Photo By Lance Cpl. Cesar Contreras | Marines from Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.--Hundreds of Marines keep their attention locked on the sole speaker in front of them. The more senior Marines stand in the back; having had the experience of multiple deployments they have an idea of what to expect. The more junior Marines sit up front and watch with excitement for their first overseas deployment.
These are the Marines of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, or “Warlords” as they are commonly known. Colonel Robert Fulford, commanding officer of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, had come to address the battalion prior to its first elements deploying overseas.
Currently, and in the near future, 2/2 will be deploying across two combatant commands over two continents in support of a wider Marine Corps mission. Unlike a combat deployment, these deployments will focus on flexibility within a full range of operations from training with foreign militaries to responding to crises and disasters.
LESSONS LEARNED IN COMBAT
The Warlords are no strangers to combat deployments.
The battalion deployed several times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom over the last ten years. Each time they not only took the fight to the enemy but developed skills in partner-building and developing infrastructure.
“Marines gained more than just combat proficiency during this time,” said Caleb Reed, commanding officer of Golf Company. “A major component in each theater was cooperation with local forces with the desired goal of strengthening those forces to a point where they could maintain security independently.”
The battalion has the benefit of having many of those Marines and sailors who cut their teeth in Iraq and Afghanistan serve in leadership positions.
“These are the same Marines who, over the past ten years of [war], established themselves as true warriors, and ambassadors of democracy in both Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Craig, Sergeant Major for 2/2.
The experience Marines gained while on combat deployments will translate into valuable skills for conducting more diverse missions alongside foreign militaries.
“The experience gained by many Marines working side by side with the Iraqi National Guard or the Afghanistan National Army during previous deployments will be priceless. Understanding the effect of language barriers and cultural diversity will prove to be invaluable on this upcoming deployment,” said Jason Glew, company first sergeant for Weapons Company.
EXPEDITIONARY MINDSET
The Marine Corps is transitioning to being primarily a force in readiness with an expeditionary mindset. The Warlords will be at the forefront of that transition, allowing the Marine Corps to have a presence across the globe.
“The upcoming [deployments] emphasize the Marine Corps is an expeditionary force in readiness,” said Lt. Col. Joel Schmidt, commanding officer of 2/2. “Today's unpredictability…emphasizes our requirement to be masters of the basics as Marines, but most importantly to embrace our expeditionary mindset as a [Marine Air Ground Task Force] to bring the right force for the right mission now.”
With 2/2 being split over several areas of responsibility the focus now comes down to the small-unit leaders on the ground making decisions without direct supervision.
“While the challenges of command and control remain, such challenges are minimized through trust in our small-unit leaders, the proficiency of our Marines and sailors, and their expeditionary mindset,” said Schmidt.
READY FOR ANY MISSION
The Warlords have spent the past few months preparing for these deployments by conducting exercises that improved their abilities as warfighters and ambassadors.
As warfighters they conducted operational combat training in the Sierra Nevada mountain ranges at Mountain Warfare Training Center and the Mojave Desert of Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif.
As ambassadors they worked alongside European countries in the Cold Response exercise in the Arctic Circle. Closer to home they simulated everything from evacuating an embassy to building relationships with foreign militaries by teaching classes and playing soccer with role players.
This flexibility is what will be needed in a future where uncertainty and sudden change will be the norm.
“The past decade of combat deployments has largely been supported by a robust infrastructure that cannot be replicated as we transition to a more unpredictable environment,” Schmidt stated. “I believe the forces' combat experience and our reemphasis on having an expeditionary mindset for any mission, any clime, any place will make us better prepared to be the force of choice for combatant commanders.”
Craig reiterated a similar stance which has been true of the Marine Corps from its birth to the present day.
“Marines deployed, and continue to deploy in support of our nation…Other than the obvious, kinetic nature of the combat deployments, 2/2 will continue to stand watch around the world, and help our partner nations do the same.”
| Date Taken: | 07.30.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.30.2014 14:27 |
| Story ID: | 137736 |
| Location: | NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,491 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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