150,000-gallon fuel farm and eight water purificationunits.

As coalition forces started the transitioried to securityand stability operations, the 6th Engineer SupportBattalion returned to Kuwait on 29 April 2003. DuringOperation Iraqi Freedom, the battalion built 90 miles ofthe bulk fuel hose reel system and pumped 8 million gal-lons of fuel. The unit also dispensed 16.5 million gallonsof fuel and produced 4.5 million gallons of water.

Bridge Company A,6th Engineer Support Battalion

The 6th Commumcation Battalion augmented I MEF's communication and information tech-nology network during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

of Baghdad. At this location, the water purification unitsproduced 55,000 gallons of water, and the constructionof a 300,000-gallon fuel farm supported all military unitsin the area. Additionally, showers and hygiene areaswere set up at the site in support of the coalition forcesin Baghdad.

On 19 April, the 6th Engineer Support Battalion setup sites for water production, storage, and fuel at Al Kutairfield, which was later named Supporting Area Geiger.The bulk fuel site consisted of a 300,000-gallon fuel farmwhile the reverse osmosis water purification Units pro-vided water to Task Force Tarawa. Additionally, the bat-talion established Resupply and Replenishment PointEdson in the vicinity of Ad Diwaniyah, which included a

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On 20 March 2003, Bridge Company A advancedwith Task Force Tarawa through the breach site in south-ern Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thecompany moved 85 vehicles of bridging assets andheavy equipment 60 miles from Kuwait to LogisticsSupport Area Viper, Iraq. Providing I MEF much neededbridge support, the unit built a 22-bay, double story,

LCpI Martin Fulgenclo, a hygiene equipment operator with Utilities Platoon, 6th EngineerSupport Battalion, pours water into a 3,000 gallon bag from the canal behind him.

This supported the 1st Marine Division's rapid movementnorth toward Baghdad. On 18 April 2003, the companyparticipated in convoy operations between Resupply andReplenishment Point Chesty and Resupply andReplenishment Point 26.

On 22 April, Bridge Company A moved operationsand assisted in general engineering missions at the AlKut Airfield. The unit conducted road sweeps for unex-ploded ordnance, assisted explosive ordnance disposal inthe destruction of unexploded ordnance, improved facili-ties at the Al Kut Airfield, conducted convoy operations,and improved a British grave site in the center of Al Kut.

6th Motor Transport Battalion

Water is pumped into 3,000-gallon bags from a fresh water source along the Euphrates River,April2003. The water is then pumped into nine reverse osmosis water purification units to bepurified, tested, and stored in 50,000-gallon bags and distributed for consumption. This pic-ture is taken near LSA Viper, which served as the headquarters of the 1st Force ServiceSupport Group Forward Element.

medium girder bridge in the vicinity of the EuphratesRiver while weathering major sandstorms on 25 March.

On 4 April, Bridge Company A provided RCT-5 analternate crossing site at the Tigris River outside of AlKut by employing a 20-bay improved floating bridge.

The 6th Motor Transport Battalion from Red Bank,New Jersey, was activated from seven reserve sites with-in four days and processed for deployment within 12days. Upon arrival at Camp Pendleton, California, thebattalion was organized into four companies and inte-grated into the 1st Transportation Support Group, 1stForce Service Support Group. The new organization wasstructured into the following units: Headquarters andService Company, Light Company, Heavy Company, andGeneral Support (Bulk Liquid) Company.

Once in theater, some elements of 6th MotorTransport Battalion were tasked out to the 6th, 7th, and8th Engineer Support Battalions in direct support of the IMarine Expeditionary Force Engineer Group. The rest ofthe battalion provided support to the landing force shoreparty and surge drivers moving equipment from theMaritime Pre-positioning offload location in Kuwait to

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receiving area and supply transfer lot was created foroffloading convoys from the Marine Logistics Commandin Kuwait. From 21 March to 30 April 2003, detachmentsfrom the 6th Motor Transport Battalion sewed atSupporting Area Edson, Supporting Area Geiger,Resupply and Replenishment Point Chesty, and LogisticsSupport Area Viper moving supplies to and from thefront lines.

