Marine turf in Afghanistan the most violent in last six months
April 29th, 2011 | Afghanistan Infantry Kajaki Sangin | Posted by Dan Lamothe
Lance Cpl. Nathan Buono, of Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, scans for suspicious activity during an April 18 patrol through the Kajaki green zone in Helmand province, Afghanistan. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy Ross)
The Marine Corps’ regional command in Afghanistan had the most violent activity in the whole country in the last six months, according to a new Pentagon report released to Congress.
Regional Command Southwest was the site of about 8,000 “security incidents” from October 2010 to March 2011, said the biannual “Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan,” released today (It’s posted online here). The incidents include attacks with direct fire, indirect fire, improvised explosive devices, mines and surface-to-air weapons. The region includes Helmand and Nimroz provinces, where more than 20,000 Marines are deployed.
That’s not necessarily a surprise, considering Marine forces were involved in some of the heaviest fighting in the nine-year war in Afghanistan in and near Sangin district this fall. Security incidents across RC-Southwest have decreased since then, but there were still more than 1,400 there in January, more than 900 in February and more than 1,200 in March.
This chart provides some context:
The next most violent area was RC-East, which includes Kunar, Laghman, Paktika and several other provinces. About 4,800 attacks occurred there. RC-South, which includes Kandahar, Daykundi, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces, sustained about 4,000 attacks in the same period. Both regions are primarily patrolled by Army units. The other regional commands had significantly less violence, especially RC-Capital — Kabul — where there were just a couple each month.
The report said the large number of attacks were to be expected, considering Marine and Army forces pushed into areas of southern Afghanistan where the Taliban had received little opposition in the past. Doing so “has proven challenging but achievable,” as the increased tempo of operations and a surge of coalition and Afghan forces expanded security and provided time and space for local Afghan government to develop, military officials said.
The Pentagon specifically noted some positive changes in Helmand. Sections of the provinces have improved security, the report said, with Nawa district progressing enough that the Afghan National Army took over a series of patrol bases from Marines in January. The report doesn’t mention it, but elements of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, were reassigned to patrol parts of nearby Marjah district. In March, district elections were held there without any violence — unthinkable a year ago, just weeks after Marine forces first assaulted the area.
Across Afghanistan, the surge of a coalition and U.S. forces last year led to improved security, the report said, but progress “remains fragile and reversible,” a common refrain for U.S. commanders providing assessments of the country’s future. Still, Pentagon officials agreed with previous assessments that security has improved enough for seven areas of the country to be turned over to Afghan forces this summer. One of them, Lashkar Gah, is in the Corps’ area of operations.
The report also notes that the Taliban’s moment has been halted and much of their tactical infrastructure and popular support has been removed. However, it comes with a warning: “hard fighting” is expected through fall 2011.
“The months ahead will see setbacks as well as successes,” the report says. “There will be difficult fighting and tough losses as the enemy tries to regain momentum and key areas lost in the past six months.”
Interview: Meet the Marines behind the Britney Spears viral video
April 27th, 2011 | Afghanistan Aviation Bored Marine Video Pop culture | Posted by Dan Lamothe
One week ago on Monday, a Marine corporal in Afghanistan posted a video of him and his buddies lip-syncing Britney Spears’ “Hold It Against Me.”
It was amusing, well-edited and uplifting — and quickly became one of the most popular current YouTube videos in the world after Spears herself shared it on Twitter three days later.
By now, you’ve probably seen the video. As I write this post, it has been viewed more than 2.6 million times in less than two weeks. YouTube statistics show it’s the third-most popular music video on the site this week.
Not wanting to miss out on the fun, I reached out through YouTube’s messaging service to the then-anonymous Marine who originally posted the video.
