CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - -- “We set the vehicles up into sticks, that way they can roll on smoothly and we can get the ships out as soon as possible,” said Cpl. Alexander Jones, a landing support specialist with CLB-2.
It’s important for them to stage everything before the ship’s arrival as it makes the loading process go by faster and allowing Marines with the 24th MEU to focus on their mission, said Jones.
Not too far from the port, CLB-2 provided the same capabilities at Radio Island. There, the Navy landing craft utilities loaded the equipment and brought it out toward the USS Iwo Jima since the ship was too large to dock at the port, said 1st Lt. Jordan Leonard, the landing support platoon commander with CLB-2 and officer in charge of the port operations group.
The beach operations, led by CLB-6, mimicked that of the port operations group where they staged equipment and gained accountability. When the time came to load, heavy equipment operators loaded the gear aboard Navy landing craft air cushions to bring to the USS Fort McHenry.
Aside from beach and port operations, CLR-2 also has the capability to conduct helicopter support teams, where Marines attach cargo to helicopters for transportation. They performed this during the operation to transfer ammunition from Onslow Beach to the USS Iwo Jima.
“What our whole function as a logistics unit enables us to do is to allow the infantry unit to continually push further and further inland without having to worry about the logistical support,” said Pica. “We try to anticipate their needs before they know what they need so when they do run out of ammunition, chow or water, it’s on the next truck that’s scheduled to arrive there. It’s going to allow those warfighters to continue to pursue the enemy through close fire and maneuver.”
With the 24th MEU fully loaded and out to sea, the Marines from CLR-2 returned to their respective areas to prepare for the next training evolution, whether it’s port operations, beach operations or helicopter support teams.