Photo By Master Sgt. Tyler Hlavac | Col. Donald L. Revell assumed command of Intelligence Support Battalion, Marine Forces...... read more read more
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NEW ORLEANS - Col. Donald Revell assumed command of the Marine Forces Reserve Intelligence Support Battalion Sept. 10 during a ceremony at the National World War II museum in New Orleans.
Revell first joined the Marine Corps in Dec. 1986, when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. Initially serving in air and ground units, Revell has been in the intelligence community since 2000, after accepting an assignment as the department head for Marine Air Group 42’s intelligence section.
Recently, the Continental Marines staff sat down with the new commander and spoke with him about the future direction of the battalion.
Q. Could you tell us a little about your background prior to assuming command of the Intelligence Support Battalion?
A. Prior to arriving here my last assignment was as the assistant chief of staff for intelligence for an individual mobilized augmentee detachment based out of Norfolk, Va. In that capacity I ran a detachment of intelligence Marines in support of the Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik.
Q. What is the mission of the Intelligence Support Battalion?
A. The mission is to provide intelligence Marines to support active-duty units at home and abroad. This includes everything from supporting in-country exercises to supporting Marine Corps forces in Afghanistan.
Q. How has the Intelligence Support Battalion contributed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom?
A. What we typically do is offer intelligence Marines to support active-duty units. Our Marines may find themselves as part of a patrol, supporting civil affairs missions, or they might find themselves in an analyst cell. We have intelligence Marines that can be plugged into any active-duty unit with seamless integration.
Q. How does the battalion contribute outside of OEF and OIF? Is support provided to theater security cooperation exercises?
A. We are active in several areas of the world, such as the Balkans, where we are engaged in keeping the peace and helping host nations rebuild. Additionally, the Marine Corps hosts a variety of exercises each year that we contribute to and these exercises are a good way to sharpen our skills.
Q. Are there unique requirements for intelligence Marines that aren’t required of other Reserve Marines?
A. Most of these Marines have to have very extensive background checks. All of their backgrounds are looked into on a regular basis and everything is in play, including their personal finances and habits. They literally open themselves up to intense scrutiny in order to have the necessary security clearance to do their jobs.
Q. With the Marine mission in OIF finished and the OEF mission winding down, what is the future direction of the battalion?
A. You have to take a step back and look what is happening in the world. The global environment is changing and we are increasingly faced with parts of the world that are becoming politically unstable. One only has to look at the uprisings in the Middle East to see where the world is heading. When you look ahead and see conflict in failed states, you also see areas that are ripe for safe havens for terrorists. As we found out on 9/11, our enemies can be in remote areas and still attacks us. We have to be ready to be effective in those environments and be prepared to meet head on any situation that may arise.
Q. Is there anything you would like to add?
A. Assuming command of the battalion has been a very humbling experience. I’m excited about the prospect of working with these Marines. We have good officer and staff noncommissioned officer leaders in place and this is a very dedicated bunch of Marines. My goal is to have us ready for any environment and able to deploy at a moment’s notice if our country needs us.
The Intelligence Support Battalion is composed of roughly 400 Marines assigned to either: Alpha Company in San Diego, Bravo Company in Aurora, Company, Charlie Company in Quantico, Va., Headquarters and Service Company in New Orleans, or the 4th Ground Sensor Platoon in Mobile, Ala.
| Date Taken: | 10.21.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.21.2011 15:59 |
| Story ID: | 78817 |
| Location: | NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 659 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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