PDA

View Full Version : Mount Shasta Marine reports from Iraq



thedrifter
06-04-09, 08:49 AM
Mount Shasta Marine reports from Iraq

By Paul Boerger
Mount Shasta Area Newspapers
Wed Jun 03, 2009, 07:19 PM PDT

Mount Shasta, Calif. -

US Marine Reserve Major Kevin Charter of Mount Shasta is currently serving in Ramadi, Iraq, training Iraqi forces, counter-insurgency operations, searching for weapons and working with local Iraqi leaders. This is Charter’s second Middle East deployment. Below is his first report from Iraq.
“Friends and Family,
After completing our seven month work-up Echo Company has arrived in our area of operations, the city of Ramadi, Iraq. We’ve been busy since the day we arrived. We have moved into our billeting spaces, BZO’d our weapons, conducted our turnover with the out-going unit and began conducting combined patrols and cache sweeps with the Iraqi police.
Our company began our workup in October 2008, in San Bruno, CA, trained at Camp Pendleton, CA from Nov-Jan, and completed our training at 29 Palms, CA Feb-Mar. We number 196 Marines and Navy Corpsmen. Twenty-two were attached from our sister battalion, 3/23, in Tennessee.
Our training has been extensive in preparation for counter-insurgency operations. The Marines have trained in many areas to include marksmanship, tactics, Iraqi language/culture, rules of engagement, casualty evacuation, vehicle operations, and evidence collection. The focus has been on each Marine’s ability to shoot, move and communicate.
On Camp Ramadi the Marines have an outstanding dining facility with an abundance of food, a post exchange that contains electronics, food and beverage items, toiletries and clothing. The Marines also have laundry services, access to telephones, internet, church services, and three gyms.
Echo Company is well prepared for our operations and duties ahead of us. The small unit leaders, our sergeants and corporals, are doing an outstanding job leading their Marines. Their daily duties include planning, preparing, inspecting, conducting and supervising operations. The Marines are responding well, are motivated and professional, all that is expected of them.
In the city of Ramadi we are working exclusively with the Iraqi Police focusing on professionalization and rule of law while assessing their capabilities and limitations. We are attending council meetings to assess their governance and with sheiks to understand tribal influences and law.
The weather has changed and after a mild April the temperature has risen to 109 degrees.
Semper Fidelis
Kevin Charter”

Ellie