In summary, the 6th Motor Transport Battalion trav-eled more than 1.3 million miles, hauling more than5,000 short tons of ammunition, 7 million gallons of fueland water, and 13,000 troops, without any significantinjuries or incidents.

PFC Kenneth Cam/i® performsa chlorine test prior to dispens-ing water at LSA Viper. Apr/I2003.

the arrival assembly operations group. To meet an ever-increasing operational tempo, arrangements were madefor contracting host nation support vehicles. The 6thMotor Transport Battalion implemented a host nationsupport licensing program and a tracking system thataccounted for tile civilian vehicle fleet.

After crossing the line of departure into battle, the6th Motor Transport Battalion provided logistical supportthroughout the theater. The battalion staff established aforward combat service support operations center atLogistical Support Area Viper for the 1st TransportationSupport Group. In further missions, the 6th MotorTransport Battalion set up forward support operations atSupporting Area Anderson. At this location, a convoy

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6th Communications Battalion

In January 2003, the 6th Communications Battalionwas activated for operations in Southwest Asia. On SFebruary, the battalion departed the Reserve TrainingCenter, Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, New York, forCamp Lejeune, North Carolina, where the unit conductedadditional classes in battle skills and communicationstraining. After completing medical requirements, the bat-talion departed for Kuwait from the Marine Corps AirStation, Cherry Point, North Carolina.

After arriving in Kuwait, the unit moved to CampCommando and established a temporary command postnext to the I MEF communication and control center.This temporary facility provided the staff with vital dataand tactical telephone services. Once digital and voiceservices were set up in the northern camp, a battaliontechnical operations center was established.

SSgt Michael 0. Fay, illustrates the operations of the 6th Communication Battalion at CampBabylon.

A close working relationship was established withthe 9th Communications Battalion from t MEF. Both bat-talions worked together through an intensive counter-part training program for all communication and servicerelated occupational specialties. The training covered thefollowing functional areas: operational relief of commu-nication control watches, voice switching operations,ground mobilization force teams, and single channelradio operations. The Marines of the 6thCommunications Battalion augmented the 9thCommunications Battalion staff and integrated into the IMEF communication and control center and the watchrotations for the battalion technical operations center.This strengthened situational awareness and developedspecific communication control skills.

Ground mobilization force teams deployed in sup-port of 3d MAW at Al Jaber Air Base and the 1st ForceService Support Group forward command post in thevicinity of Camp Coyote, Kuwait. The ground mobiliza-tion force teams with the forward element of the 1stForce Service Support Group command post made sub-sequent displacements to the Jatibah forward operatingbase and then to Ad Diwaniyah during Operation IraqiFreedom. Additional Marines were assigned to the HealthService Battalions in the 1st Force Service Support Groupserving as radio operators and providing generator andair conditioning support. The battalion also provided tac-tical satellite operators to 3d ANGLICO, as part of the lat-ter's liaison mission with the United Kingdom's 1stArmored Division.

With the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, thebattalion executed numerous missions, some of whichlasted until the unit's departure from theater in August.The battalion augmented the command and control sys-tems of I MEF by employing a conceptual communica-tion platform known as the preliminary first in commandand control system, which provided the commandinggeneral video teleconferencing capability and the use ofsecret and unclassified data services at his forward com-mand post.

The preliminary first in command and control sys-tem concept was developed at the Marine Corps TacticalSystems Support Activity and was specifically requestedby the communications officer for I MEF as part of thecommand and control system for the commanding gener-al's command post. The 6th Communications Battalionreceived the mission of rapidly getting this system opera-tional using only technical publications and organic tech-

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nical support. Since this was a concept system construct-ed from various off-the-shelf commercial products, therewas very little guidance available in the way of doctrinalpublications or technical manuals. Despite the difficul-ties, the unit was successful in standing up the systemused by I MEF, which became the central communica-tions component for the commanding general.

