Marines learn humanitarian assistance, evacuation processes for deployment

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Devin Nichols | Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 26, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group help each other learn the embarkation process during a training exercise aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Oct. 3, 2012. Troops learned how to set up an evacuation control center to process U.S. families and friends in a foreign country to get them to safety.  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

10.04.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Devin Nichols 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - The Marine Corps is known most for its historic battles across history, but for its numerous battles won, the Marine Corps has also participated in significant humanitarian efforts.

Marines and sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 26, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group performed a series of training events here, in order to prepare for such humanitarian efforts from Oct. 1 to Oct. 3.

During the training, CLB-26 performed mass casualty, humanitarian assistance and evacuation control center scenarios to prepare the troops for an upcoming deployment.

This training focused on getting the Marines familiar with the intricacies of administrative processing for a humanitarian assistance shelter and also supply distribution for disaster assessment and response.

“Humanitarian assistance training is one of the most likely courses of action for the upcoming deployment we will participate in,” said 2nd Lt. Nicholas S. King, the humanitarian assistance officer in charge. “It is an opportunity for the United States to relieve or reduce the results of a natural disaster, man-made disaster, or any other endemic that causes hunger and privation that presents a serious risk to loss of life or property.”

Processing displaced personnel and handling the distribution of food, cots, bedding or any other items deemed necessary were the main focuses of the training.

The event made certain that displaced persons or refugees are processed in a timely manner and mitigated unnecessary suffering.
“Combat logistic battalions are required to accomplish several mission essential tasks, one of these mission essential tasks is non-combatant evacuation operations (NEO),” said 1st Lt. Shane K. Cooley, the evacuation control center officer in charge. “The NEO is a complex mission that requires coordination with various elements. Without this unique capability, the NEO mission will fail. This training prepares Marines and sailors to operate in a chaotic environment and prepares the battalion for the upcoming deployment to evacuate U.S. citizens, their families and friends of the United States.”

In order to deploy the battalion must first be certified by the II Marine Expeditionary Unit special operations training group. This training conducted was a step in the certification process and one step closer to deployment readiness and mission success.

• Date Taken: 10.04.2012
• Date Posted: 10.04.2012 13:52
• Story ID: 95717
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US