Photo By Sgt. Marco Gutierrez | Cpl. Joshua McNeil and Lance Cpl. Patrick Humphries, field radio operators with 9th...... read more read more
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - The early morning sunrise spills over the horizon, shining light over Camp Leatherneck and warming the cool breeze. Members of Radio Platoon, Bravo Company, 9th Communication Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), check their equipment, set up their safety harnesses, make sure they have all their safety gear and conduct one last check to make sure everything is perfect for the climb.
“It is definitely the most exciting thing I do,” said Cpl. Andre Wanzer, a field radio operator with 9th Comm Bn. smiling as he explained his day-to-day tasks.
Sgt. Raul Gonzales, Cpl. Joshua McNeil, Cpl. Andre Wanzer and Lance Cpl. Patrick Humphries, field radio operators with 9th Comm Bn. are the only Marines certified to climb the 150-foot communication tower here.
During their climb they will weatherproof the radios connected to the tower, check connections, verify serial numbers, and run a new connection line for a radio.
Although nothing was wrong with the radios on the communication tower, this climb fulfills their monthly requirement to keep their certification and complete preventative maintenance service on the equipment.
Once Gonzales gets the OK to start, his fellow Marines begin the steady climb up the tower. Throughout their climb each one is constantly making sure they are secured to the tower by their harnesses and safety clips.
Their ability to climb the communication towers scattered across Camp Leatherneck makes them unique, since it’s a job not everyone can do.
“It sets us apart from other platoons here, and sets us apart from what others do around here,” said Gonzales.
While the three Marines climb the tower, Gonzales stays at the bottom to supervise and periodically check on his Marines via radio. The Marines hanging onto the tower work fast, but carefully since safety is one of their biggest concerns.
“As long as they’re doing everything safely, everything they are supposed to and how they were taught everything goes fine,” said Gonzales.
The Marines finish their job and start their slow descent to the bottom of the tower. Gonzales patiently waits for his Marines to safely reach the ground. They review the climb and discus how it could have been better
“It was definitely a successful climb,” said McNeil. “We got it done quickly and in a safe manner, we got done what we needed to get done.”
This climb won’t be the last for members of 9th Comm Bn. As this month comes to an end, they will soon begin preparing for their next climb to the top.
| Date Taken: | 05.17.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 06.21.2012 10:57 |
| Story ID: | 90386 |
| Location: | CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Field radio operators few and far between, by SGT Marco Gutierrez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
