Ninth Engineer Support Battalion Marines improve Landing Zone Dodo

Photo By Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr | Landing Zone Dodo, once an unleveled and rough terrain, was transformed to this smooth landing area by Marines from 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The project took more than three weeks and provided the Marines with much needed training prior to deploying to Afghanistan.  

OKINAWA, JAPAN

07.15.2011

Story by Cpl. Anthony Ward Jr 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

OKINAWA, Japan - Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion put their skills to the test recently at Landing Zone Dodo in the Central Training Area by improving and repairing the training ground.

“We used this project for two different things. First, was to get the LZ ready for our battalion [field exercise],” said Staff Sgt. Calvin T. Lundy, the project manager. “The second thing was to begin the training for our junior Marines on the equipment they are going to use in Afghanistan.”

This was a good training evolution, and it allowed all the Marines to put their skills to work, said Chief Warrant Officer Matthew D. Lovely, heavy equipment platoon commander with 9th ESB. The utilities Marines were doing electrical wiring, the heavy equipment operators were moving earth; they all got involved, he said.

Heavy equipment operators are not always afforded the opportunity to push dirt around, Lovely said.

“There’s no real dig pit on this island,” said Lundy. “We took about 3,000 yards of dirt, dumped it out here and pushed it in the low spots. Total, we pushed about 8,000 yards of dirt to level out the entire LZ.”

This was probably the most dirt Marines have leveled on Okinawa, as there are not facilities on Okinawa that can provide this level of training opportunities, added Lundy.

In addition to repairing the LZ, the Marines installed a fuel berm capable of holding a 20,000 gallon bladder, said Lovely.

Some 9th ESB Marines said they greatly enjoyed this training.

“It was the most fun I’ve had in my [military occupational specialty], and I have been here for 17 months,” said Lance Cpl. Mark E. Mattiacio, a heavy equipment operator with 9th ESB. “Since it’s so hard for us to get out here and move dirt, this training was very valuable,” added Mattiacio.

Mattiacio is one of the many 9th ESB Marines scheduled to deploy soon in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

“It’s going to help a lot,” Mattiacio said of the training. “The last thing you want to do when you get in country is not know your MOS. You want to know what you’re doing so you can get the job done, continue to move on and complete the mission.”

It is absolutely imperative that the Marines get experienced on the equipment, said Lundy.

“If they don’t have the experience, then they won’t have the confidence, and they won’t be able to perform to the standard we need,” added Lundy. “If the engineers aren’t performing, then everybody is having a bad day.”

• Date Taken: 07.15.2011
• Date Posted: 07.14.2011 22:15
• Story ID: 73756
• Location: OKINAWA, JP