Posted on 08/19/2005 4:23:32 PM PDT by SandRat
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq (Aug. 19, 2005) -- When deployments come to an end, most Marines are happy they made it through the grueling months free of injury, but Marines from one platoon have much more to celebrate. They have not only exceeded their mission, but personal goals as well.
Motor Transport Platoon, 8th Communication Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Headquarters Group, II MEF (Forward), recently achieved at 100 percent readiness in maintenance and operations.
The Marines of the platoon, which redeploy this month, have completed 66 convoys and driven over 56,000 accident-free miles to various outlying sites and escorting truck convoys. They have also carried more than 88,000 gallons of fuel throughout the area.
“The Marines in this unit have done an exceptional job,” said Master Sgt. M. Mark Manieri, motor transport officer. “When the turnover with 9th Comm Battalion was complete, we had a lot of things on our plate. Now, the Marines are ready to leave and they should feel good about what they did.”
The platoon took over vehicles left by 9th Comm Bn. last year.
“We think of it as Marine Corps gear, not ours or theirs,” said Manieri.
Accomplishing day-to-day operations is what brought the platoon to its finest.
“During a normal work day, we work from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m. on a good day,” said Cpl. Josh S. Gordon, quality control operations noncommissioned officer. “There are 22 Marines in ops and we make sure all the trucks are having [preventive maintenance] done to ensure 100 percent readiness.”
Keeping account of vehicles is just one task of the operations section.
“We have a board listing all the trucks, where they’re at, if they’re broken, if we have temporary loans, when the PM’s need to be done,” explained Gordon. “We have to keep track of what equipment they have, such as tow bars, food, water, spare tires. We have a huge file cabinet full of folders so we can document each vehicle. It’s a hard job.”
The graduate of Waverly Central High School, Waverly, Tenn., has also been the assistant convoy commander on convoys the platoon has taken to various forward operating bases that contain the platoon’s vehicles.
“That means I have to know the routes we’re taking, call signs, medical evacuation procedures, and how to call for fire,” said the 24-year-old Gordon.
The other half of the work is done by the maintenance section.
“We work hard,” said Sgt. Scott E. Edwards, maintenance NCO. “We do higher second echelon and lower third echelon work on the trucks. We do corrective and preventive maintenance, too.”
First echelon maintenance means the checks needed to be done by the operator of the vehicle to keep it safe and road worthy performed daily, weekly and monthly, according to Manieri. Second echelon is normal change of fluids, filters and other further checks needed to maintain the operation of the vehicle. These are performed as needed and or on a bi-annual and annual basis. Third echelon is maintenance requiring a replacement of engine, transmission, alternator, starter, or other major component. Edwards said the shop sticks to the mission of the battalion.
“Our mission is to provide robust communication to the II MEF network,” he said. “That means that if a truck with comm gear goes down, they are the first priority.”
With only one truck in the Motor-T lot awaiting parts, Edwards praises each individual Marine that works in the maintenance section.
“This parking lot used to be full of trucks that needed work,” he said, pointing out the Motor-T warehouse doors. “The Marines here have turned this place around 180 degrees. There’s not a section in this place that hasn’t been touched.”
Edwards was referring to the different sections of maintenance.
“Hazardous materials section was reorganized and had a little room built for them,” he said. “Quality control was cleaned up and our parking lot was redone with the support of engineers to help get the vehicles in and out. Our tool room has all the tools accounted for. With these things fixed, there should be no issues when our replacements come in.”
As an NCO, Gordon has to be responsible for the Marines under his charge.
“It’s good to work around the Marines, building leadership skills, and making sure they’re taken care of. That’s my job,” said Gordon.
Edwards believes he and his Marines have grown on this deployment. Not only physically, but mentally as well.
“They have matured greatly out here,” he said, “both physically and mentally. Just like me, they’ve had time to think about things. Some go to the gym in their free time and we have weekly classes with the whole platoon, so each section can teach something to another. This is a time for us all to grow.”
Manieri agrees his NCOs have done a great job on the deployment. He credits them for mission accomplishment.
“All the work couldn’t have been done without the younger Marines. The sergeants, the corporals, the lance corporals,” he said. “Staff Sgt. [Michael J.] Michalski, maintenance chief, and Gunnery Sgt. [Mark R.] Wynn, operations chief and battalion convoy commander, have done an outstanding job in the smooth transmission between 8th and 9th Comm during the relief in place. Gunnery Sgt. Wynn did a lot behind the scenes by making sure the Marines are first trained as rifleman in addition to their Motor-T skills.”
According to Manieri, who will be back in the states in October, the work isn’t done for the Marines of 8th Comm Motor-T platoon.
“When we get back, my main concern is to enhance the professional development of the Marines,” said the Philadelphia native. “We will work on annual training that was missed because of the deployment. Plus, the gear in the rear is just as important as the gear here in Iraq.”
As the platoon commander, Manieri has some words for the unit before they return to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C.
“As each part leaves, I leave them with the three S’s,” Manieri said. “The first is to stay safe. The Marines have to deal with families and post warrior training. The second is to stay smart. Don’t do anything crazy or that could get you into trouble. And the third is stay Marine. That’s self explanatory.”
Caption: The first half of Marines with motor transport platoon, 8th Communication Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Headquarters Group, II MEF (FWD), pose for a group photo. The platoon accomplished 100 percent readiness in areas of maintenance and operation during their deployment. Photo by: Staff Sgt. Sabrina M. Barker
WOO-HOO!!!! These are the tasks and duties that will likely never get reported in the MSM, but yet are critical for success and require excellence and professionalism. Congratulations to all of them on a job well done!
BTTT!!!!!!!
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