06 December 2008

Camp Al Asad, Iraq

 

Families and Friends of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion,

 

Hello again from Camp Al Asad, Iraq. Since my last letter to you in October, much has occurred

within the battalion. On the 27th of October, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion completed our relief in place &

transfer of authority (RIP/TOA) with 3d Reconnaissance Battalion, which means that we officially assumed

all the duties, responsibilities, facilities, equipment, battlespace, and missions formally held by 3d Recon Bn.

The very next day the battalion was committed to combat operations as part of a larger Marine Air

Ground Task Force to assist U.S. Army forces battling the enemy in Northern Iraq. For the Marines in the

battalion on their second, third, and fourth tours of duty in Iraq, the scenery of Northern Iraq was a welcome

change compared to the heavily populated cities of the Euphrates River Valley in Al Anbar province where

the Marines have operated since 2004. The conditions are spartan, and the weather gets colder each day,

but the Marines are glad to get back to being expeditionary in nature. Below I have included a recent story

from the official Marine Corps website concerning Marine operations in Northern Iraq:

 

Newly formed MAGTF heads north to aid Army in combat operations

 

Story by Cpl. Sean P. McGinty

 

CAMP SINJAR, Iraq – Marines with air, ground and logistics units from Anbar province traveled north to

western Ninewa province recently to support Multi-National Division-North by staunching the flow of

foreign fighters from Syria into Iraq and to defeating the terrorist networks that fled north upon facing

defeat in other areas of Iraq.

Together, the various units from Multi National Force-West form the first Marine Air Ground Task

Force in Iraq operating outside of Anbar’s borders since 2004.

“It is our mission to assist the Government of Iraq in establishing itself as a legitimate

government by disrupting and interdicting foreign fighters and terrorists and restoring the natural rule of

law to Iraq,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. David Cruz, operations chief, I MEF jump command post.

The MAGTF pulls together all the key components of the Marine Corps – command, ground and

aviation combat units and logistics support – to bring the full weight of the Marine air-ground team in to

the fight against the insurgency in western Ninewa.

“What we’re seeing here is the beauty of the Marine Air Ground Task Force, and what the Marine

Corps brings to the fight,” said Col. Robert O. Sinclair, assistant chief of staff of operations, Multi National

Force-West.

As MND-North battles al-Qaida in Iraq in the nearby city of Mosul and elsewhere in northern Iraq,

the Marines here are positioned to intercept any terrorist or foreign fighters that are trying to flee or enter

the city.

“As MND-N continues the fight, we are establishing a presence to disrupt the enemy travelling in

and out of Mosul,” said Sinclair, a 47-year-old infantry officer from Seattle, Wash.

One sure way to succeed in this mission is a return to the Corps’ expeditionary roots, said

Sinclair. In the past five-years in Anbar, the Marines have been filling a primarily static role in Anbar. In

Ninewa, the Marines are going operate according to their traditional expeditionary nature.

“The Marine Corps has always been expeditionary, it’s what allows us to get what needs to be

done when and where it needs to be done,” said Cruz, a 42-year-old from Chicago, Ill. “Out here, we’re

not limited to a forward operating base, we’re outside the wire, being expeditionary in order to accomplish

our mission.”

With the Corps’ combined-arms capabilities coupled with proficient logistics support, this team of

Marines is well prepared to handle the mission in Nineweh, said Sinclair, the officer in charge of Op-DAN

II.

“This is the first time Marines have come here, and this is the largest force that’s ever been up

here,” said Sinclair. “What we have is the power of the MAGTF, and it’s very much welcomed by MNDNorth.”

“This is a joint venture,” said Cruz. “The enemy knows we’re here, and the Coalition and Iraqi

Forces are going to work together to force the enemy to expose themselves. And from there, we’ll do what

Marines do best.”

