Sgt. Maj. Robert L. Caldwell,Sergeant Major, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment,
Fire Base Fiddlers Green, 08/27/09.
USMC Photo
Showing posts with label FIRE BASE FIDDLERS GREEN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FIRE BASE FIDDLERS GREEN. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Caldwell
Sgt. Maj. Robert L. Caldwell,Sergeant Major, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment,
Fire Base Fiddlers Green, 08/27/09.
USMC Photo
Friday, November 27, 2009
Mercado
Sgt. Raphi Mercado, India Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine RegimentUSMC photo Sgt. Christopher R. Rye
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Higher
Lt. Col. James C. Lewis, right, commanding officer, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, with Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, right, commanding general of Marine Expeditionary Brigade -
USMC Photo
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
From 3/11 Fire Base Fiddler's Green
Cpl. Matthew Esquivel, left, and Lance Cpl. Edgar Carachure 09/23/09
Lance Cpl. Edward Gilmore 09/23/09
Lance Cpl. Edward Rodriguez, left, and Sgt. Glenn Mucci 09/23/09
Cpl. Nguyen Kim, foreground, and Sgt. Angel Sifuentes
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Tearing it up!
USMC Cpl. David Pritchett, Headquarters Battery, 3/11, is tearing up the landscape repairing a bridge in Helmand Province. photo Sgt. Christopher R. Rye
Friday, October 09, 2009
Fire Base Fiddlers Green Patrol
Sgt. Matthew Shipp carries the metal detector as he and fellow Marines leave Fire Base Fiddler's Green for a patrol in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 3, 2009.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Fiddlers Cutz Barber Shop
Established 2009/07/27. Gunnery Sgt. Donovan Thomas sweeps up after hours of cutting hair at the barbershop on Fire Base Fiddler's Green, Afghanistan, Aug. 4, 2009.USMC photo Sgt. Christopher R. Rye
Sunday, October 04, 2009
On Your Six, America.
Lance Cpl. Glendon Rodney is a landing support specialist attached to Helicopter Support Team, Combat Logistics Battalion 8.Team 3 (RCT-3).
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Walking Up To The 3/11 ECP
Cpl. Matthew Walters, right, and Sgt. Cody Bourdeau moving up to the ECP and out on a patrol in the Helmand Province
Staff Sgt. Nicholas Purtell, left, and Sgt. Shawn Beals
Staff Sgts. William Eddy, left, and Nicholas Purtell at the entry control point of Fire Base Fiddler's Green in Helmand in the Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 8, 2009.all photos
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Crane Operator
Cpl. Christopher Walker operates a crane to simulate a helicopter raising an M777A2 lightweight howitzer at Fire Base Fiddler's Green in Helmand province.Photo Sgt. Christopher R. Rye
Waiting at Fiddler's Green
Cpl. Ryan Bernal 09/16/09 Helmand Province canalphoto
Lance Cpl. Joshua Mouradian, left, and Cpl. Ryan Bernal, under the poncho liner, wait for a flight out at Fire Base Fiddler's Green in Helmand province, Sept. 28, 2009.photo
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Fire Base Fiddlers Green Moving Some Muscle AKA Guns
Marines with Helicopter Support Team, Combat Logistics Battalion 8 wait for the arrival of a helicopter at Fire Base Fiddler's Green in Helmand province, Afghanistan, Sept. 28, 2009.
Marines with a helicopter support team from Combat Logistics Battalion 8 attach an M777A2 lightweight howitzer to a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter at Fire Base Fiddler's Green in the Helmand province Sept. 28, 2009. All photosby Sgt. Christopher R. Rye
DVIDS by Sgt. Christopher R. Rye
CAMP DWYER, Helmand Province, Afghanistan – In a historic combat first, Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772, Combat Logistics Battalion 8 and 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment worked together to air lift two M777A2 lightweight howitzers from Fire Base Fiddler's Green in Helmand province and set them up for action at Forward Operating Base Golestan Sept. 28. A third was convoyed here to be carried by CH-53E helicopter the following morning.