As combat operations began, the 6thCommunications Battalion provided personnel, equip-ment, and professional expertise throughout I MEF'soperational area. They provided radio systems .and per-sonnel, which allowed communication between thelogistics movement command center and the 1st ForceService Support Group. They also contributed personneland equipment that provided I MEF both voice and dataservices with coalition forces. This included a satellitelink with the United Kingdom's 1st Armored Divisionthat established a secondary path for data and voice cir-cuits. Finally, 6th Communications Battalion developed acommunications plan supporting the renovation andreactivation of the South Rumaylah oilfield infrastructureby government contracting firms. This assisted the IMarine Expeditionary Force Engineer Group in conduct-ing civil affairs operations in this area.

4th Landing Support Battalion

The 4th Landing Support Battalion from Fort Lewis,Washington, was mobilized in January 2003 and its sub-ordinate commands performed a spectrum of tasks fromcontrolling the air and ship movements at airfields andports in the United States to providing logistical support

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to I MEF in Kuwait and Iraq. The Headquarters andService Company of the 4th Landing Support Battalionfonned the foundation for Combat Service SupportBattalion 13, which moved to Kuwait in support of 3dMAW. Combat Service Support Battalion 13 establishedits headquarters at Al Jaber, Kuwait, and directed theoperations of Combat Service Support Companies 133,134, and 135. The 4th Landing Support Battalion alsohad Marines directing airfield and port operations onboth the East and West Coasts. These Marines wereresponsible for the movement of personnel and equip-ment to and frbm Kuwait.

4th Medical Battalion

The 4th Medical Battalion from San Diego,California, activated 563 personnel in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom. The unit was attached to theHealth Service Battalion of the 1st Force Service SupportGroup. By mid-April 2003, the 4th Medical Battalion wason station at Camp Okinawa, which was a sub-campinside Camp Coyote, Kuwait. While in Kuwait, the 4thMedical Battalion assumed control of the surgical coinpa-ny hospital and treated more than 1,500 patients during athree week period. On 11 June 2003, all but 87 sailorsreturned to Camp Pendleton, California. The remainingpersonnel supported the forward resuscitative surgicalsystems in the following locations: An Hillah, Al Kut, AsSamawah, and Tillal. The battalion staff also set up shocktrauma platoons in Al Kut, Karbala, Hillah, Najaf, and AdDiwaniyah. Additionally, a forward resuscitative surgicalsystems team and shock trauma platoon was established

at Camp Iwo Jima, Kuwait, in support of retrogradingpersonnel. The last element of the 4th Medical Battalionin Iraq and Kuwait returned to Camp Pendleton in mid-October 2003. Personnel that did not deploy toSouthwest Asia supported the Alaskan Roads exerciseand augmented the 1st Medical Battalion, 1st ForceService Support Group (Rear) at Camp Pendleton.

s the war on terrorism focused on SaddamHussein's regime in Iraq, the Marine CorpsReserve made an essential contribution to the

war fighting effort. This was clearly articulated in thestudy conducted by the Reserve Combat AssessmentTeam entitled: "Marine Corps Reserve Forces InOperation Iraqi Freedom."

The assessment team noted that, "the Marine Corps'reserve forces were one of the great success stories ofthe war. They showed that they were skilled warfighterswho could perform as advertised—muster, train, deploy,and fight—and do it, not as second stringers who wouldsuffice in an emergency, but as highly motivated, highlycompetent Marines." As I MEF launched combat opera-tions, Marine reserve units were deployed with theground, aviation, and combat service support elements.Additionally, many reserves served as individual aug-

Marines from 2d Battalion, 25thMarines, field-tested the MK 47,40mm Advanced LIghtweightGrenade Machine Gun at CampLejeune, North Carolina.

mentees and filled important roles in staff sectionsthroughout I MEF. The Marine Corps Reserve under-scored its significance as an expeditionary organizationand served a vital role in the total force concept. As theReserve Combat Assessment Team expressed in its study,the Marine Corps Reserve 'not only performed homelandsecurity missions, but also augmented and reinforced theactive duty component "in their expeditionary role as thenation's 911 force."

