Marine and Los Angeles native returns from seven-month deployment to the Republic of Georgia

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Alexis Mulero | Longtime Los Angeles, Calif., native Gunnery Sgt. William Da Shawn Brown (Marine on bottom right corner) from Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group returned home from a seven-month deployment to the Republic of Georgia at the end of last month. Brown served as the communications chief for this deployment in support of the 5th rotation of Georgia Deployment Program-International Security Assistance Force. GDP-ISAF is a United States European Command directed program, which is lead by U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe, which trains and equips Republic of Georgia infantry battalions to serve alongside Marines in Afghanistan.  

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

04.05.2012

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Alexis Mulero 

Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Longtime Los Angeles native, Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. William Da Shawn Brown from Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group returned home from a seven-month deployment to the Republic of Georgia at the end of last month.

Brown, who is a native of Los Angeles, served as the communications chief for this deployment in support of the 5th rotation of Georgia Deployment Program-International Security Assistance Force. GDP-ISAF is a United States European Command directed program, which is lead by U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe, which trains and equips Republic of Georgia infantry battalions to serve alongside Marines in Afghanistan.

During the seven month deployment, Brown helped develop and train both Republic of Georgia army officers and enlisted communications personnel on all necessary skill sets in order to effectively serve alongside Marines in Afghanistan.

“The overall experience was one that will never be forgotten,” said Brown. “Working with the 23rd Georgian Light Infantry Battalion was definitely a great experience, which also tested my own communication knowledge in order to bring the two different aspects of U.S. military and Georgian military communications together to form the same common goal and meet the mission in Afghanistan.”

Also on the deployment were Maj. Joshua Anderson, officer-in-charge, Capt. Shawn Rickroad, operations officer, Gunnery Sgt. Lee James Bruno, who is a native of Plattsburgh, N.Y., Staff Sgt. Beau Mattioda, training chief, Sgt. Gordon Paige, logistics chief and native of Westminster, Mass., and Sgt. Nicholas Shisler, training clerk.

These seven MCSCG Marines formed part of the Georgia Training Team, which provides the coordination and support element to the GDP-ISAF instructors throughout a Georgian infantry battalion's training cycle. They also provided liaison between U.S. and Georgian forces in order better facilitate the training efforts of the GDP-ISAF program.

Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group is the lead component for the planning, coordination and execution of GDP-ISAF.

Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group is a unit the specializes in conducting security cooperation training and events in support of regional Marine Force headquarters and the GDP-ISAF training program is the largest and longest mission to date.

For more information on Gunnery Sgt. William Da Shawn Brown or on Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group and their role in the Georgia Deployment Program - International Security Assistance Force, please contact Gunnery Sgt. Alexis R. Mulero, MCSCG Public Affairs Chief at Office: [phone] Ext. 2265. Cell: [phone] or at [e-mail].

• Date Taken: 04.05.2012
• Date Posted: 04.06.2012 11:11
• Story ID: 86378
• Location: VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, US
• Hometown: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, US