thedrifter
08-23-04, 06:27 AM
Permanent 4th MEB (AT) battalion gearing up for activation.
Submitted by: 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism)
Story Identification #: 20048312645
Story by Cpl. Sharon E. Fox
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 3, 2004) -- The 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism) is preparing to activate a permanent AT battalion. Since it’s re-activation in November of 2001, the brigade has trained different battalions from 2d Marine Division to use as task forces for the 4th MEB (AT) missions.
With more than 125 Marines already checked in since May, the AT Bn is scheduled to activate on September 30 and will be at full strength with more than 775 Marines and Sailors.
"The mission of the Anti-Terrorism Battalion is to provide commanders a rapidly deployable force capable of detecting terrorism, conducting activities to deter terrorism, defending designated facilities against terrorism, and conducting crisis response in order to combat the threat of terrorism worldwide,” said Maj. John Armellio, acting commanding officer of the battalion.
“While different battalions of 2d Mar Div have successfully completed many mission as AT task forces, activating a permanent Anti-Terrorism Battalion will provide operational tempo relief to the division.
“Our intent is to capitalize on the knowledge, experience and wisdom of those combating terrorism today as well as exploit their success,” added Armellino.
Many of the new Marines are eager to begin their mission and even though they are not yet at full strength, training is already being conducted in the battalion.
“Helping start up a brand new battalion isn’t something Marines get to do very often,” said Sgt. Brandon Holcomb, acting intelligence chief for the AT Bn. “It’s helpful that I’m coming from the 4th MEB (AT) headquarters and know what our basic mission is.”
Many of the Marines new to the fleet expressed their excitement of joining into a brand new battalion and look forward to learning new skills.
"The obvious differences between a permanent Anti-Terrorism Battalion and an infantry battalion are the table of organization, table of equipment and our mission statement. The most significant difference is how we train and deploy.
“The battalion will consist of six companies; a headquarters company, four anti-terrorism companies and a support company. Historically, each company has been task-organized and deployed as a self-sufficient task force providing its own command and control under the operational control of a regional security officer. However, the battalion has the capability to conduct its own command and control.
“We've already created the ability to plan, execute and manage mandated training, but not as efficiently or effectively as our counterparts because of the limited number of key staff currently on hand,” said Armellino. “We are making sure the Marines get their Primary Military Education and additional training respective to their occupation and section needs of the battalion. The conditions are not set to execute mission specific training yet, but we have conducted the necessary mission analysis to identify the skills our Marines and Sailors need to possess."
Other than annual training and basic infantry skills, the Marines will learn additional skills and tactics.
"We are currently identifying the training that will meet the requirements of the missions we will get, but generally speaking, the Marines will receive training that emphasizes anti-terrorism skills such as enhanced marksmanship, convoy operations, military operations in urban terrain skills, and surveillance detection,” said Maj. Michael Myers, operations officer, AT Bn. “We will also engrain each Marine with an understanding of the threat they will be facing through classes on terrorist methodology and tactics. While composed mainly of infantrymen, we hope to shape the mentality and awareness of the Marines in order to make them more effective at eliminating terrorist threats."
With such a large spectrum of mission and training requirements, the battalion will have some specialized gear.
"For the most part our Table of Equipment will look similar to that of an Infantry Battalion,” said Armellino. “Despite a reduction in organic indirect fire support and anti-armor assets, we have a significant array of night-vision optics, heavy and medium machineguns, sniper rifles and combat engineer assets."
Aside from specialized gear, motor transportation is one of the basics not yet fully established for the battalion.
“We have a motor pool, but not the amount of vehicles we need when we are at full strength,” said Gunnery Sgt. Mark Carabello. “We’re building from scratch, which is a little challenging, but the few Marines here have been doing an excellent job putting the shop together.”
The battalion will be fully operational when the conditions to do so have been met, specifically, allocation of requisite funds, functionality of workspace and living quarters are established, assignment of personnel and receipt of authorized equipment are finished, said Sanchez.
“We are steadily building this battalion and are looking forward to its official activation,” said Armellino. “We are expecting great things as we are sure the public is that we can continue to fight this war on terrorism.”
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004831392/$file/4thMEBlogo_lowres.jpg
The 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism) is preparing to activate a permanent AT battalion. Since it’s re-activation in November of 2001, the brigade has trained different battalions from 2d Marine Division to use as task forces for the 4th MEB (AT) missions.
