Supply Marines use new system to distribute mission-critical items

Photo By Cpl. Sullivan Laramie | Marines with 2nd Supply Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group refill a fuel truck, which belongs to 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, during a resupply mission as part of the joint training exercise Rolling Thunder at Fort Bragg, March 14, 2013. Detachments with 2nd MLG performed support roles such as resupply and maintenance for 10th Marines during the exercise.  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

03.22.2013

Story by Pfc. Sullivan Laramie 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A logistics combat element with 2nd Marine Logistics Group used the Global Combat Support System to sustain 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.

The LCE spent nearly three weeks providing food, water and ammunition for the regiment as part of joint training exercise Rolling Thunder, which began March 7.

The exercise gave the LCE an opportunity to practice the GCSS, which is used to communicate and respond to supply and maintenance requests and is new to the unit.

“The question is, ‘Is the system ready to be used in a true deployed environment?’” said Lt. Col. Jesse A. Kemp, an Ardmore, Okla., native and the commander of 2nd Supply Battalion, 2nd MLG. “For II (Marine Expeditionary Force), the system is only a year old, and we rarely get an opportunity to test it in an environment that truly simulates combat scenarios.”

The system serves as a single source of information that improves Marines’ abilities to provide supply, maintenance and transportation support, and reduces problems with conflicting data.
The Marines did not have the room to store all of the supplies at Fort Bragg they needed to distribute there. Instead, they sent long-range convoys approximately 140 miles to retrieve supplies almost every day.

“We’re practicing full-spectrum battlefield distribution,” said Kemp. “Sometimes that means we have to reach back to Camp Lejeune, simulating that it is a part of the battlefield, possibly a port where supplies are coming ashore.”

Timeliness was important for the LCE, and the Marines prepared early for scheduled resupply missions, said Cpl. Michael S. Melion, an Ocean, N.J., native and chief quality control manager for the general support motor transport detachment.

“We start loading the trucks at 8 a.m., so when 5 p.m. rolls around, we can head out,” said Melion. “We get it done early just in case 10th Marines needs the supplies in a hurry.”

The element demonstrated an ability to deliver supply parts, fuel and water in accordance with 10th Marines’ operational goals on time.

“The operations so far are outstanding,” said Capt. Robert A. Foulkes, a Long Island, N.Y., native and commanding officer of the LCE. “We’ve met the mark on every request that has come in.”

• Date Taken: 03.22.2013
• Date Posted: 03.22.2013 16:35
• Story ID: 103975
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US
• Hometown: ARDMORE, OK, US
• Hometown: LONG ISLAND, NY, US
• Hometown: OCEAN, NJ, US