HIJUDAI TRAINING AREA, Japan -- Marines from Combat Service Support Detachment 36 are supporting Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment and Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division during an Artillery Training Program at Hijudai Training Area, Jan. 20 to Feb. 15.
While 1/10 sent 600 rounds down range, the motor transportation, supply and mechanic Marines from Iwakuni, along with a few Marines from Okinawa, formed a new unit called Combat Logistics Company Alpha to better support the artillery Marines.
“Training exercises like these make sure our Marines get an opportunity to train outside of their military occupational specialty and meet and understand combat arms units and their needs,” said 1st Lt. Arturo Torres, CLC Alpha commander. “Not only do they perform their jobs, but they get a better understanding of artillery.”
During the live fire artillery exercise, CLC Alpha Marines conducted contact missions in case the battery needed supplies, maintenance or explosive ordnance disposal support.
“A contact mission is when we receive a request from the battery to fix a number of different types of equipment ranging from their howitzers, radios to trucks,” said Sgt. Thomas A. Lanier, CLC Alpha platoon sergeant and native of Myakka, Fla.
When something breaks out in the field, the battery is not capable of fixing it due to limited capabilities.
“Basically, it’s our job to go out in the field, turn wrenches and weld,” remarked Lance Cpl. Dominique G. Braswell, Combat Logistics Company Alpha ground radio tech and native of Burbank, Calif.
To be able to successfully support the grunts out in the field, the Marines have to know how to get out there in a quick and proficient manner.
“We never know when we will get a contact mission,” said Lanier. “It could be in early morning, late night and in any weather condition.”
However, to get out to the field the Marines have to convoy through a muddy maze of dirt roads.
The Marines successfully plotted 50 kilometers of roads using the Global Positioning System in order to navigate through the terrain.
“By making these points on the GPS, the Marines won’t make a wrong turn and will know where to go,” said Lanier.
CLC Alpha has all the tools and maps they need to fix any problem out in the field whether it’s big or small.
“So far the exercise has been a great success,” said Lanier. “We accomplished a lot and have fixed everything that has come down to us.”