thedrifter
12-02-05, 05:51 AM
Called to duty in Iraq
• Local Marine reservists: Bravo Battery to report at McDonough St. base
By Charles B. Pelkie
Staff Writer
JOLIET — Some 150 local U.S. Marines Corps reservists have been called to active duty and will ship out early next year to western Iraq, where they will serve as provisional military police.
Marines and sailors of Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, reported for duty Thursday at the McDonough Street base on Joliet's West Side.
Bravo Battery will report for duty daily in Joliet through December and will transfer to Camp Pendleton in California sometime in January.
In March, the Marines will ship out to Iraq, where they will serve as a provisional military police battalion whose goal is to bring security and stability to the region.
Bravo Battery is made up of reservists from throughout northern Illinois as well as Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. In the past 18 months, they have shifted the focus of their training from artillery to military police and security service skills.
Bravo Battery will assist convoys and serve at vehicle checkpoints, said 1st Sgt. Bob Campbell. The reservists' mission also requires them to spot improvised explosive devices that insurgents have used to blow up military vehicles as well as civilian targets.
"They've been trained to focus on the terrain and notice anything out of the ordinary," Campbell said.
Bravo Battery also will assist Iraqi police as the civilian force moves toward taking over complete responsibility for security in the country.
Campbell said reservists already have received urban warfare training in vacant cities set up at Camp Pendleton. In addition, they have taken courses in language, customs and weapons to help them when they hit the ground in Iraq.
Bravo Battery's summer training was increased from 15 to 21 days to prepare for the mission. Training will continue here in Joliet and then in southern California until the battery ships out in March.
Reservists will be mobilized for one year, but could remain on active duty for an additional year if necessary.
This will be the first activation for Bravo Battery since the beginning of the war on terrorism. In 1990, 1st Battalion, 14th Marines, were deployed in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War.
Campbell said Bravo Battery reservists are ready for deployment.
"Morale seems to be fairly high," he said. "The reservists are looking forward to completing the mission we've been assigned."
Reporter Charles B. Pelkie may be reached at (815) 729-6039 or via e-mail at cpelkie@scn1.com.
12/02/05
Ellie
This is only a P
• Local Marine reservists: Bravo Battery to report at McDonough St. base
By Charles B. Pelkie
Staff Writer
JOLIET — Some 150 local U.S. Marines Corps reservists have been called to active duty and will ship out early next year to western Iraq, where they will serve as provisional military police.
Marines and sailors of Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, reported for duty Thursday at the McDonough Street base on Joliet's West Side.
Bravo Battery will report for duty daily in Joliet through December and will transfer to Camp Pendleton in California sometime in January.
In March, the Marines will ship out to Iraq, where they will serve as a provisional military police battalion whose goal is to bring security and stability to the region.
Bravo Battery is made up of reservists from throughout northern Illinois as well as Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. In the past 18 months, they have shifted the focus of their training from artillery to military police and security service skills.
Bravo Battery will assist convoys and serve at vehicle checkpoints, said 1st Sgt. Bob Campbell. The reservists' mission also requires them to spot improvised explosive devices that insurgents have used to blow up military vehicles as well as civilian targets.
"They've been trained to focus on the terrain and notice anything out of the ordinary," Campbell said.
Bravo Battery also will assist Iraqi police as the civilian force moves toward taking over complete responsibility for security in the country.
Campbell said reservists already have received urban warfare training in vacant cities set up at Camp Pendleton. In addition, they have taken courses in language, customs and weapons to help them when they hit the ground in Iraq.
Bravo Battery's summer training was increased from 15 to 21 days to prepare for the mission. Training will continue here in Joliet and then in southern California until the battery ships out in March.
Reservists will be mobilized for one year, but could remain on active duty for an additional year if necessary.
This will be the first activation for Bravo Battery since the beginning of the war on terrorism. In 1990, 1st Battalion, 14th Marines, were deployed in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War.
Campbell said Bravo Battery reservists are ready for deployment.
"Morale seems to be fairly high," he said. "The reservists are looking forward to completing the mission we've been assigned."
Reporter Charles B. Pelkie may be reached at (815) 729-6039 or via e-mail at cpelkie@scn1.com.
12/02/05
Ellie
This is only a P