New location eases coordination for Regimental Combat Team 3

Photo By Master Sgt. Chris W. Cox | Regimental Combat Team 3, now headquartered at Camp Dwyer in Afghanistan's Helmand province, is the ground combat element for the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.  

HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

06.25.2009

Story by Gunnery Sgt. Chris W. Cox 

I Marine Expeditionary Force

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan — Marines and Sailors with Regimental Combat Team 3 relocated their base of operations farther south in their area of responsibility in order to better position themselves in anticipation of future operations. Their new base is known as Forward Operating Base Dwyer.

FOB Dwyer was established in 2007 as a supply base by British Forces and became the new RCT headquarters area with the transfer of the unit colors, June 25.

Having spent a month transitioning from Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan to a regimental combat team, RCT-3's Marines have had to establish reliable communications and relationships with senior, adjacent and subordinate units throughout Helmand province — a parcel of land roughly the size of West Virginia. Additionally, the RCT's command element Marines have had to literally build their own work spaces and billeting areas, twice.

"As we transitioned into an RCT from a special purpose MAGTF, we lost a lot of key staff and we lost a lot of junior Marines in addition to having to develop our internal relationships as a command element as well as those with higher, adjacent and subordinate units," explained Sgt. Major Paul McKenna, RCT-3 sergeant major. "That in itself would be hard, but we're also conducting combat operations."

With supporting battalions from Hawaii, California and North Carolina located throughout Helmand province, RCT-3 is now poised to pursue their primary mission of conducting counter-insurgency operations in this volatile part of the country with a focus on training and mentoring Afghan national security forces.

By offering direct mentorship to members of the ANSF, RCT-3 Marines support their Afghan peers allowing them to expand their capabilities in order to eventually take full control of their own nation's security. With Afghan presidential elections upcoming in August, enabling ANSF to be able to provide that service will add legitimacy to the nation's post-Taliban governing infrastructure.

Weeks of labor during the 100 days of hot wind, as the locals call this time of year, find the regiment on the verge of a predicted busy few months for counter insurgency operations. While that vital part of their mission is being conducted, however, the Marines and Sailors in the command element will continue to labor so their replacements won't have the same difficulties they have had to overcome since their arrival here last year as Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force — Afghanistan. The unit was re-designated as RCT-3 in May.

Inhospitable weather, Spartan living conditions and a limit on luxuries like readily available toilets and showers, make being deployed to this part of the world a unique experience for these Marines. Despite the situation, the hard, necessary labor of building up the camp is being performed with gusto — which is a good sign of how things to come will be managed.

"I am confident based on my experience and observations of these young Marines that we're going to tackle this challenge flawlessly," McKenna stated.

After spending about one month on Camp Leatherneck and now moving to Dwyer, RCT-3 is now focused on supporting the International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan until their scheduled relief later this year.

• Date Taken: 06.25.2009
• Date Posted: 07.07.2009 16:53
• Story ID: 36087
• Location: HELMAND PROVINCE, AF