Stories

Dedicated Marines lead the way to mission accomplishment

During the action to support the continuing Operation Iraqi Freedom, Marines and Sailors throughout the area of operations have worked long hours in hostile environments, rarely slowing down or stopping until their mission was completed. Service members of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 have been no exception to that rule - the "White

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Deployed Marines upgrade martial arts skills in Al Asad

The unspoken motto of the Marine Corps is to improvise, adapt and overcome in order to complete the mission. Marines deployed here exercise this motto by bettering their training in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program March 10, during down time in the combat environment. "MCMAP gives Marines something to look forward to and helps them focus on

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A scratch pad sits in front of a Marine studying algebra during his spare time at Al Asad, Iraq, Oct. 13. - A scratch pad sits in front of a Marine studying algebra during his spare time at Al Asad, Iraq, Oct. 13.

Deployed Marines teach college algebra to fellow devil dogs

Dividing polynomials in a college algebra class is the norm for many students attending college in the United States, but it is not what one typically thinks of as the thing to do while deployed to a combat zone. Sgt. Roger D. Huffstetler, operations chief with Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 3, Marine Central Command, has changed that

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The Thunderbolts and the Rooks listen to Rear Adm. Raymond Spicer as he commends them on their work at Al Asad, Iraq, Oct. 12. The Marines and sailors are with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 and Electronic Attack Squadron 137, Carrier Air Wing One, Carrier Strike Group Twelve. Spicer is the commander of CSG-12 and a native of Triangle, Va. - The Thunderbolts and the Rooks listen to Rear Adm. Raymond Spicer as he commends them on their work at Al Asad, Iraq, Oct. 12. The Marines and sailors are with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 and Electronic Attack Squadron 137, Carrier Air Wing One, Carrier Strike Group Twelve. Spicer is the commander of CSG-12 and a native of Triangle, Va.

CSG-12 Admiral visits Thunderbolts, Rooks at Al Asad

The Thunderbolts and the Rooks waited patiently in formation the afternoon of Oct. 12 for the arrival of their special guest, Rear Adm. Raymond Spicer at Al Asad, Iraq. Spicer, commander, Carrier Strike Group Twelve, flew to the air base to visit the Marines and sailors of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 and Electronic Attack Squadron 137,

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Two Marines carry a wounded comrade to a waiting CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, while Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Brink (center), corpsman, Naval Medical Center San Diego, walks along side during a simulated casualty evacuation Dec. 10. The Marines and sailor were participating in Exercise Desert Talon 1-06, a training exercise designed to prepare Marine and Army aviation units for their upcoming deployment to Iraq. - Two Marines carry a wounded comrade to a waiting CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter, while Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Brink (center), corpsman, Naval Medical Center San Diego, walks along side during a simulated casualty evacuation Dec. 10. The Marines and sailor were participating in Exercise Desert Talon 1-06, a training exercise designed to prepare Marine and Army aviation units for their upcoming deployment to Iraq.

Corpsmen ready to save lives in Iraq

Marines and sailors from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing participated in Exercise Desert Talon 1-06 in the Arizona desert Dec. 2-14. The training was designed to prepare Marine and Army aviation units for their upcoming deployment to Iraq. A portion of the training focused on perfecting the process of removing wounded warriors from the battlefield.

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Petty Officer 1st Class Michael P. Thomas raises his right hand while swearing the corpsman's oath during a ceremony celebrating the 108th Birthday of the United States Navy Hospital Corps in Al Asad, Iraq, June 17. The celebration honored the long history of the Hospital Corp's devoted ranks of sailors that provided lifesaving care to Marine and Sailor casualties in places like Iwo Jima, Vietnam and now Iraq. Thomas is the leading petty officer with Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and is a Manteca, Calif., native. - Petty Officer 1st Class Michael P. Thomas raises his right hand while swearing the corpsman's oath during a ceremony celebrating the 108th Birthday of the United States Navy Hospital Corps in Al Asad, Iraq, June 17. The celebration honored the long history of the Hospital Corp's devoted ranks of sailors that provided lifesaving care to Marine and Sailor casualties in places like Iwo Jima, Vietnam and now Iraq. Thomas is the leading petty officer with Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, and is a Manteca, Calif., native.

Corpsmen celebrate 108th birthday

Navy corpsmen here were on hand to see some of their own promoted, receive their Fleet Marine Force pins and celebrate the 108th birthday of the Hospital Corps on the flight line at Al Asad, June 17. Corpsmen Sean Aldridge and Elaine Kelly with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352, Marine Aircraft Group 16 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft

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Cpl. Richard S. Jackel dumps the remaining oil from a generator's oil filter into an oil pan at Al Asad, Iraq, July 19, during a weekly session of preventive maintenance. Jackel is a generator mechanic with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. He is a 22-year-old native of Dallas. - Cpl. Richard S. Jackel dumps the remaining oil from a generator's oil filter into an oil pan at Al Asad, Iraq, July 19, during a weekly session of preventive maintenance. Jackel is a generator mechanic with Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, Marine Air Control Group 38 (Reinforced), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. He is a 22-year-old native of Dallas.

Communications remains powered, cool because of Utility Marines

In the Iraqi desert, electricity and cool air can be considered a scarce commodity. Almost every individual deployed to the sandy environment has to use power in some way, and cool air is needed to keep the equipment providing the power running. However, both necessities don't just fall out of the sky into the lap of the person using it. There are

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Comm Squadron connects workspaces with more than 20 miles of fiber-optic cable

Since the late 1980s people have been fascinated with the power of a new invention that can send information at the speed of light using only cable as thick as a pencil. Marine Wing Communication Squadron 38 arrived in Iraq with a plan to connect more than 20 miles of fiber-optic cable to assist the Marines and Sailors supporting Operation Iraqi

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The Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee listens to a Marine's question, during his visit at Al Asad, Iraq, April 11. In the course of the commandant's visit, he ate breakfast with several Marines from various units, as well as stopped by a few squadrons to talk with Marines. - The Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee listens to a Marine's question, during his visit at Al Asad, Iraq, April 11. In the course of the commandant's visit, he ate breakfast with several Marines from various units, as well as stopped by a few squadrons to talk with Marines.

CMC, SMMC visit Marines at Al Asad

The Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee followed closely by the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada visited the Marines at Al Asad, Iraq, April 11. The commandant began his stay aboard Al Asad by eating breakfast with several Marines from various units at the Wings of Freedom Dining Facility. "It's a

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Staff Sgt. Harlan R. Calilao hands out stuffed animals to local Iraqi children in Jubbah, Iraq, May 13. Harlan, project manager, Detachment 1, 3rd Civil Affairs Group, Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and native of San Diego, is part of the CAG Marines who go out into local towns and help to strengthen the relationship with the Iraqi people. - Staff Sgt. Harlan R. Calilao hands out stuffed animals to local Iraqi children in Jubbah, Iraq, May 13. Harlan, project manager, Detachment 1, 3rd Civil Affairs Group, Regimental Combat Team 7, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and native of San Diego, is part of the CAG Marines who go out into local towns and help to strengthen the relationship with the Iraqi people.

Civil Affairs helps rebuild what has been damaged

A U.S. convoy rolls through the town here stopping at random intervals ensuring there are no explosive devices. Local citizens sit along the adobe buildings and stare at this everyday occurrence. As the vehicles suddenly stop and the Marines from one humvee get out and walk to the back of the vehicle, the locals appear nervous by the new and

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