Combat Logistics Battalion-22 Marines get back to their rifleman roots with live fire

Photo By Sgt. Justin M. Martinez | A Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 22, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, places training rounds in a MK-19 40mm automatic grenade launcher during a machine gun shoot at a training area near Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Aug. 13. The 22nd MEU is ashore conducting sustainment training in Kuwait and is currently serving as the theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command.  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

08.13.2009

Story by Cpl. Justin M. Martinez 

22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait — Four blue projectiles scream through the air defeating friction from wind blown sand with speed and force in their paths to destruction. A cloud of orange dye lifts into the air after the slug barrage impacts the motionless four-wheel coupe sitting in a sea of sand. For a moment, a loud enthusiastic mission success shout greets the gusty wind.

Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 22, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, took a break from their usual routine of providing logistics support to the MEU to do some training of their own, firing machine guns at a training range near Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Aug. 13.

"We just don't really get a lot of time to get CLB-specific training out on the ranges due to the requirements for providing combat service support to the Battalion Landing Team and other [Major Subordinate Elements]," said 1st Lt. Chad T. Phillips, the CLB assistant logistics officer and native of Jacksonville, N.C.

The CLB Marines' feet sank in the loose sand as they laid in the MK-19 40mm automatic grenade launchers and M240G machine guns, stacking sandbags on tripod legs to keep the weapons from shifting when fired.

"It's motivating to get away from my motor [transportation] job and get back to my rifleman roots," said Lance Cpl. Kyle E. Dunn, a logistics vehicle system operator and native of Perry, Kan.

Once the range went hot, the Marines sat in a shower of wind-blown sand as they pelted targets with training rounds.

"When they were engaging their targets with their machine gun systems, they were accurate," said Staff Sgt. Daniel V. Villarreal, a native of Michigan Center, Mich., and the engineer chief for CLB. "It was a very exciting time and they had a lot of fun while doing it too."

In early August, elements of the 22nd MEU arrived at Camp Buehring, a U.S. Army Central Command/Area Support Group Kuwait owned training base. The MEU is conducting sustainment training and is currently serving as the theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command.

The 22nd MEU, led by Col. Gareth F. Brandl, is a scalable, multi-purpose force of more than 2,200 Marines and Sailors. The unit is composed of its Ground Combat Element, BLT 3/2 (commanded by Lt. Col. Robert C. Fulford); Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced) (commanded by Lt. Col. Paul P. Ryan); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22 (commanded by Lt. Col. Gary F. Keim); and its Command Element.

• Date Taken: 08.13.2009
• Date Posted: 08.15.2009 23:11
• Story ID: 37546
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW