Photo By Sgt. Theodore Ritchie | The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Command Element leads a combat boots and utilities...... read more read more
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By Cpl. Alicia R. Giron
22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
FORT PICKETT, Va. - With temperatures at, or below freezing for many days, Marines with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit have been conducting Realistic Urban Training aboard Fort Pickett, Va., a Virginia Army National Guard Maneuver Training Center.
Marines took a step back from training Jan. 18, to build unit cohesion and camaraderie and to readdress the core values of honor, courage and commitment by conducting "Leadership Reset."
"We get really focused on doing all the things we need to do within our [military occupational specialties] for combat," said 22nd MEU commanding officer Col. Gareth F. Brandl. "Sometimes, we make the assumption that those leadership things are in the box and they're getting taken care of."
Brandl says leadership is a Marine's "most important tool," but it needs to be sharpened occasionally.
"Today is an opportunity for small unit leaders to talk to their teams and provide them with guidance on what they feel is important in terms of leadership," said Capt. Donovan J. Salerno, the assistant intelligence officer with the Command Element and native of Patchogue, N.Y. "Today is focused on the individual Marine and on his behaviors and core principles."
The day started with religious services offered for the various denominations represented in the 22nd MEU. Afterward, Marines from all elements of the MEU came together to run in combat boots and utility trousers, better known as a "boots and utes" run.
"When we did the MEU run, we got the whole MEU together, which was good," said Lance Cpl. Sean Edson, an amphibious assault vehicle driver with India Company, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 22nd MEU and native of Omaha, Neb. "It's what we do, we get together and physically train."
Approximately 1,600 Marines and sailors participated in the formation run, which was led by Brandl.
After the run and a motivational talk by Brandl, the Marines cleaned up and headed to the mess hall for a "Warrior's Lunch" of cheeseburgers and hotdogs fresh off the grill.
"It's motivating when you see the guys come in here smiling and happy," said Sgt. Jeffrey D. Matthews, the chief cook from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, and native of Baltimore. "It's a morale booster for me whenever I see everyone happy. That just means I am doing my job and doing it well."
After lunch, the Marines retired to their work sections to hold small-group discussions on various aspects of leadership and to get to know each other as Marines.
"I don't know how many other organizations would spend the amount of time we do worrying about people," said Brandl. "That's the difference between our organization and a lot of others out there. That's what makes us Marines."
The 22nd MEU is a scalable, multipurpose force of more than 2,200 Marines and Sailors. Commanded by Col. Gareth F. Brandl, it consists of its Ground Combat Element, BLT 3/2, Aviation Combat Element, VMM-263, Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22 and its Command Element.
The 22nd MEU is currently conducting pre-deployment training and is scheduled to deploy this spring.
| Date Taken: | 01.18.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.21.2009 08:58 |
| Story ID: | 29095 |
| Location: | FORT PICKETT, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 394 |
| Downloads: | 276 |
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