When comparing the role and impact of the MarineCorps Reserve prior to Operation Desert Shield/DesertStorm (1990 to 1991) to the eve of Operation IraqiFreedom, the reserves occupied a more substantial rolein the augmentation of the active forces prior to thecommencement of combat operations. Before OperationDesert Shield/Desert Storm, Marine Corns policy outlinedthat there would be no requirement for reserve forcesupport during the first 60 days of conflict. In prepara-tion for Operation Iraqi Freedom, the reserves were acti-vated and employed extensively prior to combat opera-tions.

The experience of Operation Desert Shield/DesertStorm and subsequent mobilizations convinced plannersthat reserve augmentation was essential to the MarineCorns warfighting capability in meeting the assigned mis-

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sion. This important step forward reinforced the criticalnature of the reserves in the Marine Corps total forceconcept. Subsequently, a key change from OperationDesert Shield/Desert Storm to Operation Iraqi Freedomwas that Marine planners accepted from the initial plan-fling stages that reserve units would be involved.

Marine Corps Reserves and the Total Force

Due to the numerous global commitments of theactive duty Marine Corps prior to 11 September 2001, asignificant need existed for reserve augmentation. As the

Reserves Activated for Operation Iraqi Freedom

Source: HQMC RA; EFCAT-R calculations. Data as of May 2003.

Global War on Terrorism unfolded, the need for reserveaugmentation was even greater. The study conducted bythe Reserve Combat Assessment Team revealed that dur-ing Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, the MarineCorps activated 63 percent of its reserve component.Subsequently, for Operation Iraqi Freedom, the MarineCorps acti.vated 48 percent of its reserve force.

Sgt Jeffery Rand (right) from the 3d Civil Affairs Group andArmy Sgt Nick Clone (left) from the 304th Civil Affairs Battalionavoiding enemy fire in karbala, July 2003.

Assessment Teamwere that unit mobilizations were rapid and smooth,generally taking five total days after reporting for activa-tion. Marine reserve units deployed rapidly and arrivedwhen required. Finally, 99 percent of the personnel inthe reserve units reported for duty and 98 percent ofthem were medically fit. Less than .5 percent of themrequested some sort of waiver for exemption.

Active Duty Commanders Assessment

The overall contribution and performance of theMarine Corps Reserve has been an essential part of theMarine Corps' ability to maintain its role as the nation'spremier force in readiness. In the process of mobilizingand deploying individuals and units, there have beensome definite growing pains where difficulties and chal-lenges revealed areas needing great improvement.However, the overall performance of the reserves is bestarticulated in the comments of several general officers inthe study conducted by the Reserve Combat AssessmentTeam. The Commandant of the Marine Corps, GeneralMichael W. Hagee, said that, "our Marine reservists areMarines first and there was absolutely no difference inperformance—on the ground, in the air, in logistics."Lieutenant General James T. Conway, the commanding

Some othernoteworthyachievementsillustrated in thestudy by theReserve Combat

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general of I Marine Expeditionary Force, noted, "Wecould not have done what we did without the reserves."Finally, Brigadier General Richard F. Natonski, the com-mander of Task Force Tarawa, stated, "I can't sayenough for the reserves ... they were every bit as goodas the active forces and proved it time and time again, incombat and Phase IV [security and stability] operations.Our reserve was envied as much by the army as ourMarine air-ground task force capability."

Skills Provided from Civilian Experience

A unique factor that was very consistent with theactivated reserves was how their civilian professionsgreatly enhanced their military contribution. An exampleof this is the employment of 3d Battalion, 23d Marines,and 2d Battalion, 25th Marines, in the rebuilding of Iraqipolice forces in their respective areas of Al Kut and An

Marines from 1st Marine Corps Recruiting District, Public Affairs Office New York, and 2dBattalion, 25th Marines, stand with New York City rescue workers in front of a flag that flewover the World made Center.

After reactivating the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism), Gen James L. Jones(far left), 32d Commandant of the Marine Corps, stands with the current commander, BGenDouglas O'Dell, Jr., (fourth from the right) and former commanding generals of the 4th MEB,which include former Commandants Gen Alfred M. Gray (tar fight) and Gen Carl E. Mundy(second from the right).

