Faces of BALTOPS 22: Staff Sgt. Roger Burns IV

Photo By Sgt. Armando Elizalde | U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Roger Burns IV, a Company Logistics Chief with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/6, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, poses for a photo during exercise BALTOPS 22, in Ventspils, Latvia, June 10, 2022. BALTOPS 22 is the premier maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic Region. The exercise, led by U.S. Naval forces Europe-Africa, and executed by Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, provides a unique training opportunity to strengthen combined response capabilities critical to preserving freedom of navigation and security in the Baltic Sea. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Armando Elizalde)  

VENTSPILS, LATVIA

06.16.2022

Story by Sgt. Armando Elizalde 

22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit

Staff Sgt. Roger Burns IV, Company Logistics Chief, Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 2/6, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, recently participated in an Expeditionary Advanced Base Operation in Ventspils, Latvia during exercise BALTOPS 22. Burns’ responsibilities include supplying his Marines with the basic necessities to survive out in the field; that being food, water, ammunition and fuel. Burns joined the Marine Corps to be different among his peers in Tacoma, Washington.
As a big fan of the beach, Burns said that spending time on a beach in another part of the world, and working with different NATO Allies and partners is a highlight of being on deployment.
Burns said it was nice to see how the Latvians worked, who brought pressure washers for vehicle wash-downs, and how they planned and prepared his Marines to be able to conduct the wash-down effectively.
“You can tell they put in the effort to be prepared for us. They brought thousands of liters of water and two pressure washers so that we could wash two vehicles simultaneously,” Burns said. “Because of them, that process was smooth and made our vehicle inspection conducted by the Navy almost 100 percent proficient.”
Gunnery Sgt. Mathew Dalessandro, the operations chief with Bravo Co., describes Burns as his right-hand man and a vital Marine in his company.
“As my company logistics chief, I wouldn’t be able to complete my mission as the senior tactical advisor for the company commander,” Dalessandro said.
Burns said that being the company logistics chief is more personal than being in an S-4 level.
“Here it’s more personal because I work with these guys day-in and day-out, so I see the direct effects if I don’t do my job effectively,” said Burns. “You definitely pay more attention because that’s one of your Marines that’s short on water or short on a meal.”

• Date Taken: 06.16.2022
• Date Posted: 06.22.2022 10:09
• Story ID: 423399
• Location: VENTSPILS, LV
• Hometown: TACOMA, WA, US