His name is Cpl. Andrew Tarin, and he’s a flight equipment technician with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467, out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. The squadron has flown AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters and UH-1N Twin Huey utility helicopters in Afghanistan for the last few months in support of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Tarin said he and his friend, Cpl. Adam Purdy, decided to lip-sync the song after hearing it on a bus ride from their living quarters at Camp Leatherneck to their job with the squadron.
Cpl. Andrew Tarin appears in the viral video he created of Marines lip-syncing Britney Spears' "Hold It Against Me." (YouTube screen grab)
“We heard the song on the radio and had no idea who the artist was,” Tarin said by e-mail from Afghanistan. “We sent a vague request home asking for the song. We received it a few days later and were like, ‘Wow, it’s Britney Spears.’ Before you know it, one thing led to another and we made the video. Our aim was to put out a video that would make our friends and families smile.”
There are 19 performers in the video, all with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 466 (Reinforced), of MCAS New River, N.C., or HMLA-169, an attack squadron out of Camp Pendleton, Calif. Elements of Tarin’s squadron, HLMA-467, joined VMM-266 (rein.) for the MEU’s deployment.
Tarin did all the filming and editing for the video, with Purdy, a Cobra and Huey airframe mechanic, helping to select clips appropriate for different pieces of the song. Tarin appears in the video himself at the 3:10 mark, wearing red goggles and a mustache while singing and sitting behind the wheel of a small bus.
“We all have been blown away by the reactions online,” Tarin said. “We never expected it to get this big. It was awesome that Britney saw the video and approved.”
Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent says farewell at I MEF
April 27th, 2011 | Camp Pendleton Leadership The Sgt. Major of the Marine Corps | Posted by Dan Lamothe
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlton Kent speaks to Marines at Camp Pendleton, Calif., on Tuesday. He retires June 9.
Cross another item off Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent’s list.
The Marine Corps’ senior enlisted Marine traveled to the West Coast this week for what could be the last time before he retires, speaking to Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force and other commands.
A brief Marine Corps account of the trip is posted here. As noted in this recent Marine Corps Times feature on Kent, it’s no surprise he’s making the rounds as the clock ticks down on his time in the Corps.
Behind the Cover: New rules for rating a Purple Heart for mild TBI
April 26th, 2011 | Awards Behind the Cover | Posted by Gina Cavallaro
As expected, the Marine Corps has expanded the rules for rating a Purple Heart for Marines who suffered mild traumatic brain injury.
Bottom line up front: it used to be a Marine had to lose consciousness to get a Purple Heart for mild TBI. Now, if a medical officer determines that a Marine is “not fit for full duty” after 48-hours from the time of the concussive event, the wound merits a Purple Heart.
The new policy became effective April 15, and is retroactive to Sept. 11, 2001. This means thousands of Marines whose medical records show that they meet the new criteria for an event that occurred in battle in Iraq or Afghanistan, can appeal to a Headquarters Marine Corps board to have their case reconsidered for the Purple Heart.
If that’s you or you know someone who might qualify, check it out in this week’s Marine Corps Times.
1/10 Marine artillerymen patrolling Kajaki, Afghanistan
April 25th, 2011 | Afghanistan Infantry Kajaki | Posted by Dan Lamothe
Marines with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, patrol near the Kajaki green zone in Afghanistan's Helmand province on April 19. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jeremy Ross)
Much of the recent media attention in Afghanistan’s Helmand province has focused on the announced turnover of units in and around volatile Sangin district.
That’s certainly newsworthy, but there are certainly other units in northern Helmand still in the fight. One that deserves to be spotlighted is 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, an artillery unit out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.
The Marine Corps has released several reports from the unit in the last few days, focusing on their operations in Kajaki district. Noteworthy for its hydroelectric dam that provides power in southern Afghanistan, it received attention on this blog in October when a series of a painful, touching photographs were published before and after the death of Cpl. Jorge Villarreal.