Nasiriyah. Both units had a significant number of Marineswith extensive professional backgrounds in law enforce-ment. Their civilian skills were invaluable in meeting themission requirements. Additionally, two Marine reserveaerial refueler transport squadrons (VMGR's 234 and 452)provided almost 90 percent of the aircrews for assaultsupport missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Many ofthe pilots in these squadrons flew for commercial airlinesin their civilian line of work. The Reserve CombatAssessment Team noted in its study, "The reservesquadron crews had more current qualifications and had,on average, 800 more flight hours than the active dutycrews." Finally, many of the medical personnel in the 4thMedical Battalion had extensive experience in the civilianhealth care industry. This civilian experience was diverseand varied throughout many disciplines of health careand proved relevant in the application of wartime medi-cine.

IndividualAugmentees

The Marine Corps was able to identify, mobilize,and deploy large numbers of individual augmentees forstaff positions at various command levels throughout the

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operating forces. Commanders typically spoke highly ofreserves that were activated from Individual MobilizationAugmentee detachments and the Marine ExpeditionaryForce Augmentation Command Elements. Marinereserves composed 60 percent of the personnel in the IMEF Combat Operations Center and 40 percent of theCombined Joint Task Force-Consequence Managementcommand in Kuwait.

The reserves in the Headquarters element of the 4thMAW provided a detachment to the 3d MAW and servedas liaison to the Coalition Air Operation Center withinthe United States Central Command. The reserves of the4th Force Service Support Group detachments successful-ly integrated into the 1st Force Service Support Groupstaff and the Marine Logistics Command established inKuwait by the commander and staff of the 2d ForceService Support Group.

Marines from the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion light up the night skies at theShoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia, during a night-fire exercise, October2003.

1st Battalion, 25th Marines, and Company C,4th Light Armor Reconnaissance

he 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, was taskedwith the unit deployment mission in supportof the III Marine Expeditionary Force from

June to December 2003. The battalion was activated in

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January 2003 and quickly setup headquarters, work-spaces, and barracks atCamp Lejeune, NorthCarolina. In February 2003,the battalion focused onnuclear, biological, andchemical training; martialarts skills; swim qualifica-tions; vehicle licensing; andinfantry training at the fireteam, squad, and platoonlevel. The infantry trainingplaced emphasis on militaryoperations in urban terrain

Marines with Weapons Company, TatBattalion, 25th Marines, conduct fire sup-port training with Philippine Marines inthe exercise Talon Vision. Pictured hereare Marines firing 81mm mortars.

LCpI Cody Roberts from Company C, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, talks witha Royal Thai Marine Commando during a break from a live fire exercise, June 2003.

for the East Coast.Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen Michael W Ha gee presents Petty Officer 2d ClassEdward Kern, 1/SN corpsman, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, with a Navy Achievement Medal In April 2003, the bat-during an awards ceremony atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, the site of a legendary World talion assumed the roles ofWar II campaign in 1945.

air contingency battalionSgt David Rohde, a platoon guide with 4thand riot control. The unit prepared for the role as the Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, and quick reaction forcedeploying infantry battalion of the air contingency aligns his sights priorto training inAustraJia.

and also participated inMarine air-ground task force for the IT Marine Exercise Sharp Wedge withExpeditionary Force as well as the quick reaction force the U.S. Navy mobile con-Cpl Kevin A. Boswel/, Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Chief, Headquarters and struction battalions. TheSent/ce Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, instructs Marines of Company A on how to battalion also providedproperly remove the mission oriented protective posture gear, or MOPP gear, after beingexposed to a chemical or biological agent; support for the two-week

evaluation of the tacticalunmanned guided vehicle,known as "Gladiator." Thebattalion received trainingfrom the SpecialOperations Training Groupin the use of non-lethalweapons and participated

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Marines from 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, render honors to the flag during the Ted Williams memorial san'-ice at Boston's Fen way Park, 22 July 2002. Williams, a former Marine pilot and Hall of Fame baseball player,died 5 July 2002.

in military operations in urban terrain exercises. On 30April, the unit received the tasking as the deploying bat-talion for the unit deployment rotation in Okinawa inJune.

In May 2003, the battalion went through a MarineCorps combat readiness evaluation held by 6th Marines,and in June, deployed to Okinawa completing aturnover with 2d Battalion, 7th Marines. Company C, 4thLight Armor Reconnaissance Battalion, which justreturned from Operation Iraqi Freedom, joined the bat-talion in Okinawa.

During the deployment to Okinawa, 1st Battalion,25th Marines, and Company C, 4th Light ArmorReconnaissance Battalion, participated in the JointSpecial Operations Task Force-Philippines and the fol-

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lowing exercises: Ulchi Focus Lens in Korea, TalonVision in the Philippines, Southern Frontier in Australia,and Khaan-Quest in Mongolia. In December 2003, 1stBattalion, 25th Marines, turned over the unit deploymentmission to 3d Battalion, 4th Marines, and returned to theUnited States.

s the attacks of 11 September 2001 linger inthe American memory, the nation's expedi-tionary force in readiness serves in the van-

guard of the fight against terrorism. The Marine Corps

responded in various waysfrom the citizen-Marines likeCaptain Armas, SergeantMajor Curtain, GunnerySergeant Garvey, SergeantAnaya, and Corporal Tallonto the Marine CornsEmergency PreparednessLiaison Officers that assistedthe Federal EmergencyManagement Agency in crisismanagement and disastercontrol activities in New York

and Washington, D.C. The Marines of Marine FighterAttack Squadron 321 quickly assembled their aircrewsand aircraft and provided vital combat air patrols in thedefense of the nation's capital as the United States antici-pated more commercial airline attacks, which fortunatelynever materialized.

When President George W. Bush made the decisionto take the fight to Al Qaeda and terrorist sponsoringregimes such as the Taliban in Afghanistan and SaddamHussein's Iraq, the Marine Corps met the challenge. Thecombat readiness of active ditty and reserve forcesproved essential in meeting the demands placed on theMarine Corps. As Marine expeditionary units moved into

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the Arabian Sea and launched forces inland toAfghanistan, reserve squadrons of KC-130 aircraftstrengthened the aviation refueling and assault supportrequirement necessary to accomplish the mission. Withthe capture and transport of terrorist detainees, reserveinfantry units rapidly augmented the guard force dutiesat Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

As Marine expeditionary units deployed with agreater demand on heavy lift capability, reserve CH-53Ehelicopter squadrons filled the need and provided vitalsupport to air operations in Southwest Asia and theHorn of Africa. As terrorist activity developed in theHorn of Africa, reserve logistics and infantry units estab-lished the command logistics element, which supportedthe combined joint task force command created specifi-cally for the detection and destruction of internationalterrorism in the region.

In preparation for the war against Iraq, the MarineCorps recognized the vital role served by the reserves inOperations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and madeplans that incorporated reserve units and individual aug-mentees well in advance of the start of combat opera-tions. Marine reserves served extensively in each of theelements of the Marine air-ground task force during

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Operation Iraqi Freedom. Reserve infantry, aviation,logistics, and civil affairs units served widely throughoutI MEF and the theater of operations.

Meanwhile, as much of America's attention focuseson the Global War on Terrorism, the nation still main-tains its global commitments that existed before 11September 2001. The Marine Corps filled the demand fora ground force combat element in the unit deploymentrotation to the III Marine Expeditionary Force by sendinga reserve infantry battalion and light armor reconnais-sance company from June to December 2003.

Reminiscent of the legendary World War I recruitingposters of "First in the Fight," and "The Spirit of 1917,"today's Marine Corps Reserve continues its long-standingtradition of meeting the nation's call to arms in its serv-ice alongside the active duty component, forming apotent warfighting machine, From the Battle of BelleauWood to current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq,Marine reserves have distinguished themselves as anintegral part of the Marine Corps' total force, As theMarine Corps Reserve moves into its ninth decade, itsserving citizens along with their active duty counterpartscontinue the tradition of meeting the nation's clarion callof "Tell That To The Marines."

aj Thomas W.Crecca hasserved as an

artillery and logisticsofficer. He received aBachelor of Arts degreein Histoiy fromWittenberg Universityand a Master's degfeein Military History fromthe University of Leedsin the United Kingdom.