Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Robert Storm | Lance Cpl. Jasmine Jones from Queens, N.Y., checks the paperwork on an outgoing...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan - “Rain, snow, dark of night, we’re always working,” said Sergeant Jerusa Muncy, 27, noncommissioned officer in charge, Delaram post office, from Bronx, N.Y. “Someone always has to be in the postal tent for security reasons. We never leave the mail unguarded.”
There are two postal Marines aboard Camp Delaram from 2nd Marine Logistics Group and they take their job very seriously. Accompanying Muncy, is Lance Cpl. Jasmine Jones, 21, postal worker, from Queens N.Y. They are responsible for delivery and shipping of all packages to NATO military and civilian personnel aboard FOB Delaram.
“We have 2,000-3,000 pounds of mail come in every other day. We take care of all the mail except the Afghan nationals’,” Jones said. “Since it’s only a two-Marine shop, we need working parties (of Marines) to come help us; otherwise we’d never get the job done.”
While the hard work doesn’t bother them, they do admit that sometimes Marines try to send packages home with things they shouldn’t. Most of the time the Marines just don’t realize the items are contraband. However, occasionally Marines try to ship home things that they know won’t be accepted.
“We have to check all the mail, so we usually catch anything, they like to try and send rocks and sand, but we don’t allow it because the bacteria here is different than that back home and it could cause problems,” Jones said. “Spring loaded knives are a big deal because the knife could open in the package and hurt someone; also batteries because they’re flammable. Most Marines just don’t realize these items can’t be mailed and as soon as we tell them, it’s no problem.”
While nobody from FOB Delaram has tried to send home anything illegal during the five months that Muncy has been in Afghanistan, she has heard stories about Marines trying to send home machetes and other banned items.
“People don’t realize that everything gets x-rayed,” Muncy emphasized. “No matter who it’s from or who it’s to, it will be checked at some point. If you get caught, we send a letter to your chain of command describing the item, and they take action from then.”
According to Muncy, whether it’s coming or going, the mail is channeled through at least four stations. For example, a package sent from home would go through the origin office, New York, Bahrain, and then the Afghanistan focal point of Camp Leatherneck before finally reaching an individual’s forward operating base. At each station it will be sorted by priority, weight and other factors. This level of control ensures timely delivery and many packages reach the recipient within ten days.
“Attention to detail is a must in this job,” Muncy said. “If somehow a package ends up here that should have gone somewhere else it’ll take twice as long to get back on track.”
The postal Marines take pride in their job and it shows in the speed of delivery and professionalism they display.
“Mail improves morale. The mail here has been very timely, it keeps us in touch and keeps Marines upbeat,” Capt. Patrick Reddick said, headquarters company commander, Regimental Combat Team 6, from Washington. “The mail helps keep service members connected with family and friends. The postal workers are doing a great job.”
E-mail Staff Sgt. Robert M. Storm at robert.storm@afg.usmc.mil
Editor’s note: Forward Operating Base Delaram II currently houses Regimental Combat Team 6 in 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: | 02.02.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.02.2012 01:26 |
| Story ID: | 83167 |
| Location: | FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, AF |
| Web Views: | 473 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Rain, snow, dead of night finds postal Marines working, by GySgt Robert Storm, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
