Group Marines support offload in Korea

[thedrifter]

Group Marines support offload in Korea
Submitted by: MCB Camp Butler
Story Identification Number: 20031152115
Story by Cpl. Matthew Barkalow



CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa, Japan(Nov. 1, 2003) -- More than 300 Marines from Okinawa have supported an operation at Republic of Korea Naval Port Chinhae to transfer equipment from one ship to another since Oct. 27.

Nearly half of those Marines are those of 3rd Force Service Support Group, assigned to Combat Service Support Detachment-34, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward. Some of those Marines are comprised of motor transportation operators and mechanics and heavy equipment operators and mechanics.

According to Capt. Seth Haggerty, executive officer, CSSD-34, 3MEB FWD, the FSSG Marines arrived at Chinhae Port last week aboard the MV Phillips and MV Kocak, both ships based with Maritime Prepositioning Squadron-2, out of U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia.

The Pittsburgh, Penn., native said the purpose of the operation is to show how quickly the Marine Corps is ready at any given time to deploy to a certain area if need be.

"This operation demonstrates the Marine Corps' deployability and viability for future operations," Haggerty said. "This is part of the Marine Corps' `force tailoring.'"

He added it is vital for the Marines of 3rd FSSG to participate in the operation because they are essential personnel in offloading the equipment from each ship and putting it back on the other.

By swapping the equipment from one ship to the other, it would make the MV Kocak a flagged ship and make the MV Phillips a non-flagged ship.

He said the Marines are working alongside ROK servicemembers, moving more than 200 vehicles and containers off the Kocak before putting the equipment on the Phillips.

"The Marines from FSSG and the ROK servicemembers have been working together greatly to accomplish this mission," Haggerty said. "Due to FSSG and ROK forces working so well together we are ahead of schedule. They have helped and enabled us to move quickly and effectively."

Haggerty said Marines are working on a container lot to move a lot of equipment, including ordinance, vehicles and engineer equipment.

After swapping equipment, the FSSG Marines will spend time taking down tents and maintenance areas. Once that is done, the Marines will be returning home to Okinawa, Haggerty said.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2...11?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger