MWSS-271 CO visits Continuing Promise Marines, sailors at sea

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Alicia Leaders | Lt. Col. Paul D. Baker, commanding officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., talks to Lance Cpl. Joshua Jones, crewman with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 774, before his departure from the USS Iwo Jima, Oct. 23, 2010. Baker visited Marines and sailors of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Continuing Promise 2010 to prepare for his upcoming deployment 'Southern Partnership Station 2011.'  

ABOARD USS IWO JIMA, AT SEA

10.24.2010

Story by Cpl. Alicia Leaders 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South

ABOARD USS IWO JIMA– Lt. Col. Paul D. Baker, commanding officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 271, visited Marines and sailors of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Continuing Promise 2010 aboard USS Iwo Jima, Oct. 22-23, 2010.

The purpose of Baker’s visit was to observe the Special-Purpose MAGTF in action as it supported Operation Continuing Promise. Baker will be the upcoming MAGTF commanding officer for a similar mission named Southern Partnership Station 2011, a three-month deployment to the Caribbean, Central and South America.

“There’s a lot of Marines who have not been aboard amphibious ships, and the upcoming deployment will give them the opportunity to familiarize with their naval roots,” said Baker. “[Aboard USS Iwo Jima] we’re trying to pull the lessons learned from the Continuing Promise staff. We’ll absolutely take anything and everything from those lessons learned back with us to Cherry Point.”

Baker was accompanied by Master Sgt. Joseph Rice, communications chief with MWSS-271, they toured work sections and interviewed Marines about their day-to-day operations.

“We’re learning from their hard lessons learned in everything from all the shops,” said Baker. “Everyone has played a part in continuing a successful mission. I think our job is going to be a lot easier because of the hard work Continuing Promise has done so far.”

Approximately 170 Marines with MWSS-271 are scheduled to deploy in mid-January for three months to conduct subject matter expert exchanges with foreign militaries in support of Operation Southern Partnership Station 2011. MWSS-271 will provide the Command Element and Logistics Combat Element for the task force.

“It was a great opportunity for Lieutenant Colonel Baker to visit the Continuing Promise team,” said Lt. Col. Chris S. Richie, commanding officer of Special-Purpose MAGTF CP10. “I’m extremely proud of the accomplishments of our Special-Purpose MAGTF and have no doubt that Lieutenant Colonel Baker will continue our success in Central and South America.”

Marines and sailors are anchored off the coast off New Amsterdam, Guyana, providing engineering services to the local community. CP10 is a humanitarian civic assistance mission providing medical, dental, veterinary, engineering and community relation services to the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

For more information on the Continuing Promise 2010 Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, please visit the unit’s official website at http://www.marines.mil/unti/2ndMAW/SPMAGTF.

• Date Taken: 10.24.2010
• Date Posted: 10.25.2010 11:39
• Story ID: 58770
• Location: ABOARD USS IWO JIMA, AT SEA