"When the Marine Corps decided to procure a lightweight 155mm cannon in the 1990s, it was largely driven by the need to have a more air transportable capability," explained 3/11 commanding officer Lt. Col. James C. Lewis. 3/11, operating under Regimental Combat Team 3, is the only Marine artillery battalion in Afghanistan. "Our maneuver tonight is the first combat test of that capability."
While the Marines were moving the artillery pieces across country, 3/11 still had to maintain their capability to provide support when needed for the Marines around Nawa and Garmsir, where 1/5 and 2/8 have been operating since early July. So 3/11 sent Marines to Golestan to receive and emplace the guns upon their arrival.
"Sending an advanced party down to set up the gun positions while maintaining firing capability was important," said Gunnery Sgt. Marcus Chestnut, Battery I gunnery sergeant.
In order to successfully pull off this complicated maneuver, these units which don't normally operate together had to work hand-in-hand, according to Chestnut. As it turns out, bringing them all together was the key to success.
Rather than towing the howitzers as an artillery battery is trained to do, these guns had to be transported between Fiddler's Green and Golestan by air because of unique conditions here. That's where HMH-772 and CLB-8 came in.
"The IED threat and terrain constraints were a huge factor deterring 3/11's ability from being able to safely [move] the guns to this position," said Staff Sgt. Bryan T. Housel, CLB-8 landing support platoon commander. "By externally lifting the howitzer and gun teams by air, we were able to safely move the weapons into place without the added risk of ground transport to the weapon or Marines."
Marines on the five-man Helicopter Support Team, a part of Housel's platoon, are responsible for rigging loads with cargo straps so they will be balanced under the aircraft. Once the aircraft arrives overhead, one of them must guide the pilot who can't see what is taking place underneath and 30 feet behind him. After the aircraft is guided down over the waiting cargo, another Marine smacks the helicopter's dangling cargo hook with a metal rod to dissipate the static electricity built up by its rotors. Two others then hook up the cargo – in this case a 9,800 pound artillery piece – all while the second largest helicopter in the world bobs and weaves within arm's reach overhead. This process usually takes place in less than 30 seconds.
Sling-loading equipment or supplies under a cargo helicopter is dangerous business. However, after a successful lift, the feeling of accomplishment is impossible to ignore.
"I am so proud of my guys for how flawlessly and professionally they performed," Housel said. "Safely lifting that piece of gear is no easy feat, but you would not have known it by watching them."
Now that 3/11 has another footprint in Golestan, they will be able to provide on-call artillery support when the Marines on the ground there call for it.
"It's a beautiful thing," Lewis said. "The Marine Corps trains as an air-ground team and this is just a product of that coming together."
"When the Marine Corps decided to procure a lightweight 155mm cannon in the 1990s, it was largely driven by the need to have a more air transportable capability," explained 3/11 commanding officer Lt. Col. James C. Lewis. 3/11, operating under Regimental Combat Team 3, is the only Marine artillery battalion in Afghanistan. "Our maneuver tonight is the first combat test of that capability."
While the Marines were moving the artillery pieces across country, 3/11 still had to maintain their capability to provide support when needed for the Marines around Nawa and Garmsir, where 1/5 and 2/8 have been operating since early July. So 3/11 sent Marines to Golestan to receive and emplace the guns upon their arrival.
"Sending an advanced party down to set up the gun positions while maintaining firing capability was important," said Gunnery Sgt. Marcus Chestnut, Battery I gunnery sergeant.
In order to successfully pull off this complicated maneuver, these units which don't normally operate together had to work hand-in-hand, according to Chestnut. As it turns out, bringing them all together was the key to success.
Rather than towing the howitzers as an artillery battery is trained to do, these guns had to be transported between Fiddler's Green and Golestan by air because of unique conditions here. That's where HMH-772 and CLB-8 came in.
"The IED threat and terrain constraints were a huge factor deterring 3/11's ability from being able to safely [move] the guns to this position," said Staff Sgt. Bryan T. Housel, CLB-8 landing support platoon commander. "By externally lifting the howitzer and gun teams by air, we were able to safely move the weapons into place without the added risk of ground transport to the weapon or Marines."
