thedrifter
10-31-05, 06:41 AM
5/14 MP Bn., gets back in fight
II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD)
Story by Cpl. Evan M. Eagan
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 31, 2005) -- The last time 5th Battalion, 14th Marines, 4th Marine Division, was deployed to a combat zone Franklin D. Roosevelt was president and the United States was in a world war against the Japanese in the South Pacific.
Arriving here late September after more than 60 years of readiness, the battalion is back in the fight.
Various elements of 5th Bn., 14th Marines, served in support of Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s, however this marks the first time the whole battalion was deployed to a combat zone since World War II.
Although 5th Bn., 14th Marines, is an artillery unit by trade, they deployed as a provisional military police battalion with Marines coming from various active duty and reserve units throughout the Marine Corps.
“Five-Fourteen is a combination of units,” said Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Tomka, force protection and mobile training team commander, Headquarters Company, Military Police Battalion, 5th Bn., 14th Marines, II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD). “We have Marines from 1st Battalion, 14th Marines, an active duty MP Company from Camp Pendleton, a TOW Company from 25th Regiment, MP’s from Louisiana and Minnesota, and Marines from 4th Force Reconnaissance from Hawaii and [Reno, Nev.,].”
Prior to deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the unit came together at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., for security and stability operations training and a revised combined arms exercise.
“We spent from June, when we got activated, to September at Twentynine Palms training for this,” said Tomka, a Vietnam and Gulf War veteran. “We got acclimated and trained for this mission and we are motivated.”
The battalion is tasked with four main missions while serving in Iraq: area security, convoy security, law enforcement and operating five detention facilities throughout Al Anbar province, to include the detention facility here.
The battalion is not the first reserve unit to deploy and support a mission with a different military occupational specialty other than their own, however they have laid the ground work for the training of future reserve units with the same mission.
“We met the needs of the Marine Corps by overcoming and adapting our MOS qualifications to meet the mission requirements,” said 1st Sgt. Ronnie Freeman, first sergeant, Headquarters Company, MP Bn., 5th Bn., 14th Marines, II MEF (FWD). “Even though we are all infantry trained, there were still training requirements which needed to be instituted to ensure the success of the mission. We analyzed these deficiencies, developed a training plan and executed the plan with as much realism as training allowed.”
For these Marines, transitioning from an artillery unit to a provisional military police battalion was not as difficult a task as it may have been for other units.
Stacked with civilian law enforcement personnel from various state and federal departments, the battalion was more than ready to accept its new role.
“The mission pulls very heavily from our civilian skills,” said Tomka. “We have law enforcement people and we also have Marines who work for state and federal corrections. This isn’t your normal reserve unit; it’s a very experienced unit.”
For Cpl. Jose Orantes, 26, battalion supply chief, Headquarters Company, MP Bn., 5th Bn., 14th Marines, II MEF (FWD), their mission has been according to plan.
“We have been very effective,” said the Highland Park, Calif., native. “We’re an artillery unit turned MP battalion and were doing great. We’re doing the things we need to do to make sure everything goes smooth. I’m up at all hours of the night making sure our guys have the gear they need to effectively carry out all missions.”
Although many units have come together to support 5th Bn., 14th Marines, MP Bn., the Marines have built strong relationships with each other.
“We’re doing everything we need to do to get the mission accomplished,” said Cpl. Lucio Bernabe, 26, the battalion Marine Corps Integrated Maintenance Management System specialist, Headquarters Company, MP Bn., 5 th Bn., 14th Marines, II MEF (FWD). “The Marines are very supportive and close knit. We are a very tight knit family.”
Ellie
II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD)
Story by Cpl. Evan M. Eagan
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Oct. 31, 2005) -- The last time 5th Battalion, 14th Marines, 4th Marine Division, was deployed to a combat zone Franklin D. Roosevelt was president and the United States was in a world war against the Japanese in the South Pacific.
Arriving here late September after more than 60 years of readiness, the battalion is back in the fight.
Various elements of 5th Bn., 14th Marines, served in support of Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s, however this marks the first time the whole battalion was deployed to a combat zone since World War II.
Although 5th Bn., 14th Marines, is an artillery unit by trade, they deployed as a provisional military police battalion with Marines coming from various active duty and reserve units throughout the Marine Corps.
“Five-Fourteen is a combination of units,” said Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Tomka, force protection and mobile training team commander, Headquarters Company, Military Police Battalion, 5th Bn., 14th Marines, II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD). “We have Marines from 1st Battalion, 14th Marines, an active duty MP Company from Camp Pendleton, a TOW Company from 25th Regiment, MP’s from Louisiana and Minnesota, and Marines from 4th Force Reconnaissance from Hawaii and [Reno, Nev.,].”
Prior to deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the unit came together at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., for security and stability operations training and a revised combined arms exercise.
“We spent from June, when we got activated, to September at Twentynine Palms training for this,” said Tomka, a Vietnam and Gulf War veteran. “We got acclimated and trained for this mission and we are motivated.”
The battalion is tasked with four main missions while serving in Iraq: area security, convoy security, law enforcement and operating five detention facilities throughout Al Anbar province, to include the detention facility here.
The battalion is not the first reserve unit to deploy and support a mission with a different military occupational specialty other than their own, however they have laid the ground work for the training of future reserve units with the same mission.
“We met the needs of the Marine Corps by overcoming and adapting our MOS qualifications to meet the mission requirements,” said 1st Sgt. Ronnie Freeman, first sergeant, Headquarters Company, MP Bn., 5th Bn., 14th Marines, II MEF (FWD). “Even though we are all infantry trained, there were still training requirements which needed to be instituted to ensure the success of the mission. We analyzed these deficiencies, developed a training plan and executed the plan with as much realism as training allowed.”
For these Marines, transitioning from an artillery unit to a provisional military police battalion was not as difficult a task as it may have been for other units.
Stacked with civilian law enforcement personnel from various state and federal departments, the battalion was more than ready to accept its new role.
“The mission pulls very heavily from our civilian skills,” said Tomka. “We have law enforcement people and we also have Marines who work for state and federal corrections. This isn’t your normal reserve unit; it’s a very experienced unit.”
For Cpl. Jose Orantes, 26, battalion supply chief, Headquarters Company, MP Bn., 5th Bn., 14th Marines, II MEF (FWD), their mission has been according to plan.
“We have been very effective,” said the Highland Park, Calif., native. “We’re an artillery unit turned MP battalion and were doing great. We’re doing the things we need to do to make sure everything goes smooth. I’m up at all hours of the night making sure our guys have the gear they need to effectively carry out all missions.”
Although many units have come together to support 5th Bn., 14th Marines, MP Bn., the Marines have built strong relationships with each other.
“We’re doing everything we need to do to get the mission accomplished,” said Cpl. Lucio Bernabe, 26, the battalion Marine Corps Integrated Maintenance Management System specialist, Headquarters Company, MP Bn., 5 th Bn., 14th Marines, II MEF (FWD). “The Marines are very supportive and close knit. We are a very tight knit family.”
Ellie