CLB-453 trains aboard MCLB Barstow

Photo By Laurie Pearson | Marine Reservists with Supply Company and Detachment 4, Maintenance Company both from Combat Logistics Battalion 453, out of San Jose, Calif., engage in multi-faceted training aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., March 2.  

BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

03.09.2017

Story by Laurie Pearson  

Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow

Marine Reservists with Supply Company and Detachment 4, Maintenance Company both from Combat Logistics Battalion 453, out of San Jose, Calif., engage in multi-faceted training aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., all week.
“This is an evolution that highlights the training opportunities available on the base for both active and reserve units across the Marine Air Ground Task Force spectrum,” said Staff Sgt. Nicholas Hensley, MCLB Barstow’s base operations chief. “We hope to continue to support units and provide commanders with training areas that allow them to accomplish core and assigned mission essential tasks. Due to our unique location we are able to accommodate not only annual training events, but also cater to the full range of military operations that are associated with standard and specialized training cycles.”
The training conducted here allows the Marines to tackle multiple training needs at once, allowing them to better perform their functions and meet the demands of their jobs.
“Our San Jose-based Marine Reservists have a special set of military occupational specialties that make it difficult for us to find a site that offers as many unique training opportunities as MCLB Barstow,” said Maj. Maro Enoka, commanding officer for Supply Company. “MCLB Barstow allows us to accomplish critical annual training objectives such as the rifle and pistol ranges as well as on-the-job training experience that focuses on supply, maintenance, and distribution management. Our on-the-job training includes working with active duty Marines and civilians at the Fleet Support Division, Production Plant Barstow, Defense Logistics Agency, and MCLB Barstow Railhead.”
Another benefit of this training is to allow the Marines to understand the requirements and training standards within their own military occupational specialty, explained Chad Hildebrandt, Railway Operations supervisor.
“They will be able to support other reserve component units with their rail missions such as the Marine Wing Support Squadron 473 reserve mission later this summer,” Hildebrandt said, pointing out that some of the training can only be done here at this base.
“This railway operations training is not offered anywhere else within the Department of Defense,” Hildebrandt said. So at some point if they need railway operations training, they have to come to MCLB Barstow.
“The experience has been excellent,” Enoka said. “The relationship between San Jose Reservists and MCLB Barstow began in 2016 due in large part to Lt. Col. Gregory Field, inspector and instructor for CLB-453, 4th Marine Logistics Group, and former FSD director. We plan on continuing to grow, foster, and nurture this relationship in the future by continuing to utilize MCLB Barstow resources for our Marines. It is a symbiotic relationship in the sense that we are able to support MCLB entities while at the same time enhancing our Marines' skills and their own capabilities, thus improving operational readiness for the Marine Corps, writ large.”
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• Date Taken: 03.09.2017
• Date Posted: 03.09.2017 18:35
• Story ID: 226386
• Location: BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, US
• Hometown: AURORA, COLORADO, US
• Hometown: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, US
• Hometown: QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, US
• Hometown: SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, US