Marines on the five-man Helicopter Support Team, a part of Housel's platoon, are responsible for rigging loads with cargo straps so they will be balanced under the aircraft. Once the aircraft arrives overhead, one of them must guide the pilot who can't see what is taking place underneath and 30 feet behind him. After the aircraft is guided down over the waiting cargo, another Marine smacks the helicopter's dangling cargo hook with a metal rod to dissipate the static electricity built up by its rotors. Two others then hook up the cargo – in this case a 9,800 pound artillery piece – all while the second largest helicopter in the world bobs and weaves within arm's reach overhead. This process usually takes place in less than 30 seconds.
Sling-loading equipment or supplies under a cargo helicopter is dangerous business. However, after a successful lift, the feeling of accomplishment is impossible to ignore.
"I am so proud of my guys for how flawlessly and professionally they performed," Housel said. "Safely lifting that piece of gear is no easy feat, but you would not have known it by watching them."
Now that 3/11 has another footprint in Golestan, they will be able to provide on-call artillery support when the Marines on the ground there call for it.
"It's a beautiful thing," Lewis said. "The Marine Corps trains as an air-ground team and this is just a product of that coming together."
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Exit Entry Control Point at Fire Base Fiddler's Green
Off on another patrol around Fire Base Fiddler's Green, Staff Sgt. William Eddy leaves the "gate" but in USMC parlance is the entry control point (ECP) . Outside the ECP is lock and load country otherwise known as Helmand province on Sept. 8, 2009. USMC photo shot by
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Fiddlers Green Foot Patrol
Lance Cpl. Alex Gendreau, radio operator with HQ Battery 3/11, carries the mine sweeper as the rest of the squad gets up to the starting line where they will saddle up for a foot patrol around Fire Base Fiddlers Green. They look all casual like , however, At the "starting gate" point they will put their helmets on, tighten chin straps, lock and load, aka chamber a round in their rifle, lock the safety on, get their space interval and set off once again in search of the Taliban evil doers.
photo
Friday, September 11, 2009
High and Tight At Fiddlers Green
Gunnery Sgt. Donovan Thomas gives Cpl. Kalen Hanson a high and tight haircut at Fire Base Fiddler's Green, Afghanistan, Aug. 4, 2009. Dang, if the Corps has not changed since I wore the High and Tight. The Only cut I ever got from my gunny was an ass chewing for screwing up. photo by Sgt. Christopher R. Rye
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
3/11 On Patrol Around Fire Base Fiddlers Green
(For the "anymouse" who left a note that 3/11 was his son's unit. You're right. There is not much on FBFG. But I scoured deep and found this and whats-more even relatively fresh dated 8/13 DVID posted 8/19) FBFG rates a writer: Lance Cpl. Daniel Flynn don't know how much he gets moved around but maybe he'll write again soon. Love the battalion color sergeant's name: Christopher Colt Remington.
Lance Cpl. Sean Allen, a radio operator with 3/11, on a security patrol, Aug. 14. The Marines of 3/11 are stepping up security to 24-hours a day having Marines patrol as a precautionary method for the upcoming elections. Photo Lance Cpl. Daniel Flynn
Story Lance Cpl. Daniel Flynn FIRE BASE FIDDLERS GREEN, – Walking through an empty field in the early morning, Aug. 13, the temperatures are already in the high 90's and every Marine is thankful for the relative cool.
These Marines, who usually work behind a computer, have been performing security patrols around Fire Base Fiddlers Green since early July.
"These patrols are to pave the way for the units who will come in here after us and start conducting counterinsurgency operations in the area," said Sgt. Christopher Colt Remington, battalion color sergeant and squad leader with 3/11. "The patrols let the locals get used to coalition forces," added the Fort Worth, Texas., native.
This particular patrol went smoothly. The Marines were able to talk to some of the local villagers and attain an understanding of their concerns. These actions are crucial in a counterinsurgency struggle where the focus is on gaining the peoples' trust.
