Photo Information

Sgt. Maj. Robin Fortner, left, sergeant major of the Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force, speaks with Sgt. Jason McMullen, light armored vehicle crewman, Company B, GCEITF, during a limited technical inspection at the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion ramp, Sept. 9, 2014. Each vehicle came with dozens of tools and upkeep equipment. From October 2014 to July 2015, the GCEITF will conduct individual and collective level skills training in designated ground combat arms occupational specialties in order to facilitate the standards-based assessment of the physical performance of Marines in a simulated operating environment performing specific ground combat arms tasks. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez/Released)

Photo by Cpl. Paul S. Martinez

GCEITF receives equipment for mission ahead

12 Sep 2014 | Cpl. Paul S. Martinez The Official United States Marine Corps Public Website

As part of a unit being formed from scratch, the Marines of the Ground Combat Element Integrated Task Force have to obtain all their organizational gear and equipment from other existing units within the 2nd Marine Division.

Marines with the GCEITF conducted limited technical inspections, or LTIs, on radio equipment at the 8th Marine Regiment communications building and light armored vehicles at the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion ramp, Sept. 9, 2014.

At the communications building, Marines performed an operations check on various radio equipment systems to ensure their operability in the field.

“(Second Marine) Division assigns a unit and list of gear for us,” said Cpl. Michael Fuentes, field radio operator, with the communications section of the GCEITF.  “We went through the gear with the (8th Marine Regiment) Marines until we found out that all of the radios are good.”

Any discrepancies with the equipment are able to be handled immediately to prevent possession of faulty gear, according to Fuentes.

“We don’t want to find out anything is broken when we are already in the field,” Fuentes said.

The equipment received included the Army/Navy portable radio communications multiband  man-pack radio 117F, AN PRC 150 military high frequency radio and the AN vehicular radio communications 110 system.

“Communications gear is a key asset,” Fuentes said. “During ranges or patrols this is something that allows fast communication with the chain of command.”

Marines with Company B also received gear needed for their future mission .. The GCEITF obtained five light armored vehicle 25’s and one LAV logistical vehicle from 2nd LAR Bn.

Marines unveiled the vehicles and looked over every wheel and door before denoting the vehicles ready for use. They then inspected each piece of stock list level three equipment, which contained the tools necessary for upkeep of the vehicles.

“We looked over the SL-3 gear for the vehicles because without them, they wouldn’t be mission effective,” said Cpl. Pedro Zepeda, LAV gunner, Co. B., GCEITF. “If something breaks, we need the tools to fix it.”

The SL-3 gear included axes, colored flags, rope and hand tools such as wrenches to equip LAV crews with the gear needed to get through any situation. LAV’s play a significant role in training, according to Zepeda.

“The LAV-25 is good to have because it allows for mobility in the field,” Zepeda said. “It is also a valuable reconnaissance asset.”

With a successful acceptance of gear, Marines with the GCEITF are one step closer to fulfilling the mission once training officially begins in October.