Photo By Cpl. Antwaun Jefferson | Marine Corps Base Quantico’s Camp Upshur now has a functional medical facility for...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. - The Marines of the Reserve Support Unit are known for doing exactly what their title says: support reserve units that come to Marine Corps Base Quantico from across the country. This time though, the unit has done more than just make sure the needs of reserve units are met. The RSU has improved the quantity and quality in which units go through training.
Within the last six months, Camp Upshur now has a functional medical facility, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program pit, Fartlek Course and an Obstacle Course that is being improved, thanks to the hard work of the RSU and other units around the base.
“When I arrived here, there wasn’t a suitable medical facility set aside and functional for pre-deployment screening,” said Capt. Tommie Williams, department director, RSU. “The Naval Heath Clinic was supportive and essential with their knowledge and equipment to establish our own medical facility.”
After the wiring and electrical components of the building were put in, it took a month for the RSU to locate and transport furniture into the facility. The Material Readiness Branch and Marine Corps Network Operations Support Center provided desks and chairs. Also, leadership from the Naval Health Clinic Quantico provided medical supplies and equipment.
The RSU managed to get things done just in time for more than 800 reservist Marines from all over the country, who came to the base for Quantico Viper in early February for pre-deployment training. Navy personnel from 4th Medical Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, helped with the medical aspects of the training and put finishing touches on the medical facility.
“I was highly impressed with the leadership around the base that helped us quickly get to where we are now with the facility,” said Gunnery Sgt. Benjamin Rivera, logistics chief, RSU.
The RSU teamed up with the Marine Corps Forces Reserves and have completed a new MCMAP Pit at Camp Upshur. There are also bleachers beside the pit, donated by Base Range Management. More bleachers are scheduled to arrive soon. So far the RSU has completed Tan Belt sustainment and testing and will be moving up to the Grey Belt later this week.
The new Fartlek Course, which is advanced workouts that combines running with calisthenics to improve strength, stamina and endurance at individual stations, is also complete.
As for the Obstacle Course, nearly 90 percent of the course has been improved by the RSU and casuals from main side. According to Rivera, Base Maintenance has been helpful with providing wood chips, which currently cover 70 percent of the course. More than 10 trucks loaded with sand and dirt filled in holes on the course.
Cracked and chipped logs have been replaced with new ones. The RSU aims for the course to be completed and certified by Summer.
“My Marines had been tasked with setting up three warehouses, improving the Obstacle Course, helping with the MCMAP pit and finishing the medical facility, with little time to do so,” Rivera said. “And even with the bad weather and other deterrents, by the time reserve units came for the Viper training, we were ready for them. I can proudly say they went above and beyond what they needed to do.”
Even with all this work done or being put into action, the RSU is not finished quite yet. They are currently in the planning stages of building a Leadership Reaction Course. The RSU plans to push forward on that task throughout the summer.
| Date Taken: | 03.09.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.11.2013 16:04 |
| Story ID: | 103277 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 478 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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