Answering the Call: 1st Bn., 6th Marines Head to Afghanistan in Support of Troop Increase
12/17/2009
By
Cherry Point Public Affairs
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1st Battalion (1/6)
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C.
Marines and Sailors from the Camp Lejeune-based 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division departed for Afghanistan from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., in the early morning hours of Dec. 16.
The battalion will be among the first U.S. military units to Afghanistan as part of President Obama's announced 30,000-troop increase.
This will be the battalion’s third deployment to Afghanistan since 2001. In 2004, the unit deployed to Kandahar, Oruzgan and Zabul provinces as the ground combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. In 2008, the unit conducted counterinsurgency operations in the Helmand Province as the battalion landing team of the 24th MEU. The unit also deployed to Iraq in 2005.
1st Battalion, 6th Marines is commanded by Lt. Col. Calvert L. Worth Jr., who assumed command of the unit in January 2009. The battalion’s senior enlisted Marine is Sgt. Maj. Charlie Stanford.
The battalion’s deployment is expected to last seven months.
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C.-Lance Cpl. Ryan Haley, a team leader with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, inspects his weapon while waiting to board a plane from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. Haley and his fellow Marines will be among the first U.S. service members to deploy to Afghanistan as part of President Obama’s recent troop increase., 2nd Lt. Megan Long, 12/16/2009 11:30 AM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C.-Cpl. Juan Ponce, left, and Lance Cpl. Keegan Weckman, both with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, catch up on their reading as they wait to board a plane from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. The Marines are among the first U.S. service members deploying to Afghanistan as part of President Barack Obama’s recent troop increase in that country., 2nd Lt. Megan Long, 12/16/2009 11:28 AM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C.-Marines and Sailors from the Camp Lejeune’s 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, wave goodbye to members of the civilian news media, Dec. 16, as they prepare to board a plane from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. The battalion is among the first U.S. military units to deploy to Afghanistan as part of President Barack Obama’s recent troop increase., 2nd Lt. Megan Long, 12/16/2009 1:57 PM
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C.-Lance Cpl. Ryan Haley, a team leader with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, inspects his weapon while waiting to board a plane from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. Haley and his fellow Marines will be among the first U.S. service members to deploy to Afghanistan as part of President Obama’s recent troop increase., 2nd Lt. Megan Long, 12/16/2009 11:29 AM
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