Photo by: Official photo
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/45E90A39BD11227185256EE50058828F?opendocument
Ellie
Submitted by: 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism)
Story Identification #: 20048312645
Story by Cpl. Sharon E. Fox
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Aug. 3, 2004) -- The 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism) is preparing to activate a permanent AT battalion. Since it’s re-activation in November of 2001, the brigade has trained different battalions from 2d Marine Division to use as task forces for the 4th MEB (AT) missions.
With more than 125 Marines already checked in since May, the AT Bn is scheduled to activate on September 30 and will be at full strength with more than 775 Marines and Sailors.
"The mission of the Anti-Terrorism Battalion is to provide commanders a rapidly deployable force capable of detecting terrorism, conducting activities to deter terrorism, defending designated facilities against terrorism, and conducting crisis response in order to combat the threat of terrorism worldwide,” said Maj. John Armellio, acting commanding officer of the battalion.
“While different battalions of 2d Mar Div have successfully completed many mission as AT task forces, activating a permanent Anti-Terrorism Battalion will provide operational tempo relief to the division.
“Our intent is to capitalize on the knowledge, experience and wisdom of those combating terrorism today as well as exploit their success,” added Armellino.
Many of the new Marines are eager to begin their mission and even though they are not yet at full strength, training is already being conducted in the battalion.
“Helping start up a brand new battalion isn’t something Marines get to do very often,” said Sgt. Brandon Holcomb, acting intelligence chief for the AT Bn. “It’s helpful that I’m coming from the 4th MEB (AT) headquarters and know what our basic mission is.”
Many of the Marines new to the fleet expressed their excitement of joining into a brand new battalion and look forward to learning new skills.
"The obvious differences between a permanent Anti-Terrorism Battalion and an infantry battalion are the table of organization, table of equipment and our mission statement. The most significant difference is how we train and deploy.
“The battalion will consist of six companies; a headquarters company, four anti-terrorism companies and a support company. Historically, each company has been task-organized and deployed as a self-sufficient task force providing its own command and control under the operational control of a regional security officer. However, the battalion has the capability to conduct its own command and control.
“We've already created the ability to plan, execute and manage mandated training, but not as efficiently or effectively as our counterparts because of the limited number of key staff currently on hand,” said Armellino. “We are making sure the Marines get their Primary Military Education and additional training respective to their occupation and section needs of the battalion. The conditions are not set to execute mission specific training yet, but we have conducted the necessary mission analysis to identify the skills our Marines and Sailors need to possess."
Other than annual training and basic infantry skills, the Marines will learn additional skills and tactics.
"We are currently identifying the training that will meet the requirements of the missions we will get, but generally speaking, the Marines will receive training that emphasizes anti-terrorism skills such as enhanced marksmanship, convoy operations, military operations in urban terrain skills, and surveillance detection,” said Maj. Michael Myers, operations officer, AT Bn. “We will also engrain each Marine with an understanding of the threat they will be facing through classes on terrorist methodology and tactics. While composed mainly of infantrymen, we hope to shape the mentality and awareness of the Marines in order to make them more effective at eliminating terrorist threats."
With such a large spectrum of mission and training requirements, the battalion will have some specialized gear.
"For the most part our Table of Equipment will look similar to that of an Infantry Battalion,” said Armellino. “Despite a reduction in organic indirect fire support and anti-armor assets, we have a significant array of night-vision optics, heavy and medium machineguns, sniper rifles and combat engineer assets."
Aside from specialized gear, motor transportation is one of the basics not yet fully established for the battalion.
“We have a motor pool, but not the amount of vehicles we need when we are at full strength,” said Gunnery Sgt. Mark Carabello. “We’re building from scratch, which is a little challenging, but the few Marines here have been doing an excellent job putting the shop together.”
The battalion will be fully operational when the conditions to do so have been met, specifically, allocation of requisite funds, functionality of workspace and living quarters are established, assignment of personnel and receipt of authorized equipment are finished, said Sanchez.
“We are steadily building this battalion and are looking forward to its official activation,” said Armellino. “We are expecting great things as we are sure the public is that we can continue to fight this war on terrorism.”
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/2004831392/$file/4thMEBlogo_lowres.jpg
The 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism) is preparing to activate a permanent AT battalion. Since it’s re-activation in November of 2001, the brigade has trained different battalions from 2d Marine Division to use as task forces for the 4th MEB (AT) missions.
Photo by: Official photo
http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/45E90A39BD11227185256EE50058828F?opendocument
Ellie