 

Your Marines and Sailors have performed magnificently, whether as part of a recon team reporting

on the enemy, or working long hours supporting those men with the critical operational, logistical, admin,

and intelligence support necessary for the battalion to complete our mission. In addition to combat

operations, the men not “outside the wire” conduct normal refresher training everyday ranging from weapons

firing, physical training, and classroom instruction. We have also undertaken a massive upgrade project to

improve our battalion command post and motor pool area. Just yesterday, the men of H&S Company

completed a 50’ x 50’ ground fighting pit in our battalion compound so everyone can conduct Marine Corps

Martial Arts Program training. Being stationed aboard Al Asad Airbase, the battalion has taken advantage of

the close proximity of USMC aircraft and initiated a very aggressive airborne training program aboard Al

Asad to hone our skills in this core reconnaissance skill. On November 23d, aboard Al Asad, 1st

Reconnaissance Battalion made Marine Corps history with the first operational forces jumps from the V-22

Osprey. Since October 28, we have conducted a total of 262 training jumps – a staggering number in little

over a month. As a result of this training, the following men have earned the right to proudly wear the “gold

wings” of a Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist:

 

Headquarters & Service Company:

Capt Savatt, Sgt Springer

 

3d Plt, Bravo Company:

Sgt Anderson, Sgt Bradley, Sgt Demoret, Sgt Parker, Sgt Crane, Sgt Foltermann,

Sgt Miller, Sgt Sares, Cpl Haney, Cpl Marvin, Cpl Scott, Cpl Barry, HM3

McSmith, LCpl Zimmerman, LCpl Gedese, LCpl Jerman

 

Additionally, the following Marines and Sailors have been promoted to their present rank:

 

Headquarters & Service Company:

November 2008:

LCpl Blouin, Beau M. promoted to LCpl Nov 1

Sgt Springer, Shawn J. promoted to Sgt Nov 1

Sgt Morin, Kenneth F. promoted to Sgt(Merit) Nov 2

Capt Pax, Jonathan C. promoted to Capt Nov 1

December 2008:

LCpl Taele, Jeanine J. promoted to LCpl Dec 1

Sgt Campbell, Nathan R. promoted to Sgt (Combat Meritorious) Dec 2

SSgt Contreras, Ricardo E. promoted to SSgt Dec 1

HM3 Love, Chaz M. promoted to HM3 Dec 5

 

Bravo Company:

November 2008:

GySgt Davis, Timothy M. promoted to GySgt Nov 1

December 2008:

HM3 Gheyssarieh, Ahryon P. promoted to HM3 Dec 5

 

November 10th saw the battalion celebrate the 233d Marine Corps Birthday with a traditional

ceremony and cake cutting. For Thanksgiving, the chow hall provided quite a spread for the Marines aboard

Al Asad, although the men up north celebrated with more spartan fare. Believe me, MRE turkey and

dressing, although filling, just doesn’t quite live up to home.

As I said in my previous letter to you, your continued support in the form of e-mails and letters are

critical to the morale of the battalion. I reiterate, at times, due to security reasons, the e-mail and

international phones aboard base will secured to all hands – please do not be discouraged if your loved one

cannot contact you on a certain day or time. Also, being recon means being out in the field doing what we

do best – find, fix, and finish the enemy – exactly what a lot of the men are doing as I write this to you. So

again, do not be discouraged should time pass without contact. Later this month we will publish another

battalion “RAIDER REPORT” which will include an update on all the activities of the entire battalion, not just

the portion current deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

As the holidays approach, the men of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion are proud to be serving their

country. We are already beginning to be swamped with care packages – thank you very much for your

generosity. Although it is difficult to be away from family during this time of year, they take great comfort in

knowing that they are serving something greater than their own self interest, and ultimately making this

country, ravaged by years of war, a better place to live for those much less fortunate than all of us.

 

“Non Sibi, Sed Patriae” – “Not for self, but country”

 

Semper Fidelis,

 

M.J. Mooney

LtCol USMC

Commanding Officer