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Delivering quality information on the 1st Marine Logistics Group

March 1, 2013 Volume 7 Issue 2

7th ESB Marines train with grenades

COMMANDING GENERALBrig. Gen. John J. Broadmeadow

SERGEANT MAJORSgt. Maj. Richard D. Thresher

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICERS1st Lt. Tyler Morrison2nd Lt. Savannah Moyer2nd Lt. Colleen McFadden

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CHIEFStaff Sgt. Miguel Carrasco

COMBAT CORRESPONDENTSCpl. Kenneth JasikCpl. Laura Gauna

CONTACT US: 760-763-7795 1MLG_Public_Affairs@usmc.mil

Cover Page: Corporal Nathaniel Walker, a motor transportation line operator with Alpha Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, throws a dummy grenade as Staff Sgt. Gregory Weber, a motor transportation chief operator with Alpha Co., 7th ESB, 1st MLG, evaluates him, Feb. 14, 2013, aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif. (Photo by: Cpl. Laura Gauna)To view more photos, see page eight.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Wounded, ill, and injured Marines are scheduled to compete in the 2013 Marine Corps Trials here March 1-6.

The Wounded Warrior Regiment will hold the trails for more than 300 Marines from Wounded War-rior Battalion’s East and West, veterans, and international militaries.

Four teams will have the opportunity to compete in seven categories: archery, shooting, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, swimming, cycling, and track and field.

Fifty Marines from the trails will move on to compete on the All-Marine Warrior team against other branches of the armed services in Colorado Springs, Colo., later this year.

Marine Corps trials slated for March

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For more information visit www.woundedwarriorregiment.org.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Dozens of friends and fami-lies gathered at the 22 Area parade deck to welcome home more than 230 Ma-rines and sailors with Com-bat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, at a homecoming, here, Feb. 7.

As the buses approached the parade deck, loved ones welcomed home their troops with teary eyes and open arms.

“I was so excited to see him,” said Guadalupe Mu-

rillo, wife of Staff Sgt. Nor-berto Murillo, an operations chief deployed with CLR-15. “I cannot express how grate-ful I am to have him back. It was hard without him, but things will be better now.”

While deployed, CLR-15 served as the Logistics Com-bat Element for Regional Command Southwest in Hel-mand province, Afghanistan.

The unit planned and co-ordinated 535 combat logis-tics patrols, delivered more than 1.2 million gallons of bulk fuel throughout 60,345 miles of road littered with

improvised explosive devic-es, and supported 152 heli-copter missions.

Ultimately, they helped establish security-force op-erations in the Helmand and Nimroz provinces to effec-tively prepare the Afghan National Security Forces to maintain the lead.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the work our Marines and sailors did,” said Col. Ste-phen Sklenka, command-ing officer, CLR-15. “Our goal was to provide uninter-rupted logistics support that maintained the operational

^ Corporal Dolton J. Volk, a maintenance technician deployed with Combat Lo-gistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, kisses his wife, Brittney, and embraces his 18-month-old daughter, Lily, during a homecoming aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 7, 2013.

Combat Logistics Regiment 15 returns

To view more photos, click here.

Story and photos by:Cpl. Laura Gauna

Staff Writer

^ Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew Foothill, a corpsman deployed with CLR-15, 1st MLG, embraces his wife during a homecoming aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 7, 2013.

< Marines and sailors deployed with CLR-15, 1st MLG, embrace family members dur-ing a homecoming aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 7, 2013.

momentum of the [Interna-tional Security Assistance Force Marine Air-Ground Task Force]. I’d like to think we did just that.”

The next goal for the Ma-rines and sailors of CLR-15 was to spend quality time with their families.

“[This homecoming] means a lot to us,” said Kendra King, wife of Lance Cpl. Travis King, a maintenance Marine de-ployed with CLR-15. “Our son is about to be 15 months. It is so great to finally have him back and have our fam-ily complete.”

Sailor meets daughter for first time

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - After a five-month deployment, flight delays,

seemingly-endless hours of waiting, and an anxious bus ride back, the moment is finally here.

On Feb. 3, Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian Stearns, a dental technician with 1st Den-tal Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, saw his daughter, Jocelynn Marie, for the first time.

Hours passed as they waited for the bus-es, and the tension only grew with time. Suddenly, they appeared, turning the cor-ner of the 22 Area parade deck to meet the cheering crowd.

“When I started to look for him, I could feel tears starting to well up from the an-ticipation and happiness,” said Andrea, Stearns’ wife. “I was so happy for him to meet our daughter and so relieved he had finally made it home.”

After finding him amongst the crowd, Andrea was finally able to pass their three-week-old daughter into her husband’s open arms.

“She looked just like her mother I thought, and I was so happy for that,” said Stearns, a 25-year-old native of Marion, Ill. “I was so excited to meet her in person.”

Stearns couldn’t stop staring at his baby as he cradled her in his arms. He had wait-ed for this moment for quite a while.

During his deployment, Stearns was lo-cated on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, as part of a team that provided health care to operating forces around the camp and forward operating bases.

While Stearns was away, Andrea had the support of friends and family, but she still missed her husband.

“[The deployment] was difficult and dis-appointing in a lot of ways, but I tried to be strong so he would not worry,” shared Andrea. “It was really difficult to adjust after she was born - taking care of her by myself.”

Andrea can now find comfort in know-ing her husband is back.

“Brian has already helped out so much, just supporting me and helping me make it through the sleepless nights,” added An-drea.

Stearns plans to take advantage of the post-deployment leave and enjoy his time as a new father.

“I am just looking forward to spending time with my daughter and relaxing with her,” said Stearns. “I tried to learn as much as possible about how to take care of her before I got home. I would also talk to her [online] so she could get used to the sound of my voice.”

Stearns feels he is ready to take on his new role and is determined to be a great father to his daughter.

^ Petty Officer 2nd Class Brian Stearns, a dental technician with 1st Dental Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, kisses his wife, Andrea, and em-braces his three-week-old daughter, Jocelynn Ma-rie, during a homecoming aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 3, 2013.

Story and photo by: Cpl. Laura Gauna

Staff Writer

Marines and sailors are recognized during award ceremony

^ Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Campbell (left), Petty Officer 2nd Class Aimee Granger, Seaman Ashley Hobbs, Sgt. Delan-do Bradford, Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Harris, Lance Cpl. Michael M. Estes, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Lyons, 1st Marine Logistics Group, were presented various awards during the Marine of the Quarter Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif. Bradford was also recognized as 1st MLG’s Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

Photo by: Cpl. Laura Gauna

Staff Writer

Story and photo by:Cpl. Laura Gauna

Staff Writer

< Charles Johnson, a 64-year-old war vet-eran and a native of Sylmar, Calif., dis-plays his riding vest.

Guard rider will never forget

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. − When a

young soldier returned home from the war in Vietnam in the spring of 1970, there were no welcome-home signs or family members waiting for him.

With little to no communica-tion, a young soldier was often disconnected from his family and bypassed in family matters.

One service member, hours af-ter arriving home, learned of his cousin’s wedding and prepared his uniform for the occasion.

The following day, as he ap-proached the ceremony, three men stopped him and demanded he leave the church because he was not welcome while in uniform. As he swallowed the lump in his throat and turned away in resignation, he

caught his aunt’s gaze as she simply watched him leave.

The memory of that day still haunts Charles Johnson, a 64-year-old war veteran and native of Syl-mar, Calif.

“To experience that kind of di-rect animosity was terrible,” said Johnson. “I didn’t want that to hap-pen to anyone else who came back.”

Now, 40 years later, Johnson is a member of the Patriotic Guard Rid-ers, a diverse union of bikers from across the nation, who have more in common than just motorcycles. They have an unwavering respect for America’s service members.

During their missions, riders will embellish their bikes, buses, or cars in patriotic decorations and lead convoys during welcome-home ceremonies, memorials, veterans’ funerals, departures, and Toys for Tots programs.

These riders act as escorts for the buses of service members re-uniting with their families after a deployment. They also contribute as road guards for mourning fam-ily members as they travel to their fallen service member’s final des-tination. From the instant they land on U.S. soil to the moment the ser-vice members are buried or reunited with loved ones, the Patriotic Guard Riders are there providing any sup-port they can.

For the 300,000 veteran, civil-ian, and active duty participants, it is not about recognition but about service and showing their gratitude for the military members.

Over the last six years, Johnson has completed hundreds of mis-sions with the organization. How-ever, this job is far from easy. There is a lot of planning and coordination that goes into each mission.

“We do it because of our intense patriotism and our desire to give them the welcome home we didn’t get,” said Johnson.

Johnson not only participates in Patriotic Guard Rider missions, but also dedicates his time to bringing public awareness to difficulties that stem from post-traumatic stress dis-order.

“Anyone can do something to help,” said Johnson. “My mission in life is to let people know about it. Let the average citizen know that they can contribute.”

He stresses the fact that a simple thank you to service members can make a difference and that everyone can do their part to support those struggling with the effects of war.

Will he ever stop riding?“They are dying for us, and we

will ride for them until the day we die.”

To see more photos, click here.

Marines fire M32 grenade launcher

Story and photo by: Cpl. Kenneth Jasik

Staff writer

^ A Marine with Engineer Support Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, fires the M32 grenade launcher at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 15, 2013.

