Photo By Cpl. Geoffrey Scarborough | A U.S. Marine with II Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) reunites with his family during...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. – More than 300 Marines and sailors with the II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) command element returned home after a year-long deployment to Helmand province, Afghanistan, over the last several days.
The troops were more than happy to finally be home with their families and friends, hundreds of whom turned out for homecoming events March 8 and 15.
During their deployment, the unit served as the command element of NATO’s Regional Command Southwest, which includes Helmand and Nimroz provinces.
Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, the II MEF (FWD) commanding general, led the final flight of Marines and sailors to a homecoming event in the early morning of March 15. This last group of 155 service members was met at Camp Lejeune by a crowd of cheering family members.
“I’m just looking forward to eating my own home-cooked food and spending time with my daughter,” said Lt. Cdr. Rihard Ogniewski, an Albany, N.Y., native and the II MEF (FWD) medical planner.
As the commander of II MEF (FWD) and Regional Command Southwest, Toolan led all NATO forces in southwest Afghanistan - more than 30,000 U.S. Marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen and a host of coalition forces from other NATO countries.
“We always said it was long days and short weeks,” Toolan reflected at the homecoming. “It was hard work but Helmand province is a lot different from how it was when we found it.”
The return of II MEF (FWD) signifies the end of the East Coast-based Marine Corps forces’ turn at the helm in Helmand. Over the last two months the 2nd Marine Division (FWD), 2nd Marine Logistics Group (FWD), and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (FWD) all returned to N.C. bases as well. The California-based I MEF (FWD), under the command of Maj. Gen. Charles Gurganus, assumed command of RC(SW) from Toolan and his Marines in a ceremony at Camp Leatherneck last week.
Toolan and his Marines witnessed a year of change during their tour, which began in March 2011. Coalition forces battled insurgents throughout the summer fighting season, culminating in major offensives against remaining pockets of resistance in the fall and winter. Provincial Reconstruction and Civil Affairs Team members continued to reach out to the local populace and help the local Afghan government expand its roots.
Through it all, the Marines and their British, Danish, Estonian and Georgian partners poured efforts and resources into training and developing a self-sufficient Afghan National Security Force.
By the end of II MEF (FWD)’s deployment, these efforts had been rewarded by the transition of security responsibility from coalition to Afghan forces in key districts, including the Helmand provincial capital at Lashkar Gah. Other districts, including the former Taliban stronghold at Marjah, are scheduled to transition later this year as the coalition continues to shift its mission in the region from counter-insurgency to advisory.
“We did a lot of good for the Afghans,” said Ogniewski. “Hopefully I MEF will carry on and come home safe.”
| Date Taken: | 03.15.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.15.2012 14:14 |
| Story ID: | 85296 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 340 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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