CLB-6 FET members hit streets of Helmand for intel during initial mission

Photo By Staff Sgt. Justin Shemanski | In addition to their daily duties within Combat Logisitics Battalion 6, Marine Expeditionary Brigade-Afghanistan, Cpl. Monica Boucher (left), a 23-year-old field radio opertor and Lance Cpl. Yahaira Cosme, a 22-year-old warehouseman, also serve as Female Engagement Team members and returned from their first mission March 3. Operating out of Combat Outpost Shur, the pair worked alongside the Marines of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment as a means to establish rapport with the local female population.  

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

03.03.2010

Story by Sgt. Justin Shemanski 

1st Marine Logistics Group

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan -- It has barely been a month since Female Engagement Team training Class 01-10 graduated the largest class of prospects to date and for some, duty has already called.

A pair from Combat Logistics Battalion 6, Marine Expeditionary Brigade — Afghanistan, was the latest to hit the streets of Helmand province for their maiden mission.

Cpl. Monica Boucher, a field radio operator, and Lance Cpl. Yahaira Cosme, a warehouseman, assisted the Marines of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, with foot patrols in the vicinity of Combat Outpost Shur for approximately one week and returned safely to Camp Leatherneck March 3.

When asked to describe the prospect of their first mission in one word, both agreed that "nervous" was a perfect fit.

"A lot of things were touched on during training, but it's just something you just have to experience to really grasp," said Boucher, a 23-year-old native of Racine, Wis. "We just prepared for the worst and hoped for the best."

While averaging two missions a day, the FET members spent the majority of their time outside the wire trying to establish a rapport with female villagers. This included the systematic search and clear of each woman and child, but after business came pleasure in the form of smiles and small talk.

A "FET's" mission is multi-faceted. Namely though, they serve as a focused and effective means to tap into the often inaccessible female populations in country. This has proven crucial to information gathering and networking and Boucher and Cosme were able to experience this advantage first hand in the form of credible intelligence regarding a recent rocket-propelled grenade attack on their outpost.

"Our contacts led to Fox Company actually detaining someone," said Boucher. "A female told us everything."

In addition to providing security and intelligence gathering services, the pair was also active in a humanitarian aspect as they informed their new contacts of medical assistance which could be provided. Though such offers were initially met with reluctance, Boucher and Cosme were able to see their persistence pay off the day prior to their leaving as women and their children began trickling into the aid station for care.

It was a sight the pair was more than happy to witness and on top of that, they were actually involved in administering some of the minor medical duties, such as vital signs and blood pressure, themselves.

"Those are the kinds of things that tell us they paid attention and understood why we were there," said Cosme, a 22-year-old native of Lynn, Mass. "It was at that point I knew we made a difference."

Making a difference is what U.S. military presence here is all about and Boucher and Cosme look forward to assisting with further change in the unstable region. They noted that some village elders are still hesitant to grant access to anyone in their village for fear of Taliban retaliation, but consistent contact and relationship building will be the key to cooperative and secure feeling locals.

"It was a good experience," said Cosme. "I look forward to future missions and hopefully it will be for even a little bit longer."

A sentiment echoed by Boucher, whom relished the prospect of spending more time lending her services to future FET missions.

"The longer we are able to stay out there, the more rapport we will be able to build," she said. "It's going to be difficult to keep things moving forward if all they see is new faces, but just our presence out there in any amount is a good thing. I can't wait for the next mission."

• Date Taken: 03.03.2010
• Date Posted: 03.26.2010 06:47
• Story ID: 47237
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF