CLR-4 conducts IMEF exercise

Photo By Cpl. Gabrielle Quire | Cpl. Joseph Howell, a tactical switching operator with Combat Logistics Regiment 4, 4th Marine Logistics Group, kneels down and takes account of his surroundings on a patrol during the Marine Expeditionary Force Exercise in Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 22, 2015. Howell was part of the acting guard force during the exercise with I MEF. The exercise enabled Marines to improve interoperability between the active and Reserve component, while preparing them with a realistic training environment at the force level.  

KANSAS CITY, MO, UNITED STATES

02.25.2015

Story by Cpl. Gabrielle Quire 

Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Marines with Combat Logistics Regiment 4, 4th Marine Logistics Group participated in a Marine Expeditionary Force Exercise in Kansas City, Missouri, Feb. 20-22, 2015.

CLR-4 conducted the exercise with I MEF, making it the first time in 10 years that I MEF has done a MEF level exercise, because the main focus in recent years has been preparing for deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“Our guidance from Marine Forces Reserve commander, our vision and strategy, and all of the messages we’ve received has told us that the Marine Corps is changing,” said Maj. John L. Gallagher, operations officer for CLR-4, 4th MLG. “Our focus is on being expeditionary, interoperable, and our mission essential tasks, which is the ability to command and control.”

CLR-4 provided logistical support, tracked supplies, unit locations, movements, and provided aid to I MEF during the exercise. CLR-4 also conducted a Logistics Operation Center Exercise with its battalions, Combat Logistics Battalion 23 in Fort Lewis, Washington, and CLB-453 in Aurora, Colorado. CLR-4 set up communications with each battalion to interact and relay information from the regiment to I MEF in Camp Pendleton, California.

“We’re creating and simulating a tactical environment as much as we can within the narrow scope of a drill weekend,” said Gallagher.

The exercise created the opportunity for CLR-4 to work with I MEF to conduct operations at a force level with the active component and simulate a field environment by building a Tactical Logistics Operations Center. The TLOC was set up as a tent that contained a command and control center with a section for communications and was protected by a guard force for security. The guard force also conducted helicopter and casualty evacuation drills.

“When we deploy, it won’t be just as a reserve component,” said Capt. Andrew S. Cole, assistant communications officer with CLR-4, 4th MLG. “We will integrate with active duty Marines, so the more we can have that interaction in training and in peacetime, that will make it a lot easier to do our job when we have to go downrange.”

The exercise also introduced the use of a new Reserve Component Unclassified Network, a program that tracks the locations and movements of troops and equipment.

“The RCUN is basically our own training network between different Reserve units,” said Staff Sgt. Derek Holthaus, data chief at CLR-4, 4th MLG. “It also allows commanders to keep a visual representation of where the different units are out in the field and enables us to communicate.”

The training exercise tested the Reserve component’s skills to show how well they could perform if they were called upon to do these operations in a deployable environment. Exercises like these are important to increase interoperability between the active and

Reserve components which is vital to the Marine Corps mission and overall success, said Holthaus.

Providing Reserve Marines with realistic training in a field environment and opportunities to conduct operations with the active component benefits the Corps by maintaining a ready and relevant force with interoperable capabilities.

• Date Taken: 02.25.2015
• Date Posted: 02.25.2015 17:11
• Story ID: 155396
• Location: KANSAS CITY, MO, US