Subscribe
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan — The ‘War Dogs’ of Twentynine Palms, Calif., began arriving here June 3 to join the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit as the new battalion landing team.
Second Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, known as the ‘War Dogs,’ based out of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., is replacing 2nd Bn., 5th Marines, whose Marines are headed home to California after completing a successful spring deployment with the 31st MEU.
The more than 1,200 Marines and sailors of 2nd Bn., 7th Marines, become the new ground combat element of the 31st MEU, and are scheduled to participate in the upcoming regular deployment to the Asia-Pacific region.
“We have had a lot of good training in Twentynine Palms and Camp Pendleton over the past months, all to get us ready to come out here to the MEU,” said Lt. Col. Donald Tomich, commanding officer, 2nd Bn., 7th Marines. “Our Marines have worked hard to get here, and we are looking forward to the deployment with the 31st MEU.”
The battalion comes to the MEU with attached artillery, Amphibious Assault Vehicles and Light Armored Vehicles, enhancing the ability of the MEU to conduct the wide range of missions.
“This is the first time for a lot of our guys to get out of the United States, so we are anticipating doing training with other nations’ militaries to gain shared experiences,” said Tomich. “We want to continue to contribute to the tradition of excellence that has gone before us here with the 31st MEU.”
The battalion’s previous deployment with the 31st MEU was last year, and before then, the battalion was deployed to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
The battalion’s deployed experiences will be put to good use as they have a busy schedule over the next several months preparing for a wide range of possible missions in every imaginable climate.
“There is a huge difference in the climate here,” said Sgt. Jacob Hawken, Personal Security Detail platoon sergeant, Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Bn., 7th Marines. “As soon as we got here, it was raining. We just came from a very dry climate in Twentynine Palms, and, as soon as we got off the plane, we got soaked.”
The Marines and sailors of 2nd Bn., 7th Marines, are expected to participate in exercises designed to increase bilateral teamwork, enhance security cooperation and conduct training together with partner nations in the Asia-Pacific region.
| Date Taken: | 06.03.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2011 19:26 |
| Story ID: | 72217 |
| Location: | KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 67 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, ‘War Dogs’ arrive to join 31st MEU, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
