MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- II Marine Expeditionary Force Marines with 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison
Company conducted a mission rehearsal at Mairne Corps Base Camp Lejeune in support of an upcoming
deployment to train and assist coalition forces in Afghanistan under the
authority of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2189, Dec.
10, 2015.
The Security Assistance Liaison Team executed scenario-based
realistic training for Operation Resolute Support.
“The SALT itself is
running through a couple scenarios such as improvised explosive devices, enemy
caches, and general support of collation forces in order to get them on track
with tactics and maneuvers,” said Sgt. John Karol, the fire-power control team
chief with 2nd ANGLICO.
The Marines focused on their ability to provide
fire-support capabilities critical to coalition units.
“Our main purpose
is to provide Marine Corps assets to coalition partners,” said Capt. Brett
Erquitt, the fire-support officer for one of the teams with 2nd ANGLICO. “Many
countries have those assets themselves but many don’t, so having a Marine Corps
air asset in support of a coalition is quite a force multiplier.”
SALT is
small and building up to a strong team with the help of the Marines currently
within it.
“It’s the reality of man-power,” Erquitt said. “What guys have
the legs to make it through the long work-up process and have the maturity to be
able to function with very little supervision from either staff noncommissioned
officers or commissioned officers. We need strong NCOs, and that’s what we’re
looking for.”