To view more photos, click here.

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Ca-lif. - As the Marine Corps returns to its amphibious

roots, Marines with Engineer Support Company, 7th Engineer Support Battal-ion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, train with the M-32 grenade launcher, Feb. 15.

The M32 is a semi-automatic grenade launcher with an optical sight and can fire grenades down range at a higher rate than comparable weapons.

“I like it. It gives me a broad skill set. Instead of just knowing my job and an M16, I get the opportunity to cross-train,” said Lance Cpl. Daniel S. Sher-

man, a water purification specialist with Engineer Support Co., 7th ESB, 1st Ma-rine Logistics Group. “If I’m in a tactical situation, I can utilize whatever weapons are available.”

Marines first shot dummy rounds that detonated into small bursts of smoke when they impacted. Once the engineers were comfortable with their technique, they began firing High Explosive, Dual Purpose rounds.

“The Marines were pretty excited about [the M32],” said 1st Lt. Nicholas S. Bakewell, executive officer, Engineer Support Co., 7th ESB. “It broke the day to day routine, and it was good training.”

The training built upon the various

weapons the Marines already knew, and when they applied the techniques they learned that morning to the M-32, nearly all their shots were on the mark.

“[Every Marine’s] secondary task is a provisional infantryman, so they need to learn about the weapons utilized by an infantry platoon,” said Bakewell.

The Marines understand the criti-cal value of this training. While fun for them, they know it may very well save their lives one day.

“It’s good to learn because if we are in a fight and if I’m put in a situation where I need to use [an M32], I will know what to do,” said Sherman, from Marlbor-ough, Mass.

Story and photo by: Cpl. Laura GaunaStaff writer

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PEND-LETON, Calif. – The events that unfolded on Sept. 11, 2001, shocked the nation. While the tragedy enraged many, countless others were inspired to stand and fight, including one vet-eran who had already been to war and back.

When 9/11 struck, Jim Burke was 55 years old. Following the attack, this Vietnam veteran, who had served in the Marine Corps infantry for 24 years, dropped his day job and returned to military operations.

“I needed to get back,” said Jim Burke, a na-tive of Manhattan, N.Y. “Young men and wom-en were going in harm’s way, and I couldn’t just sit there in silence.”

After a couple of defense jobs in the private sector, Burke took a job with the Marine Corps Center for Lessons Learned, where he provided vital information to service members on vari-ous military topics.

While working with MCCLL, Burke im-proved pre-deployment training programs by providing role players, mountain warfare facili-ties, first aid training, and battlefield props, such as explosives and AK-47 assault rifles.

“I enjoy the opportunity to help Marines,” explained Burke. “In the almost-five decades

that I’ve been involved with the Marine Corps, I’ve seen young Americans excel. I’ve seen the type of people in our Corps, what they do, and how being in the Marine Corps brings out the best in them. That’s why I do what I do.”

MCCLL uses observations, insight, recom-mendations, and lessons learned from Marines on the battlefield or in contingency operations and presents them online or through reports so others can benefit from them. Furthermore, instructors at various military schools are able to see the latest tactics, techniques, and proce-dures with respect to their specializations.

Burke is dedicated to his job and feels it can be very beneficial to Marines all over the world, if only they would seek the information.

“Marines will always figure out a way to solve just about everything,” said Burke. “They don’t like to ask for help. They are very self-reliant and, as a result, they do not use the lessons-learned resources that they have to the degree that they could.”

By returning to the defense field as an MC-CLL representative, Burke is able to reunite with the Marines and promote the use of infor-mation available through the MCCLL program. He also knows the importance of mentorship

and strives to be a strong figure for others to emulate.

“(A good role model) is very important for young Marines,” said Burke. “They can always take something from their leaders. I try to be someone they can look up to.”

In his early years, Burke’s motivation was to prove he could excel in the Marine Corps. As he matured, his focus turned to improving himself to become more of a well-rounded person.

Currently, he wants to prove that he is still a Marine at heart. Recently, he completed an 11-mile hike with several Marines, and even though he was the last person to finish, he was proud to train with them.

Through his 24 years of service, Burke has gained a tremendous amount of knowledge, which he hopes to share with those around him.

“I know America has real enemies and being a Marine is extremely important,” said Burke. “The idea that young men and women come out of high school or college and decide to join the Marines is admirable. What they are doing is defending the American way of life. I want to help them on their journey.”

Burke will continue to serve his country and Marines for as long as he is able.

Vietnam veteran returns to Corps

^ Marines with Alpha Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, train with live grenades during a training exercise, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif.

