughout the visit they answered questions from Marines about the future of the Corps. Topics ranged from budget cuts, the Corps’ potential drawdown, uniform policy and the recent news of Marines serving overseas in Australia.

"It seems like the command is concerned and care enough to come down to talk to us," said Lance Cpl. David Filho, a Marine with 1st Battalion, 6th Marines at COP Alcatraz. "They get a chance to see how we operate and it shows that we are not forgotten," added the Colorado Springs, Colo. native.

Gen. John Allen, commanding general of International Security Assistance Force-Afghanistan, met up with the Commandant on Patrol Base Alcatraz early in the day. Allen is the top Marine officer in Afghanistan and the highest level commander in the country.

The units the Commandant and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps visited consisted of the bulk of the ground combat element for Regional Command Southwest. Their tour served many purposes in addition to the morale boost for frontline combat troops. As the service chief for the bulk of all the forces in the province, Amos is responsible to train, man and equip units prior to deploying.

Amos’ stewardship as Commandant will be paramount in the coming years as more Marine units rotate home and fewer are sent to Afghanistan. Marines and units will need to readjust to “garrison life” and a slower deployment tempo but will also need to train and refit for potential deployments and training exercises to new locales.

One of his first stops in the morning was to Forward Operating Base Whitehouse and the Marines of 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment in Northern Helmand province. The base itself and the battalion is in territory that was highly kinetic and owned by insurgents little more than a month ago. The visit was the first chance Amos had to congratulate the Marines of 1/6 on the successful operation, known as Eastern Storm, to unseat the insurgency in this area. This area is one of the few in the entire province where new bases were recently constructed.

Later in the day he traveled south to Forward Operating Base Delhi in Garmsir District. First Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment handed over responsibility of their area of operations to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Nov. 17. The transfer of authority was significant due to the positive trend caused by 1/3 and previous Marine battalions. The units had successfully transitioned or closed several bases in the area due to decreasing violence and increases in skill demonstrated from partnered Afghan National Security Force units.

At each stop the Commandant and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps had a chance to speak to the assembled Marines and answer questions. They also had the opportunity to present awards for valor to several Marines and Sailors in the ground combat element, known as Task Force Leatherneck.

At the end of the day they stepped behind the serving line to dish out Thanksgiving dinner to Marines at Forward Operating Base Dwyer, the headquarters for Regimental Combat Team 5 in charge of Southern Helmand province.

Editor’s note: 2nd Marine Division (Forward) heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.

• Date Taken: 11.25.2011
• Date Posted: 11.25.2011 10:31
• Story ID: 80551
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, HELMAND PROVINCE,, AF