The patrol, consisting of 11 Marines, one corpsman and one interpreter, started at 6:30 a.m. and lasted about three hours. Pushing farther south than any previous patrol, the Marines were not sure exactly what they would experience.
"It was actually a lot more uneventful than I thought it would be," said Remington. He added that the reaction from the people varies by location.
"These patrols are a good thing," said Pfc. Alexander Gendreau, a mine sweeper with 3/11. The Eloy, Ariz., native added, "We are providing security for all the locals."
In addition to providing security, the Marines of 3/11 are also engaging in a civil affairs effort. Everywhere the patrols travel, they try to interact with the Afghan population. By understanding the needs of the people, the Marines increase their ability to help the community. Simple improvements to villages, such as establishing wells, can help show the locals that the Marines care about them and are committed to gaining the trust of their community.
The Marines also want Afghan citizens to feel safe enough to participate during the Aug. 20 elections. While the Marines may not be taking a direct role in providing security for the elections since Afghan national security forces will be primarily responsible, they will be doing everything they can to support the ANSF in their security effort.
Continuing the patrolling effort here will not only help the Marines develop relationship with the Afghan people, it has the ability to disrupt the insurgents' attempts to create instability, according to Remington.
For some of these Marines, this is the first time they have conducted foot patrols since this deployment began, while many have experience from previous deployments to Iraq. While the terrain may be different, the Marines of 3/11 have shifted into the patrolling effort as if they had been doing them here all along.
Lance Cpl. Sean Allen, a radio operator with 3/11, on a security patrol, Aug. 14. The Marines of 3/11 are stepping up security to 24-hours a day having Marines patrol as a precautionary method for the upcoming elections. Photo Lance Cpl. Daniel FlynnStory Lance Cpl. Daniel Flynn FIRE BASE FIDDLERS GREEN, – Walking through an empty field in the early morning, Aug. 13, the temperatures are already in the high 90's and every Marine is thankful for the relative cool.
These Marines, who usually work behind a computer, have been performing security patrols around Fire Base Fiddlers Green since early July.
"These patrols are to pave the way for the units who will come in here after us and start conducting counterinsurgency operations in the area," said Sgt. Christopher Colt Remington, battalion color sergeant and squad leader with 3/11. "The patrols let the locals get used to coalition forces," added the Fort Worth, Texas., native.
This particular patrol went smoothly. The Marines were able to talk to some of the local villagers and attain an understanding of their concerns. These actions are crucial in a counterinsurgency struggle where the focus is on gaining the peoples' trust.
The patrol, consisting of 11 Marines, one corpsman and one interpreter, started at 6:30 a.m. and lasted about three hours. Pushing farther south than any previous patrol, the Marines were not sure exactly what they would experience.
"It was actually a lot more uneventful than I thought it would be," said Remington. He added that the reaction from the people varies by location.
"These patrols are a good thing," said Pfc. Alexander Gendreau, a mine sweeper with 3/11. The Eloy, Ariz., native added, "We are providing security for all the locals."
In addition to providing security, the Marines of 3/11 are also engaging in a civil affairs effort. Everywhere the patrols travel, they try to interact with the Afghan population. By understanding the needs of the people, the Marines increase their ability to help the community. Simple improvements to villages, such as establishing wells, can help show the locals that the Marines care about them and are committed to gaining the trust of their community.
The Marines also want Afghan citizens to feel safe enough to participate during the Aug. 20 elections. While the Marines may not be taking a direct role in providing security for the elections since Afghan national security forces will be primarily responsible, they will be doing everything they can to support the ANSF in their security effort.
Continuing the patrolling effort here will not only help the Marines develop relationship with the Afghan people, it has the ability to disrupt the insurgents' attempts to create instability, according to Remington.
For some of these Marines, this is the first time they have conducted foot patrols since this deployment began, while many have experience from previous deployments to Iraq. While the terrain may be different, the Marines of 3/11 have shifted into the patrolling effort as if they had been doing them here all along.
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