< Staff Sgt. Gregory Weber, a motor transportation chief opera-tor with Alpha Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Ma-rine Logistics Group, and a 30-year-old native of Portland, Ore., instructs Cpl. Nathaniel Walker, a motor transportation line op-erator with Alpha Co., 7th ESB, 1st MLG, and a 21-year-old native of South Portland, Maine, on the proper method of throwing a grenade, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif.

To view more photos, click here.

< Sgt. Rodrick Dunn, a motor transporta-tion operator with Alpha Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and a 24-year-old native of Hattiesburg, Miss., evaluates a Marine throwing a grenade, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif.

7th ESBTrains with grenades

Photos by Cpl. Laura Gauna

Staff Writer

Feb. 20, 2012

Wm Gordon: “First one to walk on water gets to go home.”Kelsea Jeremy Jones: Formation in 5 minutes.

> Lance Cpl. William Zerr, a bulk fuel specialist with Headquarters and Service Company, 9th Engineer Sup-port Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), checks the fuel gauges at Forward Operating Base Edinburgh Feb. 20, 2012. (photo by Sgt. John Jackson)

^ Marines with Bridge Company, 7th Engineer Sup-port Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, release a piece of a seven-piece Improved Ribbon Bridge into the water during a bridge construction training ex-ercise aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 15, 2012. (photo by Cpl. Khoa Pelczar)

Feb. 15, 2012

James Cothran: “Run! The banjos are getting closer!!!”

Click here to participate

TOP CAPTIONS

Justin Johnson: It’s Appreciate Your Chin-strap Day.Tony Steffen: "Throw the pin, drop the grenade."

TOP CAPTIONSMarisa Hernandez Thresher: "What part of throw the grenade do you not understand!?"

1st MLG social media

Around the Group

The Department of Defense officials announced the new Basic Allowance for Subsistence rates for military members. Enlisted Marines will receive $352.27 a month, up from $348.44 per month this year, and officers will receive $242.60 a month, up from $239.96 in 2012.

The 2013 social security tax increased from 4.2 percent to 6.2 percent. This increase will unfortunately result in a decrease in your pay check.

VITA makes tax time easy

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance center opened its doors on Jan. 30, for service mem-bers, dependants, and retirees interested in processing their tax returns at the VITA office in building 1687 aboard Camp Pendleton.

Upon request, VITA will work remotely by sending its volunteers to individual units to assist service members and their families with their tax-document submissions in their work-spaces. VITA will only be able to provide this service for a limited time.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information, contact the VITA clerk at (760) 763- 2518 or email www.pendleton.ma-rines.mil/Service/IncomeTaxAssistance.aspx.

2013 Basic Pay Chartwww.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitle-

ments/militarypaytables.html

2013 S.S. Tax Increasewww.ssa.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/cola-

facts2013.htm

2013 BAS Rateswww.militarypay.defense.gov/PAY/ALLOWANCES/

bas.aspx

The Eagle Eyes program provides additional eyes and ears in and around the community to provide an increased level of situational awareness for military police and a wider range of protection for the community.

The program provides easy mechanisms for re-porting:

• Call 702-432-EYES• Report suspicious activities online at USMCEagleEyes.org.

All Eagle Eyes reports track IP addresses and a reporting individual’s basic information for at-tribution and all are placed in a TrapWire “hold-ing bucket” for vetting by local users.

Eagle Eyes reports that are transferred into TrapWire are categorized by sector - to include “Education” - for follow-on comparative/trend analysis.

For more information, contact Master Sgt. Bowie Cruz, the operations/law enforcement integration chief with 1st Marine Logistics Group at (760) 725-6348 or email bowie.cruz@usmc.mil.

2013 pay information

Motorcylce Representatives

Contact your unit’s representtive if you are interested in becoming a rider.

CLB-11: Gunnery Sgt. Nguyen 763-0755CLB-13: Gunnery Sgt. Mason 763-0479CLB-15: Gunnery Sgt. Ferguson 725-4437CLC-11: Cpl. Cortez 858-577-9753CLC-16: Sgt. Thretgold 928-269-2578CLR-1: Staff Sgt. Sandoval 763-5486CLB-1: Staff Sgt. Bernardo 725-6159CLB-7: Gunnery Sgt. Ramirez 760-830-7343CLB-5: 1st Lt. Beck 763-1118RMC: Sgt. Williams 725-21171st Med. Bn.: HM1 Tercero 725-33801st Dent. Bn.: GM1 Gaines 725-36357th ESB: Gunnery Sgt. Cordova 763-3414Bulk Fuel Co.: Cpl. Anderson 725-53511st Maint. Bn.: Staff Sgt. Cardon 725-2439

Eagle Eyes Program