.Coalition Forces continue to decrease footprint throughout eastern Anbar
RAMADI, Iraq – The number of coalition installations is dropping steadily throughout the eastern part of Iraq’s Anbar province as Coalition Forces continue to hand over authority of combat outposts to Iraqi Security Forces.
As part of this ongoing process, Marines with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, said farewell to their former home at Combat Outpost Karama, a few miles east of Ramadi, after demilitarizing the post Feb. 22.
The improved capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces in Anbar have made it increasingly unnecessary for Coalition Forces to maintain a heavy footprint across the province. Since RCT-6’s return to Iraq in January, they have demilitarized five locations and turned over 17 entry control points, forward operating bases, and combat outposts to Iraqi Security Forces.
The term demilitarize refers to the removal of all military equipment from an area manned by Coalition Forces. Barriers, watch posts, generators and hygiene equipment are extracted and the area is turned over to Iraqi Security Forces.
“I’m probably the only one who would say this, but I’m really going to miss this place,” said Lance Cpl. William Galentine, a mortarman who has the distinction of being the youngest Marine with Weapons Company. “We got to help [Iraqis] and support Iraqi Police. How many people back home can say they’ve helped a country?”
Heavy-equipment operators with Combat Logistics Company 51, Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, arrived at 9 a.m., and immediately began working. A military all-terrain crane hooked its chains to a reinforced-steel watch post and lifted it onto a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement 7-ton truck. While the crane removed one watch post, a wheeled-front loader with a forklift attachment, grabbed hold of another and lifted it out of position. For nearly three hours, the combat outpost was a demolition zone, crowded with heavy-equipment vehicles and Marines using hand and arm signals to instruct the drivers where to maneuver.
When the dust settled, little evidence of military activity was left. Gear, such as gym equipment, mattresses and desks, were handed over to Iraqi Police and everything else was transported to Weapons Company’s new home aboard Camp Ramadi.
“Seeing these barriers come down and the watch posts being removed was one of the greatest feelings I’ve had since we’ve been deployed,” said Lance Cpl. Andrew Ziemer, an infantryman with Mobile Assault Platoon 4, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines.
The company has been occupying the COP since August 2008, when they first arrived in theater.
“This is the second COP we’ve [demilitarized] in less than one month and all the gear we are able to provide Iraqi Police with, we gladly hand over,” said 1st Lt. Phil Vrska, assistant logistics operations section officer in charge for 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines.
Not only is demilitarizing a sign of the progress made by Iraqi Security Forces, it is a chance to remove military equipment and leave the area the way we found it, said Vrska.
Fightin'6th Marines
As part of this ongoing process, Marines with Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, said farewell to their former home at Combat Outpost Karama, a few miles east of Ramadi, after demilitarizing the post Feb. 22.
The improved capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces in Anbar have made it increasingly unnecessary for Coalition Forces to maintain a heavy footprint across the province. Since RCT-6’s return to Iraq in January, they have demilitarized five locations and turned over 17 entry control points, forward operating bases, and combat outposts to Iraqi Security Forces.
The term demilitarize refers to the removal of all military equipment from an area manned by Coalition Forces. Barriers, watch posts, generators and hygiene equipment are extracted and the area is turned over to Iraqi Security Forces.
“I’m probably the only one who would say this, but I’m really going to miss this place,” said Lance Cpl. William Galentine, a mortarman who has the distinction of being the youngest Marine with Weapons Company. “We got to help [Iraqis] and support Iraqi Police. How many people back home can say they’ve helped a country?”
Heavy-equipment operators with Combat Logistics Company 51, Combat Logistics Battalion 5, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, arrived at 9 a.m., and immediately began working. A military all-terrain crane hooked its chains to a reinforced-steel watch post and lifted it onto a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement 7-ton truck. While the crane removed one watch post, a wheeled-front loader with a forklift attachment, grabbed hold of another and lifted it out of position. For nearly three hours, the combat outpost was a demolition zone, crowded with heavy-equipment vehicles and Marines using hand and arm signals to instruct the drivers where to maneuver.
When the dust settled, little evidence of military activity was left. Gear, such as gym equipment, mattresses and desks, were handed over to Iraqi Police and everything else was transported to Weapons Company’s new home aboard Camp Ramadi.
“Seeing these barriers come down and the watch posts being removed was one of the greatest feelings I’ve had since we’ve been deployed,” said Lance Cpl. Andrew Ziemer, an infantryman with Mobile Assault Platoon 4, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines.
The company has been occupying the COP since August 2008, when they first arrived in theater.
“This is the second COP we’ve [demilitarized] in less than one month and all the gear we are able to provide Iraqi Police with, we gladly hand over,” said 1st Lt. Phil Vrska, assistant logistics operations section officer in charge for 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines.
Not only is demilitarizing a sign of the progress made by Iraqi Security Forces, it is a chance to remove military equipment and leave the area the way we found it, said Vrska.
Fightin'6th Marines
posted by madtom at 8:33 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home