At the time, Kajaki was patrolled by 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, another artillery unit from Camp Pendleton, Calif. As this report notes, 2/10 has stayed busy since taking over:
Situated along the Helmand River to the north of the volatile Sangin District, Kajaki is blessed with natural scenery. Rocky hills rise above the ‘green zone,’ a winding area of irrigated farmland. The Helmand River flows into the Kajaki Dam near here. There are foaming rapids and a sparkling reservoir. In the fields, farmers grow wheat alongside opium-producing poppy. The latter is currently in full bloom, coloring the area with vivid pinks, whites and reds.
Despite its lush appearance, Kajaki has long been an area under threat by insurgents. The counterinsurgency campaign in Kajaki revolves mostly around the dam and the communities surrounding it, said Cpl. John T. Gizzi, 21, an assistant squad leader from Tucketon, N.J.
“With the way the insurgents influence the people, they’d like to control the dam and its power output so they can tax it,” he explained.
Artillerymen have been called on to do standard infantry jobs in the past, including during some of the worst fighting in Fallujah, Iraq. Kajaki will be one more community to assess for progress as the summer fighting season kicks in.
3/4 Marines replace BLT 3/8 in Afghanistan
April 23rd, 2011 | Afghanistan Infantry MEU operations Sangin | Posted by Dan Lamothe
Cpl. Chris Skaggs, left, a squad leader with India Company, Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion 8th Marines, briefs Marines from Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, as they prepare for an April 18 joint security patrol west of the Nahr-e Saraj canal in Helmand province, Afghanistan. (Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Bryce Piper)
Happy Saturday, everyone. Battle Rattle is typically pretty quiet on the weekend, but a news release just came through this morning that I didn’t want to leave until Monday.
Many readers have been wondering where 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, out of Twentynine Palms, Calif., would fit into the picture in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. Now we know: They’ll be replacing Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, according to announcement released by BLT 3/8′s parent command, the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Marines with 3/4 assumed command of several outposts held by BLT 3/8 in the last two weeks, Marine officials said. They include Combat Outpost Ouellette, which has served as the BLT’s headquarters downrange since they pushed into the upper Gereshk Valley, south of violent Sangin district, after landing in Afghanistan in January.
From COP Ouellette and several other patrol bases, BLT 3/8 has provided security for a variety of development projects, including the completion of Highway 611, the second major paved highway in Afghanistan.
It hasn’t always been safe, either, as our good friend “Headshot” can attest.
Marine officials said BLT 3/8 will meet the rest of the 26th MEU at Lejeune, meaning they won’t be reunited with Marines still deployed with the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group until after the 26th MEU returns home. One would assume that will occur soon.
Bored Marine Video: Marines get their Britney on
April 22nd, 2011 | Afghanistan Bored Marine Video | Posted by Chris Kelly
I’m not sure how we missed this one here on Battle Rattle, but thanks to USATODAY’s Lifeline Blog, we now know there are some motivated filmmakers in the Marine Corps.
Posted earlier this week, the video already has 150,000 views. The video was made by Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 266 (Reinforced) and Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 (HMLA-169).
Britney herself has seen it and loves it.
[blackbirdpie url="https://twitter.com/#!/britneyspears/status/61227100706840576"]
Sgt. Maj. Mike Barrett as a Marine corporal
April 20th, 2011 | Leadership The Sgt. Major of the Marine Corps | Posted by Dan Lamothe
As noted here, Marine Corps Times’ cover story this week will introduce tens of thousands of Marines to Sgt. Maj. Mike Barrett, who will become the 17th sergeant major of the Marine Corps on June 9.
One of the threads we explore in that story is Barrett’s life as a junior Marine at Twentynine Palms, Calif. He met his wife while stationed there, and still owns a home in the area. A friend of Barrett’s, former Lance Cpl. Mitchell Ybarra, passed along this photo of those early days in the Corps:
Cpl. Mike Barrett, right, poses for a photograph with his friend, Lance Cpl. Mitchell Ybarra, in this 1980s photograph.
