CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Lt. Gen. John A. Toolan, commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, visited the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade’s command post exercise aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 11.
Brig. Gen. Carl E. Mundy, commanding general of 1st MEB, gave Toolan a tour of the command operations center and other elements of the Brigade Headquarters Group supporting the needs of the MEB.
The BHG task is to provide the MEB with communications, intelligence, supporting arms liaison capabilities, law enforcement/security capabilities, administrative, training and logistics support.
Toolan shook hands with the Marines completing the innumerable amount of tasks it takes to make an exercise to run smoothly.
Sgt. Buddie Atkins, assistant motor transportation chief with 9th Communication Battalion, said it’s motivating to see a high-level commander tour the exercise and appreciate the work being done.
“We're here to help the BHG and MEB all work together to support their communication assets,” Atkins said. “We keep the water buffaloes full, the generators running and chow on deck.”
Lt. Col. Matthew R. Simmons, commanding officer of 9th Communications Battalion, said the overall mission of the exercise was achieved through an all-hands effort.
“The Marines throughout the BHG and detachments did a tremendous job and worked tirelessly to ensure that our MEB leaders were well-supported,” Simmons said. "I am simply proud of the commitment to supporting the MEB that all of our BHG Marines and Sailors displayed."
The MEB has two large-scale exercises approaching, each getting more hands-on and realistic to prepare the MEB and elements of the BHG for anything in the near future.