Story by Cpl. C.J. Yard
Public Affairs Office, 2d Force Service Support Group
CAMP TAQADDUM, Iraq (April 16, 2005) -- For about 100 Marines serving aboard the base here, they could not be closer to the warrior ethos of "Every Marine is a rifleman."
The Army's 2nd Battalion, 112th Armor, 36th Infantry of Austin, Texas, whose primary duty is to guard Camp Taqaddum, is augmented by Marines from a Provisional Rifle Company with Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2d Force Service Support Group (Forward).
The Provisional Rifle Company consists of Marines from Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2d Maintenance Bn. and 2d Supply Bn. within the 2d FSSG.
"Second FSSG was tasked with augmenting the 2/112th," said 1st Sgt. Jerry Neal, Communications Co. first sergeant, Headquarters and Service Bn., 2d FSSG (Fwd). "This was all done pretty quickly, too. The Marines reported in January and arrived in country in March. Within the short time from when the company was stood up the Marines had a lot of training to do and they also completed the pre-deployment checklist."
The Marines, some of whom are reservists, traveled to Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., for a Revised-Combined Arms Exercise, Security and Stability Operations at March Air Force Reserve Base, Enhanced Marksmanship Training, crew-served weapons familiarization course and Entry Control Point personnel and vehicle inspection training.
Once here, the Marines joined forces with the 2/112th and began standing watch at observation posts and manning ECPs.
According to Neal, a Greensboro, N.C., native, Comm. Co. provides administrative support, but operationally the Marines are taken care of by the 2/112th for their billeting and work schedules.
"The command sergeant major of the 2/112th is doing an outstanding job of taking care of our Marines," said Neal.
"[The 2/112th] is really taking care of us," said Brandon J. Johnston, a reservist ammunition technician with the PRC. "We get treated just like we are part of the Army. We get the same living provisions and entitlements they do."
Johnston, a Smyrna, S.C., native, said he heard of provisional rifle companies while in boot camp, and volunteered to become a rifleman for the deployment.
"This is what I joined the Marine Corps for," said Johnston. "I've been waiting for a year-and-a-half to go to Iraq. It makes me feel good knowing that I'm over here protecting the lives of everyone on the base."
Observation posts have two service members on them at all times. The Marines stand watch with a Soldier or another Marine.
"We teach them our tactics and they teach us about theirs," said Lance Cpl. Christopher Picasso, a maintenance management clerk assigned to the PRC. "We also get competitive with each other. We're going to be doing the Army's physical fitness test to find out who is the best "PTer" out here."
The Marines are also planning to teach the Soldiers some of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.
The camaraderie, not just between the Marines, but with the Soldiers as well, is growing every day, according to Picasso, a Walnut Creek, Calif., native. "[The Marines] started coming together right from the beginning. Out here though, we are making some good friends with some of the Soldiers."
The Marines and Soldiers divide the day into eight-hour watch schedules, working in shifts.
Corporal Crystal Perimon, a Caroline, Va., native who stands watch at an ECP feels that her job is one of the most important aboard the base.
"I search all the vehicles that enter through the ECP for [Improvised Explosive Devices]," said the ground electronics repair technician. "It is up to me to make sure that nothing gets on this base that could hurt anybody else. It makes me feel really good because I know that I have an immediate purpose."
"The Marines here are doing an outstanding job," said Staff Sgt. Andrew McCormack, a Colorado Springs, Colo., native and motor transportation maintenance chief assigned to the PRC. "These guys are doing a thankless job with a smile on their face. I would take these Marines anywhere in the world with me."
For more information about the Marines or news reported in this story, please contact by e-mail yardcj@cssemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil.
| Date Taken: | 04.22.2005 |
| Date Posted: | 04.22.2005 08:47 |
| Story ID: | 1648 |
| Location: | AL TAQADDUM, IQ |
| Web Views: | 147 |
| Downloads: | 21 |
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