Photo By Lance Cpl. Tyler Andersen | Marines with 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company form a circle around Maj. Gen....... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – Major Gen. Raymond C. Fox recently presented 8th Communication Battalion and 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company with the Lt. Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller Outstanding Leadership Award during ceremonies aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune April 21 and 22, respectively.
The Chesty Puller Award is awarded annually to small, medium and large units within II Marine Expeditionary Force that have demonstrated superior performance over the past year.
Lieutenant Col. Joseph Delany, the 8th Comm. Bn. commanding officer, said his battalion was awarded in the large unit category for providing exceptional communication support to units in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. The unit also supported the 22nd, 24th, and 26th Marine Expeditionary Units, as well as numerous exercises and operations aboard Camp Lejeune.
“I think what contributed most to our performance was the focus of the Marines,” said Delany. “They enjoy going out to the field, and they do their job very well.”
Effective small unit leadership enabled the battalion to excel during a Field Supply Maintenance Analysis Office assist visit, were the unit successfully maintained an average maintenance readiness of 95.56 percent, said Delany.
In the small unit category, 2nd ANGLICO was awarded for providing several joint terminal attack controllers (JTAC) for individual augments and to support the Regional Targeting Cell (RTC) for II MEF.
Lieutenant Col. Lawrence C. Coleman, the 2nd ANGLICO commanding officer, said the unit has established rapport and an excellent reputation with every unit, country and agency it has worked with.
Coleman said by continuously empowering NCOs in the many facets of command operations and events, the unit has fostered a high level of morale and camaraderie between all levels of leadership. Coleman added the Marines have responded to all challenges with a high level of proficiency and pride.
Captain Ernesto Howard, 2nd ANGLICO’s supporting arms liaison team leader, said a big contributor to earning the award was small-unit leadership. He cited Marines like Staff Sgt. James C. Jones, who went above and beyond his duties by single handedly supporting a whole company of Marines in Afghanistan.
While supporting the Georgian Light Infantry Battalion in Afghanistan, Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, was short of air officers. Fox Company asked 2nd ANGLICO to support them.
According to Howard, Jones knew air support so well that he was able to step up and perform the duties of an air officer, which is normally performed by a captain.
“As a team, we are given a lot of independence,” Howard said. “Having so much independence can be a gamble, but these Marines can perform responsibilities well above their rank, which allows us to fill billets confidently when the occasion rises.”
During the ceremonies, Fox congratulated both units for setting the example and applauded each unit for taking pride in their work.
“These units have done well because of the outstanding leadership, esprit de Corps amongst the ranks, great NCO’s, strong staff NCO’s and officers who actually care,” said Fox. “It takes everybody’s effort.”
| Date Taken: | 05.08.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.08.2014 09:36 |
| Story ID: | 129146 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 432 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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