HIT, Iraq -- Motor Transport Marines drive long hours and great distances to supply 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 with everything they need.
The battalion is spread over 2,600 square miles in the western Al Anbar province. Motor T is responsible for supporting Marines within the battalions’ area of operations.
“We conduct resupply missions for India and Lima Company throughout the (western) Al Anbar province,” Sgt. Greg G. Mosher, 24, motor transport chief for Task Force Hit, 3rd Bn. 4th Marines. “We push out fuel, so they don’t have to come back to refuel. We also (supply) them with ice and water.”
Marines with Motor T enjoy the responsibility of helping to ensure the companies complete their missions.
“It makes us feel good,” said Mosher, who is from Ocala, Fla. “It gives the Marines motivation to get the mission accomplished whether they’re tired or hot because the (infantry’s) missions won’t be accomplished if we don’t accomplish ours.”
Although their recent missions have been to resupply infantry units during operations, Motor T was also responsible for resupplying the battalion’s combat outposts earlier in the deployment.
“It was pretty cool when we showed up,” said Lance Cpl. Jaime Lara, 21, a motor transport operator with TF Hit from Plainview, Calif. “They’d be happy to see us because we had their supplies. It made us feel like we did our mission.”
When the battalion began to turn the COPs over to the Iraqi Security Forces, Motor T supported the COPs.
“We stripped the COPs of all military gear,” Mosher said. “We assisted by pulling out all the gear.”
Marines have welcomed the various missions they’ve had throughout the deployment. It has allowed the younger Marines to learn how to handle different situations.
“Whenever you go on the road, you never know what you’ll run into,” Mosher said. “This is the first deployment for a lot of the Marines. They’ve learned a lot and progressed.”
The junior Marines have excelled during the deployment in part because of the experienced Marines’ mentorship. Marines who have previously deployed have helped the new Marines with the transition of working in Iraq.
“All the noncommissioned officers have been great with helping us out,” Lara said. “They’ve been there to keep our mood up when we’ve felt down.”
Mosher has been impressed with how well his Marines have performed. They’ve been undaunted by the multiple missions or the different scenarios they’ve come across.
“The deployment has gone very well for us,” Mosher said. “We proved that we could handle the large (area of operations).”