thedrifter
12-07-06, 07:10 AM
December 06. 2006 7:26PM
Iraq study shouldn't stall deployments from Camp Lejeune
By ESTES THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer
A high-level report released Wednesday that concluded President Bush's policies in Iraq have largely failed doesn't appear likely to affect the scheduled deployment early next year of thousands of Marines from Camp Lejeune.
About half of the base's 2nd Marine Division is scheduled be on station in Iraq by early 2007, when Maj. Gen. Walter Gaskin and his staff take over command of American forces in western Iraq from troops based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. The report issued Wednesday by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group concluded most American combat forces should leave Iraq by early 2008.
Gaskin commands the Camp Lejeune-based 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force-Forward. In all, he will lead about 28,000 troops when he takes over the region that includes the city of Fallujah. Another 10,000 Iraqi soldiers will be assigned to work with the Americans.
"I guess it's always subject to change," said Lt. Col. Curtis Hill, a spokesman for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force. "That's the great thing about Marines - we're well trained, we're well led and we're flexible."
The first group of Marines from Camp Lejeune are scheduled to leave this month, starting with an advance party that deploys this weekend.
"The focus for this tour differs from previous deployments in that we are directly supporting Iraqi army and police forces as they conduct counterinsurgency operations and enforce the rule of law," said Col. Herman Clardy, commander of the Camp Lejeune-based Regimental Combat Team 2.
Clardy's unit will join another ground combat team from Camp Lejeune, an Army Brigade Combat Team from Fort Stewart, Ga., and at least two Marine battalions from Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Airplanes and helicopters will come from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, which has bases in North Carolina and Beaufort, S.C. Additional support will come from the Hawaii-based 30th Naval Construction Regiment.
Army units from North Carolina's Fort Bragg also have soldiers in Iraq and a major unit of the 82nd Airborne Division plans to leave for Afghanistan in January. The 82nd has about 6,000 paratroopers, including its helicopter crews, in Iraq and some will be there until next summer, said division spokesman Maj. Tom Earnhardt.
Ellie
Iraq study shouldn't stall deployments from Camp Lejeune
By ESTES THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer
A high-level report released Wednesday that concluded President Bush's policies in Iraq have largely failed doesn't appear likely to affect the scheduled deployment early next year of thousands of Marines from Camp Lejeune.
About half of the base's 2nd Marine Division is scheduled be on station in Iraq by early 2007, when Maj. Gen. Walter Gaskin and his staff take over command of American forces in western Iraq from troops based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. The report issued Wednesday by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group concluded most American combat forces should leave Iraq by early 2008.
Gaskin commands the Camp Lejeune-based 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force-Forward. In all, he will lead about 28,000 troops when he takes over the region that includes the city of Fallujah. Another 10,000 Iraqi soldiers will be assigned to work with the Americans.
"I guess it's always subject to change," said Lt. Col. Curtis Hill, a spokesman for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force. "That's the great thing about Marines - we're well trained, we're well led and we're flexible."
The first group of Marines from Camp Lejeune are scheduled to leave this month, starting with an advance party that deploys this weekend.
"The focus for this tour differs from previous deployments in that we are directly supporting Iraqi army and police forces as they conduct counterinsurgency operations and enforce the rule of law," said Col. Herman Clardy, commander of the Camp Lejeune-based Regimental Combat Team 2.
Clardy's unit will join another ground combat team from Camp Lejeune, an Army Brigade Combat Team from Fort Stewart, Ga., and at least two Marine battalions from Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Airplanes and helicopters will come from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, which has bases in North Carolina and Beaufort, S.C. Additional support will come from the Hawaii-based 30th Naval Construction Regiment.
Army units from North Carolina's Fort Bragg also have soldiers in Iraq and a major unit of the 82nd Airborne Division plans to leave for Afghanistan in January. The 82nd has about 6,000 paratroopers, including its helicopter crews, in Iraq and some will be there until next summer, said division spokesman Maj. Tom Earnhardt.
Ellie