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FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, Helmand province, Afghanistan – As Afghan National Security Forces in Nawa are beginning to take the lead in counterinsurgency operations across the district, many Marines find themselves doing less work in traditional occupational specialties and more work in an advisory role.
One Marine that has experienced this drastic change from his previous deployments is Sgt. Shane Willis, the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Police Advisor Team chief instructor and 28 year-old native of Manchester, N.H.
“I think it was my law enforcement background which got me here,” said Willis. “It isn’t what I’m used to but it’s definitely been a good experience,”
Willis is a military police Marine by trade who currently spends his days training Afghan Local Police recruits enrolled in the ALP academy here. This job is much different than his days as a team leader and vehicle commander with 1st Combat Logistics Regiment, Supply Battalion, Military Police Company during his first deployment to Al Anbar province, Iraq in 2006.
While in Iraq, Willis conducted security patrols with his team to disrupt enemy activity, search vehicles for contraband, identify suspicious behavior in the local area and find and neutralize improvised explosive devices. Willis recalls a particular day when he and his Marines discovered a large weapons cache of close to 100 enemy mortar rounds.
“It was our job to patrol the area and look for suspicious behavior or anything out of place,” said Willis. “We were conducting the daily routine when we saw two objects sticking out of the ground which ended up being the opening of a large weapons cache.”
Following his first tour to Iraq, Willis deployed again to Al Anbar province in 2007, this time as a squad leader with 1st CLR, Maintenance Bn., MP Company. Willis was awarded the Navy and Marines Corps Achievement Medal for his superior performance as a squad leader in Al Anbar.
With his deployment experiences and knowledge of police operations and training, Willis was a logical choice as the chief instructor for the ALP academy. Willis and his fellow instructors give local recruits the basic skills needed to become competent members of the growing Nawa ALP and be the first line of defense against insurgent threats in their district.
“Most of these academy students out here really want to learn,” said Willis. “That makes teaching them really rewarding. The hardest part is the language barrier between us.”
While Willis says he enjoys his advisor duties, after his current deployment he hopes to pursue other career opportunities the Marines Corps has to offer. Becoming a Marine Security Guard for any U.S. Embassy around the world tops the list due to his love of traveling and experiencing different cultures.
“I joined the Marine Corps to better myself and travel the world,” said Willis. “The things I’m doing now and what I hope to do later on will continue to shape me into a better person. Being thrown out of my comfort zone and into an environment like this is exactly what I was hoping to do when I enlisted.”
While Willis believes it’s the work done by his fellow Marines that truly deserves the credit for many of his accomplishments, the observations of Marines around him indicate otherwise.
“Willis is one of the most humble guys I know,” said Sgt. Adam W. Ryder, a Clewiston, Fla., native and tactics instructor with 2/6. “He’s always concerned with the Marines around him and never puts himself first.”
His dedication to the Corps and willingness to deploy for long periods at a time does come with a price. With every deployment, Willis must leave behind his supportive wife Mary and their four children. Even with the typical stresses of deployment and the longing for his family, Willis still doesn’t regret the decision he made ten years ago to become a Marine.
“It has been a very eventful career so far and I doubt it slows down anytime soon,” said Willis. “All in all it’s been an amazing experience and this is by far the best choice I could have made.”
Editor’s note: Second Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, is currently assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghanistan National Security Forces 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 the ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: | 02.09.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.10.2012 11:27 |
| Story ID: | 83670 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE GERONIMO, AF |
| Web Views: | 343 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, New Hampshire Marine adapts to advisory role, trains Afghan police, by Cpl Johnny Merkley, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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