11th MEU makes use of downtime during first stages of deployment

Story Date
2/22/2006 By
Byline
Cpl. Ruben D. Calderon ,
Unit
11th MEU

Dateline

ABOARD THE USS OGDEN AND USS PELELIU
Page Content

Marines and sailors expect the days to be filled with work and play at sea during a deployment.

Most would agree the two equal parts rarely happen on the same day. On ship, there are some days in which training needs to get done and free time takes a back seat. On the flip side, there are days in which Marines and sailors struggle to find activities to fill their day.

The Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, (Special Operations Capable) Camp Pendleton, Calif., have already seen both sides of the coin, just one week into their six-month deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

img_0058.jpg, 5/21/2006 4:39 AM
Marines and sailors take part in an Islamic Cultural Intelligence Class aboard the USS Peleliu Feb. 16, in preparation for a possible deployment to the Middle East. The servicemembers learned about the Sunni, Shi�ite and other different ethnic groups in Iraq and other parts of the region. They received a short Arab and regional history lesson by experts from various government instructors and officials. The focus of the classes was to teach Marines and sailors a little bit about the environment they will possibly operate in, in a short period of time., Staff Sgt. Sergio Jimenez, 1/15/2006 7:02 PM
Cpl. Irene Chan, administration clerk, command element, 11th MEU, practices applying a combat tourniquet on herself during medical training aboard the USS Peleliu, Feb. 17., Staff Sgt. Sergio Jimenez, 1/16/2006 7:02 PM
Aboard the U.S. S. Peleliu HMCS Michael J. Smith, medical chief, command element, 11th MEU, instructs Marines on how to use the Emergency Escape Breathing Device during medical training Feb. 17. Smith and HM2 Don O. Bradshaw, hospital corpsman, command element, also conducted classes on the use of individual first aid kits and the combat application tourniquet., Staff Sgt. Sergio Jimenez, 1/16/2006 7:02 PM
It's not Baskin Robins but that's OK with the Marines from the 11th MEU�s communications section (from left) Sgt. John P. Garcia, radio maintenance technician, Sgt. Marlena K. Helm, field wireman and Sgt. Matthew D. Herring, network administrator. The Marine communicators enjoy a cold one, ice cream that is, during an ice cream social aboard the USS Peleliu Feb. 17., Staff Sgt. Sergio Jimenez, 2/17/2006 3:51 PM
Aboard the USS Peleliu Cpl. Guillermo E. Franco, infantryman/ground sensor operator, communications section, 11th MEU, uses his down time to clean his M16A4 service rifle next to his rack Feb. 18. Marines and sailors use every available space on the ship to train, and in this case, to clean their weapons., Staff Sgt. Sergio Jimenez, 1/16/2006 7:02 PM
college.jpg, 2/22/2006 7:50 AM
Sgt. Antonio Serrano, embarkation specialist, logistics section, and 2nd Lt. Andrea M. Newhouse, assistant radio battalion officer-in-charge, command element, 11th MEU, compete in a treadmill marathon Feb. 21. The treadmill marathon is one of the many physical fitness activities and competitions Marines and sailors can take part in aboard the USS Peleliu. Teams of four Marines and sailors compete in the one-day, 26-mile treadmill trek for prizes., Staff Sgt. Sergio Jimenez, 2/22/2006 8:33 AM