The photo was taken outside Barrett’s mother’s house in Las Vegas in 1983, Ybarra said. Barrett confirmed he and Ybarra were friends and roommates while with 1st Battalion, 4th Marines.
Barrett will step down as sergeant major of 1st Marine Division, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., on Friday in preparation of him taking his new job, Marine officials said.
Check out this week’s Marine Corps Times on newsstands for the full story or subscribe here.
2/3 Marines now operating in northern Marjah
April 19th, 2011 | Afghanistan Infantry Marjah Sangin | Posted by Dan Lamothe
Lance Cpl. Thomas Waldburger, a drafter-surveyor with 8th Engineer Support Battalion, takes measurements prior to placing the bases of a non-standard bridge during a bridge operation outside Marjah, Afghanistan on April 4 and 5. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Bruno J. Bego)
It looks like the force laydown as we know it in Helmand province, Afghanistan, is evolving.
As pointed out in this Marine Corps news release, forces with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, are now operating out of northwestern Marjah, the former Taliban stronghold that Marine forces assaulted in February 2010. The Island Warriors have forces based at Combat Outpost Yazzie, a patrol base that Battle Rattle readers will remember from my May 2010 embed downrange.
That means there’s plenty of catching up to do on which Marine units are based where in Helmand. Last summer, Yazzie was home to forces from 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. Marines with 3/6 were replaced downrange by another Lejeune battalion — 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines — which was in turn replaced early this year by Lejeune’s 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines.
It isn’t 2/8 at Yazzie, though. It’s 2/3, and battalions from 3rd Marines have been deployed on a rotational basis since early 2010 to Nawa, another former Taliban stronghold to Marjah’s east. Part of 2/3 is still in Nawa, but clearly the situation on the ground has improved enough to remove a company of Marines from Nawa. The Island Warriors also are patrolling Sistani, an area to Marjah’s west that 3/6 Marines grew frustrated with last spring.
I’d take all this as another affirmation that security situation has indeed improved in Nawa and Marjah. It also makes sense that the Corps was able to pull some Echo Company 2/9 forces out of Marjah late last year to assist in the violent Sangin Valley to the north.
At last check, some 2/8 Marines were still deployed in the Sangin area. Lejeune’s 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, meanwhile, is based in central Marjah, the turf where 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, wrangled with insurgents most of last summer.
Behind the Cover: Introducing Sgt. Maj. Mike Barrett
April 18th, 2011 | Afghanistan Behind the Cover Leadership The CMC The Sgt. Major of the Marine Corps | Posted by Dan Lamothe
As Marine Corps Times first reported last week, the Corps will soon have a new top enlisted Marine: Sgt. Maj. Mike Barrett, of 1st Marine Division, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.
If you follow the Corps, you know that already. However, very little else has been published in the past about Barrett, a decorated infantryman who earned two Bronze Stars with “V” device for courage in Iraq and served as a scout sniper during the Gulf War.
This week, Marine Corps Times’ four-page cover story profiles Barrett, his combat heroism, his leadership style and what he’s done behind the scenes as a senior enlisted adviser. It includes comments from Barrett, who took about 20 minutes out of his whirlwind schedule Friday for a telephone interview from Pendleton.
Also quoted in the story are Sgt. Maj. Carlton Kent, the outgoing sergeant major of the Marine Corps, and Maj. Gen. Richard Mills, who recently returned from a year-long deployment to Afghanistan with Barrett. Both leaders offer comments on Barrett that are illuminating.
Numerous Marines who served with Barrett in the past also weigh in, remembering him as a company first sergeant, a junior Marine and new battalion sergeant major. All in all, it should be the definitive piece on the 17th sergeant major of the Marine Corps for some time to come.
One footnote: For anyone wondering, yes, Barrett’s full first name is spelled “Micheal.” It has been butchered on dozens of Marine Corps websites over the years, so I wanted to set the record straight right here.