French embeds receive French Fourragere

Courtesy Photo | Captain Daniel F. Burns, a ground intelligence officer for 2nd Bn., 6th Marines, Capt. Kelby Breivogel, an information officer with 2nd Bn., 6th Marines, and Capt. Stephen Castillo, a French officer embedding with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, talk over future plans for the unit’s international exercise, Bold Alligator, during an award ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Oct. 20, 2014. “We will accept them into the battalion, they’ll partner with us, they’ll go on missions with us, and they’ll observe our staff planning. We’re really going to work hard to integrate them into all of our planning exercises,” said Lt. Col. James Lively, the commanding officer for 2nd Bn., 6th Marines.  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

10.28.2014

Courtesy Story

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — French Legionaries serving with 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment were awarded the French Fourragere during a ceremony aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Oct. 20.

Five French officers from the French Foreign Legion, 6th Light Armored Brigade, are embedding with 2/6 over the next few weeks for Exercise Bold Alligator and received the fourragere as is tradition for service members that serve with the unit.

The fourragere is a French military unit-level award given to units that have distinguished themselves during times of war. The fourragere was given to 2/6 for its role in World War I. The braided cord, the physical embodiment of the award, is displayed on the dress uniforms of service members serving with the respective unit.

“Today was a welcome for them,” said Lt. Col. James Lively, the battalion commander for 2/6. “We wanted to do something informal and share the history of our two units. It is a great start to the exercise.”

France is one of 19 coalition partners participating in this year’s Bold Alligator and the French observers will work hand-in-hand with the Marines of 2/6 throughout the exercise.

“They’ll partner with us, they’ll go on missions with us, and they’ll observe on our staff planning,” said Lively. “We’re really going to work hard to integrate them into all of our planning exercises.”

Sgt. Jose Estevez, a senior analyst for 2nd Bn., 6th Marines, said the unit is looking forward to working with a foreign military.

“There is nothing bad about integration with other units,” said Estevez. “You think you know everything about your unit and specific MOS in the Marine Corps, but there’s just so much to be learned from other entities. Its uncanny how much there is to learn.”

• Date Taken: 10.28.2014
• Date Posted: 10.28.2014 10:03
• Story ID: 146291
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US