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Gunnery Sgt. Joseph A. Purdy tightens the straps on a parachute before an air-drop delivery jump at Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field Bogue, N.C., March 27, 2017. The training was part of field exercise Bold Bronco 17, which demonstrated the units ability to provide transportation support via air, land or sea. Purdy is a jumpmaster with 2nd Transportation Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group.

Photo by Sgt. Clemente Garcia

2nd TSB trains with Army on transportation operations

10 Apr 2017 | Sgt. Clementa Garcia The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

Marines with 2nd Transportation Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group conducted field exercise Bold Bronco 17 across multiple training areas on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, from March 27 to April 6, 2017.


The battalion conducted the exercise to showcase the unit’s transportation capabilities, while training with adjacent units and sister branches. Additionally, it validated the battalion’s ability to provide various types of transportation support that II Marine Expeditionary Force may need. 

The battalion does not always have the venues available to display all its capabilities, so it is important to come out for exercises, explained Marine Lt. Col. John S. Sattely, the battalion commander of 2nd TSB. Typically, the Marines get sent out in small detachments for specific support missions.

The events during this exercise challenged the unit’s ability to provide transportation support on land, air and sea.

Marines trained alongside U.S. Army Soldiers conducting air-delivery training and beach operations.

“The intent was to come out and demonstrate capabilities to validate interoperability with our U.S. Army counterparts,” Sattely said. 

The Marines conducted air-delivery training by jumping out of MV-22B Ospreys with Army riggers from 647th Quartermaster Company, 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

“This was a special experience for the Soldiers,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ismael Ramosbarbosa, a command air-drop officer with 647th QM Co. “It was their first time jumping from an MV-22B Osprey.” 

Despite minor problems with the weather, both Marines and Soldiers successfully made their jumps and learned that they could accomplish air-delivery in a joint environment. 

The Army also took part in amphibious operations with the Marines at Onslow Beach.

Both Combat Logistics Battalion 6 and CLB 8, 2nd MLG supported the exercise’s amphibious operations by loading vehicles on and off Landing Craft Mechanized-8 boats.

The LCM-8 is a boat capable of carrying vehicles, cargo and personnel during amphibious operations. The LCM-8s were provided by Army unit 1098th Transportation Detachment, 11th transportation Battalion, 7th Transportation Brigade stationed in Fort Eustis, Virginia.

During training, the Marines and Soldiers ran into moments of friction, which yielded learning experiences for all.

They learned the capabilities of the LCM-8 and how much weight it could handle without getting stuck on the shore.

“This experience means a lot,” said Army 1st Lt. Robert Sypole, the detachment executive officer of 1098th Transportation Detachment. “This gives us realistic training for future war-time operations.”

One of the larger events was the helicopter support team operations. These teams of landing support Marines practiced hooking and unhooking a 1,000 pound beam to a CH-53E Super Stallion to simulate the transportation of gear via air assets. 

“We tried to work as many pieces as we could into this exercise to give our guys exposure,” Sattely said. “There’s more that we can do as a battalion, and I think that we just need to express that to the rest of the Marine Corps.”

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