CAMP DAVIS, N.C. - Shouts of “Back cut, tree falling!” followed by the sound of a pine tree crashing to the ground could be heard throughout the northern airfield here, Feb. 5.
Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group were tasked with clearing more than 100 acres of wooded airfield to make it easier and safer for incoming airborne personnel and equipment to land.
“This exercise will provide Marines with realistic experience and increase the readiness of the company for real world contingency operations,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jerrod C. Rowcliffe, the engineer operations officer with CLB-2. “In addition, this training will show the proper deployment, sustainment and redeployment of an engineer detachment focusing primarily on effective small unit leadership.”
Though faced with challenges of thick brush, soaked grounds, and ever changing wind directions, the engineers have been persistent with their mission and are felling trees at an impressive rate.
“We’re supposed to clear approximately 160 acres, so we’re trying to get done with as much of it as we can at this current time and continue to push through,” said Pfc. Joshua Hall, a combat engineer with CLB-2, and Pine Mountain, Ga., native.
The Marines with CLB-2 have been at Camp Davis since Jan. 22, although they had to pull out for a week due to a winter storm that ravaged the east coast. They are scheduled to continue their work until Feb. 7, and then will be turning the area over to another company of engineers.