Photo By Andrew Miller | U.S. Marine Colonel Roger Turner, Regimental Combat Team 5 commanding officer, meets...... read more read more
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MARJAH DISTRICT, Helmand province, Afghanistan - Regimental Combat Team 5 commanding officer Col. Roger Turner and RCT-5 sergeant major Sgt.Maj. Ernest Hoopii recently conducted a battlefield circulation of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment’s area of operation here, Sept. 24.
I was fortunate enough to document the first leg of this multi-day undertaking, which took the RCT-5 command element to company positions around Marjah. These battlefield circulations allow the regiment to develop an accurate picture of operations in each district and better support coalition forces operating in southern Helmand.
I received the invitation to tag along from Lt. Col. Daniel Schmitt, 3/6 battalion commander, as he was heading out the door for the circulation. I quickly grabbed my gear and headed for the line of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, climbing aboard the one carrying Sgt. Maj. Jim Lanham, 3/6 sergeant Major. We departed Camp Hanson as the sun was rising, heading outside the wire for a drive filled with dust, potholes and rock wielding children.
Our first stop was Combat Outpost Azadi, home of Kilo Company, 3/6 where we would link up with the regimental commanding officer and sergeant major.
Immediately after arriving at COP Azadi, Turner and Hoopii received a brief tour of the Kilo Co. headquarters. A similar tour took place at each COP we visited throughout the day, and following the tours Turner would receive a battle rhythm brief from the company commanders.
At this point, I found myself outside with the regimental and battalion sergeants major. I wisely attached myself to them for the remainder of the day.
Hoopii, who was deployed to Helmand as the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade sergeant major last year, addressed the enlisted Marines of Kilo Co.
“It’s a little different this time. Not so kinetic,” Hoopii said of the current situation in Marjah compared to his last deployment in the district.
The sergeant major discussed current counterinsurgency operations in Marjah and the other districts of southern Helmand, taking time to answer ever question that was asked. Above all, Hoopii stressed the importance of the individual Marine.
“You are a weapons system that makes all other weapons systems work. You are our most precious asset because without our Marines no weapon fires, no plane flies, no truck drives, nothing happens.”
The Kilo Company first sergeant said he hopes his Marines pulled some important lessons from this visit.
“I hope the Marines were able to see that he is a Marine just like the rest of them… he was in their shoes at some point or another,” said 1st Sgt. Christian Bull, a native of Pasorobles, Calif. “It’s the connection from one generation to the next, and that’s why it is important for senior leaders to talk to young Marines."
Soon our time at COP Azadi had run short and it was time to get back on the road. In traditional Marine Corps fashion I was bumped from my seat in Lanham’s MRAP due to the fact that our convoys had now merged together.
I managed to secure a seat in the lead vehicle. I also managed to make a new four-legged friend by the name of Jawdy, an improvised explosive device detecting dog. She decided that the lap of a Marine (my lap, specifically) wearing a full combat load is more comfortable than an empty seat.
Our next stop was COP Kelly to visit Lima Company, 3/6.
Hoopii sat down with the Lima Co. Marines to field their questions and concerns. He assured them that he could relate to how they were feeling, having been in their shoes many times.
“What I’m talking about is right now you are in the best time of your life,” said Hoopii. “Right now it sucks. You are hot, hungry, dirty, but you are going to look back 5, 10, 15 years from now and you are going to laugh and feel good about it because you took the toughest time of your life, doing the hardest things with the guys you love who are sitting here with you today.”
It was clear message, and one that was well received by the Lima Co. Marines.
“The way the sergeant major was asking us questions showed that he really wanted to know what we thought about things,” said Lance Cpl. Matt Bennett, a native of Bear, Del. “It is good to see that the higher ups actually come out to see where we live and see what’s going on out here.”
After touring COP Kelly, we continued with the battlefield circulation. Our next stop was in the land of “The Walking Dead” at COP Turbett, Alpha Co. 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment.
“Build and develop the ANSF,” Hoopii told the Marines of Alpha Co., 1/9. “The police, the army, the neighborhood watch guy, so they can protect the people.”
He emphasized that mentoring Afghan forces is key to the success of coalition forces in southern Helmand. Regardless of how insignificant a task may seem, it was clear the sergeant major believed in the importance of Marines mentoring their Afghan counterparts in every aspect of counterinsurgency operations.
“Teach them how to take care of their vehicles…Teach them how to work and maintain the metal detectors. Teach them how to use all the equipment we use so they can battle the insurgents,” Hoopii said.
After our stop at COP Turbett we departed for our last destination of the day, COP Yazzie, home of Mike Company, 3/6.
The sergeant major shared his thoughts on several topics he discussed with the companies we visited earlier in the day. Hoopii passed on lessons learned from questions asked at previous stops on the battlefield circulation, encouraging the Mike Co. Marines to do the same. A few select questions and Hoopii’s answers are below.
How are we planning to fund the ANSF after we leave?
“One of the things we are doing here is to try and jumpstart their agriculture so they can grow things like wheat, corn or cotton, anything but poppy, to begin making some revenue for things like this. Afghanistan has an enormous amount of mineral resources here too, they just don’t currently have the means to extract it. I tell our interpreters everyday that when this thing is over they need to stay here and do good things. They all say they want to come to America, but I tell them they need to be here in their country being the doctors, lawyers, plumbers, electricians and teachers to make Afghanistan a better place. “
Do you think the timeline for withdrawal will change for certain areas, like Sangin, where there is still significant fighting?
“We’ve come a long way. Even though there’s still fighting in Sangin, it’s not like it was six months ago. And just like everywhere else here, we are benefitting from the guys who came before us. Marjah used to be one of those places. You used to not be able to even get into Marjah. It was on 24/7. As you can see we cleared it and Sangin will be the same.”
I was wondering about the new MARADMIN that came out about having to pick up staff sergeant in 10 years?
“It’s about to get real tough being a Marine. The commandant says we are trimming about 20,000 guys. The Marine Corps is going to scale back so I need you guys to apply yourselves if you want to stay a Marine because we need to keep the best and brightest. You have to get your game on. The infantry has the largest numbers so they will take the largest chop. You can’t have a low PFT score or CFT score, be a sharpshooter or lower and do the minimum MCIs and expect to stay in, not in the infantry.”
With the sun setting behind us, we made our way back to Camp Hanson. After bidding farewell to my new four-legged friend Jawdy, I was invited to join the regiment and battalion staff for a shura with some of the local elders. After a long day I decided to skip the local cuisine and hit up the chow hall. Turns out I made the right decision… it was steak and lobster night.
Editor’s note: Third battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, is currently assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5, 2nd Marine Division (Forward), which heads Task Force Leatherneck. The task force serves as the ground combat element of Regional Command (Southwest) and works in partnership with the Afghan National Security Force and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to conduct counterinsurgency operations. The unit is dedicated to securing the Afghan people, defeating insurgent forces, and enabling ANSF assumption of security responsibilities within its area of operations in order to support the expansion of stability, development and legitimate governance.
| Date Taken: | 09.24.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.29.2011 06:39 |
| Story ID: | 77752 |
| Location: | MARJAH DISTRICT, AF |
| Web Views: | 1,236 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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