thedrifter
10-22-03, 05:59 AM
Camp Pendleton units could join occupation force, top general says
By James W. Crawley
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 21, 2003
CAMP PENDLETON – A decision could come in weeks about sending more Camp Pendleton Marines to Iraq as occupation forces, the military's top officer said here yesterday.
During a visit to the base, Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told about 1,000 Marines that Pentagon planners are considering calling up Marine Corps units for rotation into Iraq early next year.
"We should know fairly soon how that will play out, and we'll get that information to you as soon as we can," Myers said.
Myers was at Pendleton to thank Marines and sailors who spearheaded the march to Baghdad in March and April.
More than 25,000 Marines and sailors based here and at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station were in Iraq and Kuwait during the war with Iraq.
Several National Guard and Reserve units have been notified they will deploy to Iraq between February and April and have begun intensive training to prepare for duty of one year or longer.
Myers acknowledged that regular troops also will be sent for occupation duty. Today, he plans to visit an Army battalion at Fort Lewis, Wash., to see new Stryker armored vehicles that will soon be deployed in Iraq.
The Camp Pendleton-based 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which was deployed to Iraq in August, has been there for about a week, conducting a series of raids against oil smugglers. The deployment is expected to last eight months.
Marine Corps officials at Camp Pendleton have not received orders to send additional units to Iraq, but the commander of the 1st Marine Division, Maj. Gen. James Mattis, told unit commanders several months ago to be fully prepared by November for potential deployments.
One Marine asked Myers how long forces will remain in Iraq.
"There will be a demand in Iraq for our forces for some time to come," Myers said. "I don't think it's going to go to 2005, but who knows?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James W. Crawley:
(619) 542-4559; jim.crawley@uniontrib.com
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20031021-9999_1m21myers.html
Sempers,
Roger
:marine:
By James W. Crawley
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 21, 2003
CAMP PENDLETON – A decision could come in weeks about sending more Camp Pendleton Marines to Iraq as occupation forces, the military's top officer said here yesterday.
During a visit to the base, Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told about 1,000 Marines that Pentagon planners are considering calling up Marine Corps units for rotation into Iraq early next year.
"We should know fairly soon how that will play out, and we'll get that information to you as soon as we can," Myers said.
Myers was at Pendleton to thank Marines and sailors who spearheaded the march to Baghdad in March and April.
More than 25,000 Marines and sailors based here and at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station were in Iraq and Kuwait during the war with Iraq.
Several National Guard and Reserve units have been notified they will deploy to Iraq between February and April and have begun intensive training to prepare for duty of one year or longer.
Myers acknowledged that regular troops also will be sent for occupation duty. Today, he plans to visit an Army battalion at Fort Lewis, Wash., to see new Stryker armored vehicles that will soon be deployed in Iraq.
The Camp Pendleton-based 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which was deployed to Iraq in August, has been there for about a week, conducting a series of raids against oil smugglers. The deployment is expected to last eight months.
Marine Corps officials at Camp Pendleton have not received orders to send additional units to Iraq, but the commander of the 1st Marine Division, Maj. Gen. James Mattis, told unit commanders several months ago to be fully prepared by November for potential deployments.
One Marine asked Myers how long forces will remain in Iraq.
"There will be a demand in Iraq for our forces for some time to come," Myers said. "I don't think it's going to go to 2005, but who knows?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James W. Crawley:
(619) 542-4559; jim.crawley@uniontrib.com
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20031021-9999_1m21myers.html
Sempers,
Roger
:marine: