CLR-15 (FWD) April Edition Newsletter

COMBAT LOGISTICS REGIMENT-15 (FORWARD)

Above:

Now Zad, Afghanistan

CO/SgtMaj’s Remarks 2, 3 Headquarters and Service Company 4 Maintenance Company 6 Supply Company 8 Motor Transport Company 10 Security Company 12 Bravo Surgical Company 14 Chaplain 16 Hail and Farewell 17 Promotions/ Births 18

CLR-15 (FWD) APRIL 2010

COMMANDING OFFICER

Families and Friends of CLR-15 (FWD),

It is a privilege to report to you that the Marines and Sailors of CLR-15 (FWD) are doing exceptionally well! We have taken over from the previous unit and we are well on our way to a memorable deployment. Without a doubt, we miss all of you, but the Marines and Sailors have quickly adjusted to their new surroundings and everyone is settling into a routine. Life in Afghanistan is fast paced, dusty, and hot, but it is can also be enjoyable. The team is living together in close quarters, eating together, working together, and sharing memories of home. The relationships and camaraderie developed in this environment will last a lifetime, but nothing can replace the time spent with you. This is what keeps us going.

Since assuming the mission of supporting I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD) with Supply, Maintenance, Distribution, and Medical, the Command has been operating at an accelerated pace. Marines and Sailors at the most remote and forward loca-tions are relying on our efforts and I can proudly say that your Marines and Sailors are delivering and setting a new standard. It is an honor to serve with men and women of such high character and desire to succeed while making tremendous sacrifices for our Nation. It is reassuring to all of us that we have such a special group of loved ones who are capable of taking care of every-thing at home and allowing us to focus on the mission at hand. No words can express our gratitude for your service.

The Marines and Sailors of CLR-15 (FWD) are in many different locations. The main logistics hub is at Camp Leatherneck, but there are personnel located at Camp Dwyer, Camp Delaram, Now Zad, Marjeh, Musa Qaleh, and Payne. Rest assured, no mat-ter where a Marine or Sailor from CLR-15 (FWD) is located, they are being taken care of and are safe. We have already accom-plished many great things in a very short time, but there are many challenges ahead to improve logistics support. The rough environment and long transportation pipeline make the simplest things complex and difficult, but as you would expect, the in-genuity of our motivated Marines and Sailors will not be denied. Whether it is fixing a vehicle or building a chair out of HESCO wire, nothing can stop these incredible Warriors. They represent the finest our Nation has to offer.

Although we have much more to do and are just beginning, we are already thinking about our reunion with you. It will be a special day!

Semper Fi,

LtCol K. J. Stewart

Above: LtCol Stewart and SgtMaj Miller (center) with the Company Commanders and Guides of CLR-15 (FWD).

SERGEANT MAJOR


Families and Friends of CLR-15 (FWD),

The trip over to Afghanistan was very long and tiring for most of the Marines and Sailors and it took a few days to get our bodies adjusted once we landed in country. The Marines and Sailors of CLR-15 (FWD) have hit the ground running and I believe that they will do great things during our deployment in Afghanistan.

When asked by the Commanding Officer to take over all duties from CLC-252 earlier than expected, our Marines and Sailors rose to the occasion to accomplish the task. We have only been here about a month and our Marines and Sailors are already making a noticeable impression with the other units around Afghanistan with their professionalism and hard work ethic. While supporting I MEF our Marines and Sailors are already setting an example that will be hard for any other unit to match during any deployment anywhere.

Everything on Camp Leatherneck is very tight and our living conditions are very cramped, but thankfully we are starting to get some extra room so the Marines and Sailors can spread out a little when they have time to relax. The chow halls are crowded and the food isn’t that bad, but we all still miss the home cooking back in the states. The weather isn’t that hot right now, but that is about to end with the summer months coming and will probably stay that way during the rest of our deployment. Another obstacle facing us is the one hundred days of winds which will be heading our way by the end of April and we are bracing for the big sand storms that come with those high winds.

