The nine-to-five of an infantryman

Photo By James Clark | Petty Officer 3rd Class Joshua Pittman, a corpsman with 81 mm Mortar Platoon, Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, reads a book during his break between patrols in Marjah, Afghanistan, May 9. Marine and Afghan soldiers went out on a 48-hour operation, where they manned checkpoints and conducted patrols around the market and residential areas in the center of the city.  

MARJAH, AFGHANISTAN

05.12.2010

Story by Cpl. James Clark 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

FORWARD OPERATING BASE MARJAH, Helmand province, Afghanistan – The mortarmen with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, live a regulated and precise life - one where they can all be assured that at the end of each day, the following morning they will awake to do it all over again, at Forward Operating Base Marjah, Afghanistan.

Their day begins as early as 5 a.m., and ends as late as 1 a.m. Getting up at least an hour before going out patrol, some of the Marines eat a quick breakfast, while others forgo food in favor of a few more minutes of rest. Thirty minutes before heading out they check their radio equipment, rehearse the reporting format in case there are casualties and go over the patrol route.

Fifteen minutes prior to setting out on a two-to-four hour patrol, they get last-minute information on suspected threats such as improvised explosive devices or Taliban suicide bombers and snipers operating in the area.

They do this at least twice every day, and can only look forward to the rare day off; or more likely a day with only one patrol rather than two.

However, the weariness never seems to show once they've left the gate. They greet local vendors and elders, give candy to children and even while shaking hands or sharing tea, their eyes are always shifting left and right, checking alleyways and rooftops.

"You start knowing and recognizing the locals, those who like or dislike you and you begin to recognize significant elders," said Lance Cpl. Jesse Vargas, a mortarman with 81 mm Mortar Platoon, Weapons Company, 1/6. "You begin to get a feeling for which alleyways or roads are safe, and know which locals gather at specific spots, like the mosque."

Their endless rotation of patrols seems to be paying off, Vargas explained.

"It's been kind of nice getting to know the area that you patrol," said Vargas. "When we first got to this part of the city, the locals didn't even look at us, and the kids wouldn't wave or smile. Now the children come up to our patrols, giving us high-fives or asking for food. Kind of nice to see how we've helped improve the area and see that the locals no longer fear us. We're doing what we can to give them a good life."

However, the benefits of working on area continuously are not without their own risks.

"In a small area of operations, like we have, we have to keep from putting ourselves in a pattern and prevent the Taliban from targeting us," said Cpl. Timothy Stark, a squad leader with 81 mm Mortar Platoon, Weapons Company, 1.6. "Another challenge is that the area is so saturated with Marines that the Taliban know they can pick and choose their battles. There is always another patrol coming, so they can wait until it works in their favor."

Often, by the time the Marines return from patrol, their clothes have become stiff with dried sweat, the sun has set and the chow hall has closed. They debrief just inside the gate, while the information is still fresh and then make their way slowly back to their tent, where they peel off white socks that have turned brown and douse their feet in foot powder.

Some huddle together to watch a movie before falling asleep, others read and a few other stay up thinking about the events of the day, asking themselves what they could have done differently and what they would do the following morning.

• Date Taken: 05.12.2010
• Date Posted: 05.21.2010 11:21
• Story ID: 50063
• Location: MARJAH, AF