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    24th MEU: The first 30 days

    USS IWO JIMA, At Sea—The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit left their home shores of North Carolina in the middle of December 2014. Now, 30 days later, the 2,400 Marines and Sailors with the MEU have sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and through the Mediterranean, continuing forward, already with a number of sea stories to tell of their journey.

    The MEU was prepared for ship life after an extensive pre-deployment training program, most of which took place on the three ships of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, which includes the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), and amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43). But many Marines received their first dose of life on the high seas during this first month.

    Lance Cpl. James G. Dolan, a Marine with Kilo Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment aboard the Fort McHenry, said he’s used to living with rough seas due to the nature of his job as an amphibious assault vehicle crewman, but others such as Lance Cpl. Garald John, a postal clerk with Combat Logistics Battalion 24 aboard the New York, weren’t as modest.

    “The rough seas were a bit much. At times, you basically had to climb to get to where you were going,” said John.

    No matter the weather outside the ships, the MEU continued with a busy training schedule inside the ship’s hull. The operations section, particularly, put in long hours each day, staying abreast of potential contingency missions while coordinating with different entities in several regions of the world.

    “We are the theater mobile reserve. We can be employed anywhere in and around the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet,” said Maj. Sean Dynan, the MEU operations officer aboard the Iwo Jima. “When you are unsure about what contingency you will need to meet, you have to work 24/7 to be ready, to be prepared as a Blue/Green team and to ensure you understand the environment.”

    The Marines did manage to get off the ship in the first 30 days when the USS Iwo Jima made a stop at Naval Station Rota, Spain, to take on fuel and 300 pallets of supplies. The employees at the Rota Naval Exchange graciously offered to remain open until after midnight to allow Marines and Sailors to pick up a few items for the deployment. Meanwhile, the MEU’s senior staff members, including the commanding officer, joined the staff of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response Africa in Moron, Spain, to conduct a Table Top Exercise for one of the MEU’s primary missions—a noncombatant evacuation operation.

    “A [noncombatant evacuation operation] is one of the missions we’re constantly thinking about and planning for,” said Maj. Lindsay Murphy, the operations officer for CLB 24. “And we’re happy that we got to meet face-to-face with the Marines in Moron considering we’re now better prepared to work together should that situation arise.”

    The highlight of most Marines’ first 30 days, however, was liberty. Each ARG ship conducted port visits at three different sites. The Iwo Jima stopped in Civitavecchia, Italy, which is just north of Rome; the Fort McHenry went to Valencia, Spain, where the Marines and Sailors hosted Spanish government and military leaders aboard the ship; and the New York stopped in Haifa, Israel.
    “I enjoyed Rome, seeing all the sights with my friends, but mostly I enjoyed experiencing a whole new culture,” said Lance Cpl. Brandon Diaz, a rifleman with Bravo Co., the Light-Armored Reconnaissance detachment for BLT 3/6, on the Iwo Jima.

    In Israel, the Marines took part in training with the Israeli Defense Force and hosted IDF leaders along with the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mr. Daniel B. Shapiro, and the commander of U.S. 6th Fleet, Vice Adm. James Foggo, to the USS New York, a ship built with seven-and-a-half tons of World Trade Center Steel.

    After celebrating the New Year holiday on solid ground among friends and strangers alike, 2015 has seen a more routine return to ship life for the MEU. The ground combat Marines conducted live-fire shoots off their respective ships while maintaining weapons and vehicles chained to the floor in various nooks and crannies on the ships. The pilots flew as many flight hours as the wind, weather and waves allowed, while mechanics worked the usual round-the-clock shifts to keep the aircraft in tip-top shape. And the logistics Marines in CLB 24 have been taking care of all the miscellaneous details—providing the glue that holds the MEU together.

    On the evening of Jan. 10, the ARG consolidated in the Mediterranean Sea to sail through the Suez Canal. By the next morning, all three ships were in the Red Sea to see a sunrise that brought a day warmer and sunnier than most of those from the previous weeks when the ships were much further north of the equator. Many Marines could be found “top-side,” enjoying the sun on the flight decks, whether in conversation with fellow Marines or getting in a solid workout away from the limitations of the treadmills inside the ship’s skin.

    The 24th MEU is now in a new combatant command, maintaining the training and readiness standards that are the hallmark of the Marine Corps and all Marine Expeditionary Units. The next several months have an element of uncertainty in them, but they are sure to include new adventures in new lands, and plenty more sea stories.

    The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and deployed to maintain regional security in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. You can follow the adventures of the 24th MEU on Facebook at www.facebook.com/24thmeu

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 01.15.2015
    Date Posted: 01.23.2015 02:36
    Story ID: 152527
    Location: AT SEA
    Hometown: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US
    Hometown: JACKSONVILLE, FL, US
    Hometown: JACKSONVILLE, NC, US

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