Even though we are spread out among different FOBs across Afghanistan we are really coming together as a unit and you should be proud of everything we are doing in country. Our Marines and Sailors impress me with everything they do on a daily basis and I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to be their Sergeant Major during this deployment. We all miss our fami-lies and friends back home and think about you on a daily basis. Please remember that mail is a great motivator for all of the Marines and Sailors while we are deployed and knowing that we have your support really keeps us going everyday. We think about you often and could not do the great things that we do without your total support. We will keep you in our prayers and God Bless.

Semper Fi,

SgtMaj J.S. Miller

Above: Sergeant Major Miller (center) with the Company First Sergeants and Company Guides.

Above: Corporal Stanley and Lance Corporal Paz from the S-6 are promoted to Sergeant and Corporal April 1, 2010.


H&S Company Commander: First Lieutenant M. M. Russell

H&S Company First Sergeant: First Sergeant R. A. McEvoy

Mailing Address

CLR-15 (FWD), H&S

Unit 42145

FPO AP 96427-2145


Company Commander’s Corner Company First Sergeant To Family & Friends, I want to start off with a quote from Ronald Reagan,“Some people wonder all their lives if they’ve made a difference. The Marines don’t have that problem”. Your Marines or Sailors are making a difference over here on this foreign sand. From day one your loved ones have jumped in with both feet, ready to take on any challenge set before them. It’s already been a month and time seems to be flying bye, before you know it we will be home holding our loved ones in our arms. I want to personally thank the families for taken on the burden of running the house-hold while you’re Marine or Sailor is de-ployed. Your support is what keeps my Ma-rines or Sailors focused.

One Team, One fight

God Bless,

1stSgt McEvoy

To the Family & Friends of H&S Company,

Hello from Camp Leatherneck. It has been my honor to lead the Marines and Sailors of Headquar-ters and Service Company through our first month aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. The Ma-rines and Sailors of H&S have been in a full sprint this past month making their mark in history.

I am confident you all know your loved ones have been doing great things; nevertheless I want to stop for a moment to boast about their performance. H&S accounts for over 100 personnel, provides sound and reliable intelligence, coordinates the movement of personnel and gear over several hun-dred miles, providing medical support to our mili-tary personnel and to the people of Afghanistan, all while keeping the communications systems up and running.

I often pause in amazement on how the Marines and Sailors have done so much in one month, but I have no doubt where their motivation comes from when the packages and letters arrive from home.

Thank you for the sacrifices you continue to make.

Semper Fi!

1stLt Russell


Company Commander’s Corner Hello friends and families of Maintenance Company,

We have arrived at our destination and all is well. Your Marines have hit the ground running making things happen and making a difference already. I have to continue to remind them to remember this is a Marathon, one of the Marines responded “yes sir, but we are running with the Kenyans”, I couldn’t help but laugh. I walk around the shops and look each one in the eyes and can tell they believe in what they are doing and know they are indeed making a difference for the people of Afghanistan.

The weather here is getting warmer and the winds pick up every once in a while, making it challenging at times to stay focused on maintaining the Marine Expeditionary Force’s Combat Power---they do it without skipping a beat. You should have no worries; I have some of the best Staff Non Commissioned Officers and Officers the Marine Corps have to offer looking after your loved ones. We will take care of them throughout this deployment and we will make sure they all come back home safe and back into your arms again. My staff and I know you too have a tough job keeping the home front on an even keel. This is im-portant to all of us so our Marines stay focused on the mission ahead---we thank you for this.

These Marines of yours are a great group of Men and Women and I’m proud to serve as their Command-ing Officer.

Maj Jerry R. Copley

Maintenance Company Commander: Major J. R. Copley

Company First Sergeant: First Sergeant J. E. Monroe


Greetings families, friends and loved ones,

I would like to begin by telling you that the Marines of Maintenance Company have done an amazing done job since our arrival in March. Every task placed before them has not only been completed, it has been completed beyond expectations. Mission accomplishment is at the forefront of their minds, of which their hard work can attest, and the fruits of their labor are visible every single day.

On 1 April the company was able to reward several Marines for their hard work and dedication to the Ma-rine Corps during our first promotion ceremony in country. The Marines promoted were Sgt Klutts, Sgt McGowan, Sgt Shepperd, Cpl Brooks, Cpl Daggs, LCpl Alfaro, LCpl Dujon and PFC Akin.

I would like to personally thank the wives, husbands, mothers, fathers and friends for all the prayers, sup-port and well wishes that we have received since arriving in Afghanistan. There is no way that we could continue to do what we do without your support. Please continue to encourage your Marine and keep in them in your thoughts and prayers. The more prayers that go up, the more blessings fall upon us. God Bless you and your family.

1stSgt J. E. Monroe

Company First Sergeant

Mailing Address CLR-15 (FWD)

Maint Co Unit 42286

FPO AP 96427-2286

Left: Major Copley congratulates Staff Sergeant Hunter on his reenlistment.

Mailing Address CLR-15 (FWD) Sup Co

Unit 42285 FPO AP 96427-2285


Above: Lance Corporal Felten answers a question for Brigadier General Hudson, (Commanding General, 1st Marine Logistics Group Forward).

SUPPLY CO.

Supply Company Commander: Major D. R. Burke

Company First Sergeant: First Sergeant R. B. Stephens

Company Commander’s Corner



Hello to all the Families of the Marines and Sailors of Supply Company,

The Marines have started off at a brisk pace for the 10-1 deployment in support of OEF. All sections have been engaged in learning how to operate in a new environment without all of the creature comforts of home. I have been impressed by how quickly they have assimilated and taken to a rigorous work schedule. The Marines start early in the morn-ing and work well into the evening to ensure that the right gear is getting to the warfighters quickly. We have Marines spread throughout the theater providing logistics support. I could not be more proud to work along side these outstanding young men and women.

Thank you for all of your support!

Best Regards,

Maj Doug Burke

Family and Friends,

We’re quickly coming up on our first month deployed. In our short time here, the accom-plishments of Supply Company’s Marines and Sailors have been nothing short of amazing. Since arriving, we’ve hit the ground running and made it almost look easy. In our short stay, the Supply Company and other elements of CLR-15 (Forward) have already made sig-nificant improvements to the logistical sup-port received across the Marine Air Ground Task Force area of operations. We are well on our way to having a great deployment and writing a page or two in the history books. There is still much to be accomplished to build our Supply Company legacy here in Af-ghanistan, but we are off to a great start. It is a pleasure to serve alone side such profes-sionals.

1stSgt Ray Stephens


Left: 3rd Platoon motivators Lance Corporal Boosey and Lance Corporal Harris assist Corporal Plante (driving) in hooking up a PLS trailer to an LVSR at FOB Dwyer before a CLP.

GS MT Company Commaner: Captain C. A. Hines

Company First Sergeant: First Sergeant S. A. Miller

Mailing Address

CLR-15 (FWD) MT Co

Unit 42147

FPO AP 96427-2147



Company First Sergeant Motor T Company Family and Friends,

General Support Motor Transport Company (GSMT Company) is delivering the goods! Af-ter many months of preparation and training GSMT is now conducting operations. Your Marines are now benefiting from the many days and hours of preparation enabling them to successfully conduct day to day missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. I can assure each of you your Marines repre-sent the very best America has to offer and I cannot be more proud of them and their de-sire to serve their Country and Corps. It is an honor to have the opportunity to serve with each of them. I furthermore appreciate your support of these Marines and the sacrifices each of you make day to day having your loved ones so far away.

Semper Fidelis,

1stSgt Miller

Motor T Company Family and Friends,

Your Marines have hit the ground running, and running fast. I am constantly impressed by the work ethic and proficiency of the men and women in this Company, and feel privi-leged to be their Company Commander dur-ing this deployment. I am well aware of the worry and challenges that you all face at home with your Marine here in Afghani-stan. Let me just say thank you for the sacri-fices you are making on the home front, and assure you that the leaders in this Company will continue to do everything possible to en-sure for the safety and well being of every Marine in Motor T Company.

Semper Fi,

Capt Hines

Above (Left to Right): Lance Corporals Hernandez, Hornor, Hudman, Stephens, Tisbi, and Tubb were promoted to Corporal on 1 April.


Security Company Commander: Captain E. T. Carper

Company First Sergeant: Gunnery Sergeant A. T. Dupree

Mailing Address

CLR-15 (FWD) Sec Co

Unit 42160

FPO AP 96427-2160

Families and Friends,

Our theme for this deployment seems to be “Keep moving” because that is exactly what your Marines have been doing. From the de-parture or our advance party to the embarka-tion of the main body; your Marines have been moving none stop. They have discov-ered that in Afghanistan, a 20 mile trip does not necessarily mean you will get there in a short amount of time. The range has been from five and half hours to seventeen hours. Your Marines have not lost stride whatsoever and have kept moving, constantly training and rehearsing in between missions. Al-though we miss our families, the relatively moderate pace of missions has allowed Ma-rines and Sailors of Security Company to call home. Receiving mail has also been a great morale booster. On behalf of the Marines and Sailors of Security Company, thank you for the support from back home.

Semper Fi,

Capt Carper

Above: Security Company with the Commanding Officer and Sergeant Major.




Greetings,

I pray that all is well with you our families who support us while we carry out our God given duties as Marines and Sailors. As for your Marines/Sailors, we are doing fine, we’ve had various successful missions and I expect this will continue to be the case for the entire deployment. As mentioned in the Company News Letter, I believe in the power of prayer and both your Chaplain and I pray for every mission that leaves this base.

As for mail, I want to say thank you on behalf of the entire Company, everyone has received some form of mail. I encourage you to continue to send it; it is a morale booster and gives the Marines something to look forward too, thus allowing them to carry out their duties with their minds focused on the mission at hand, knowing all is well back home.

As I conclude, I want to take this time to say Congratula-tions to LCpl Charles J Center, for receiving his first Good Conduct Medal. This award highlights a Marine for demonstrating three years of Consistent Good Character and Conduct both on and off duty; this should not be taken lightly, as there have been Marines who were not able to receive the award. Lastly, I want to acknowledge one other recipient of the Letter of Appreciation (LOA) for his leadership and guidance during the advance party: 1stLt Bradley A. Motz. As first Platoon Commander he refused to take any type of recognition away from his Marines, and thus was not mentioned in the Company news letter. This act alone really demonstrates a stan-dard for all Marines in leadership positions to emulate.

“If any of you have any concerns regarding your Marines please feel free to contact me via the e-mail address be-low and I will respond back as soon as possible”.

God Bless Gunnery Sergeant Dupree

E-Mail: [email protected] Semper Fi, Always Faithful to God FIRST


Bravo Surgical Company Commander: CDR G. J. Woelkers

Bravo Surgical Company Senior Enlisted Leader: Chief J. F. Ryan

Mailing Address

CLR-15 (FWD)

Bravo Surg

Unit 42135

FPO AP 96427-2135

Commanding Officer’s Desk,

Dear family and friends, back in the States and around the world. It seems as if we have been gone far longer than we actually have. However, three months away from you has proved challenging and has found many of us re-flecting on the wonderful lives we live back home, and missing the support-ing loved ones we left behind.

Our days here in Camp Leatherneck, and in other surrounding forward oper-ating bases, have aloud us to prepare for the challenging mission that lies be-fore us. On 19 March, we took a company photograph and began the process of moving our operations forward to meet our mission to provide world class trauma care to coalition forces engaged in operations around Helmand Prov-ince.

The Bravo Surgical Company team is filled with motivated and extremely tal-ented health care professionals and marines. You should be proud of your loved ones and what they have volunteered to do here in Afghanistan. Each member of Bravo Surgical Company has taken an oath to support and defend and perform missions that are often above self and for a greater cause. We know the sacrifices and we accept them. With the continued support from you back home, we are energized to represent you and our country by serving the many medical needs of our patrons here in Afghanistan. It is an honor and a privilege to serve as the Commanding Officer of this outstanding Surgical Company. Thank you for sharing your loved ones with us as we serve our country with honor, courage and commitment.

Sincerely,

Commander Jay Woelkers, MSC, USN

Senior Enlisted Leader,

We came together as a team on January 11, 2010, and quickly form into a fam-ily. Now we are together in Afghanistan and we could not have wish for a bet-ter family. Every person brings a special talent with them and as we start to push to our different missions, please know they will not be alone. We hope you enjoy this first of many newsletters and god bless all the family members of the service members of Bravo Surgical Company.

HMC(FMF) Jonathan Ryan

Senior Enlisted Leader, Bravo Surgical Co



GREETINGS FROM THE CHAPLAIN Hello everyone, my name is LT Jeanette Shin. I am serving as the CLR-15 (FWD )Chaplain during this 10.1 Operation Enduring Freedom deployment to Afghanistan. I may have met some of you while serving as the 1st Maintenance Battalion Chaplain at Camp Pendleton. Together with my Religious Program Specialist, Petty Officer Third Class Benjamin Carter, we hope to provide spiritual and morale support to the Marines and Sailors of CLR-15 (FWD).

I’d like to begin by describing some of the religious services available at Camp Leatherneck. There are three chapels which pro-vide a variety of religious services, from Catholic to Wiccan to Gospel Christian to Buddhist. There are times for classes and quiet reflection throughout the week. We even had a Rabbi fly out from Camp Lejeune to provide Jewish services! Our chapels are very simple: several tents and wooden floors and benches but they do provide a welcome space to watch a DVD, read, or study. Nearby are the MWR spaces which store care-package items, books, and there are also Internet/phone cafés. My office here also has care items available, and also it is a place for counseling, or filming a United Through Reading DVD.

Being on deployment is mentally and physically challenging. It is also emotionally challenging, especially because of the separa-tion from family, even for single Marines and Sailors. Although today we have almost instant communication via phone and Inter-net, it’s not the same as being face-to-face and speaking with a human being. This is especially true if there are unpleasant per-sonal problems. There is only so much we can do while living on the other side of the world!

What can we do to overcome the stresses that we meet? As with any other problem, one thing we can do is to seek help from oth-ers, whether it is from people in similar conditions, other spouses and individuals who have faced the same difficulties, or from counselors or clergy who can provide support and guidance. Even if we are reluctant to talk and confide in others, we can still educate ourselves on how to cope with wartime stress, through research online, and from books. There are many, many re-sources available! Probably the most negative thing we can do would be to suffer in silence, and to assume that there is abso-lutely nothing that can help us.

In many spiritual and religious traditions, it is advised that for a person to change their life around to a positive outlook, he or she must first change their entire way of thinking. In some traditions, it is to rely on the will of God, or to have faith, or to focus on be-nevolent attitudes and behavior instead of anger or resentment. This must occur even though one is in the midst of danger. Our original difficulties do not magically vanish, but become transformed, turning from a burden into a reality that can help us grow, mature, and become better human beings. I believe that this kind of transformation is a first step in defeating our own personal hardships.

I sincerely pray that we all come through safe and sound from this deployment! Also, that from our experiences, whatever they may be, we emerge fuller and greater human beings than we were before.

Namaste! (Peace!)


Mailing Address

CLR-15 (FWD),

Charlie Surg

Unit 42135

FPO AP 96427-2135

Farewell and Following Seas to Alpha Surgical Company as they return to Camp Pendleton

after a highly successful Tour here in Afghani-stan. CAPT D. F. Noltkamper and the Marines

and Sailors of Alpha Surgical Company will be sorely missed.

Welcome to the Marines and Sailors of Charlie Surgical Company. We look forward to work-ing with CDR. C. Mankowski and the Marines and Sailors of Charlie Surgical Company in

the coming months.


April

Promotions: Sergeant David Klutts

John McGowan

Sterling Shepperd

Brian Stanley

Corporal Chad Brooks

Charles Center

Zachary Daggs

Erick Hernandez

Thomas Hornor

Travis Hudman

Robert Mackey Jr.

Brian McQuade

Daniel Nizuel

Jessica Paz

Lynn Stephens

Richie Tisbi

Joseph Tubb

Zachary Verges

Lance Corporal Queben Alfaro

Daniel Brand

Emanuel Dujon

Michael Hamilton

Zachary Hart

Kyle Kell

Wesley Lane

Joseph Prieto

Phillip Sena

Paloma Swei

James Underwood

Cole Young

Private First Class Mitchell Akin

New Arrivals to the CLR-15 (FWD) Family

GSMT Company

Addyson Roberts (LCpl Byron and Courtney Roberts)

Braden Patterson (LCpl Jonathan and Tiffany Patterson)

Bravo Surgical Company

Carson and Cole Martinez (HM3 Michael and Sarah Martinez)

CLR-15 (FWD) April Edition Newsletter

Documents

Transcript of CLR-15 (FWD) April Edition Newsletter