II Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs

Story by Cpl. Bobbie A. Curtis

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – For many of the Marines and sailors of Headquarters and Service Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, the 40 feet up seemed way easier than the 40 feet down at Camp Lejeune's rappel tower, Oct. 29.

But, the anxiety caused by plummeting from a 40 foot tower didn't stop anyone from completing what Capt. Jodi Ong, the H&S Co. commander, said was a great opportunity for unit camaraderie and training that most personnel in the company rarely see.

"It provides the Marines an opportunity to do something they don't usually get to do," she said, adding that training evolutions like rappelling keeps Marines and sailors mentally and physically engaged for a warfighting environment.

Ong also said training events give CLR-27 personnel time to train with Marines from other units. On this occasion the Marines worked with helicopter rope suspension training masters from various units including 2nd Recon Battalion, 2nd Marine Division.

The HRST masters assisted the trainees by demonstrating how to prepare the equipment and conduct the techniques used to safely rappel from the tower. Once on the tower, the masters carefully worked with the warfighters to ensure they made it down properly.

Pfc. Forest J. Hensley, a fiscal clerk with the 2nd MLG comptroller office, described working with Marines from other backgrounds as a very eye-opening experience.

"It's great to get out of the office," he said of the event. "It lets you see the entire organization."

"It's cool to come out here to see recon running down the walls and then use the same walls to train," he continued. "It shows how it's one Marine Corps. We all play our part."

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