Camp Lejeune

Michelle Obama at Camp Lejeune… but did she say Luh-jern?

By Gina Cavallaro on April 13, 2011 Camp Lejeune

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, stopped in at Camp Lejeune, N.C. today for about three hours as part of the launch of their “Joining Forces” campaign to support America’s uniformed troops and their families. Before a crowd of more than 3,000, the two women took the stage at Goettge Memorial Field House to rousing applause, and spoke of their support and admiration for Marines and their famlies. It was the first visit for Obama, but not for Biden, who demonstrated her kinship with the Marine Corps by letting out a hearty…

Maj. Gen. John Toolan loves him some CFT

By Dan Lamothe on April 1, 2011 Afghanistan, Camp Lejeune, Combat Fitness Test, Fitness, General officers, Leadership

As outlined earlier this week, Marines in Afghanistan have a new commander, Maj. Gen. John Toolan. He has taken command from Maj. Gen. Richard Mills, who led troops in Regional Command-Southwest for nearly a year. Marine Corps Times news editor Tony Lombardo pointed out this photo to me earlier this week. It shows Toolan during a Combat Fitness Test carrying Sgt. Michael Taggart, the noncommissioned officer in charge of II Marine Expeditionary Force’s special security office. It was taken Dec. 10 at Camp Lejeune, N.C., before II MEF (Forward) Marines deployed to Afghanistan’s Helmand province. Toolan has been in the…

Soothing sounds of Marine artillery

By Andrew deGrandpre on February 21, 2011 Camp Lejeune, Japan, Training, Weapons

If you love the sound of friendly artillery, be sure to crank the volume on your speakers before watching this little gem. Marine Corps Times’ senior video journalist Colin Kelly caught up with members of Romeo Battery, 5th Battalion, 10th Marines, at Camp Lejeune, N.C., in early February — just a few weeks before the start of their six-month deployment to Okinawa. They were good enough to give him a demo of this wondrous Howitzer, which we — in turn — are happy to share with you. Enjoy. And please be sure to keep these Marines and their families in…

24TH MEU commander fired following Walmart theft charge

By Gina Cavallaro on February 5, 2011 Camp Lejeune

Col. Robert G. Petit, commander of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Lejeune, N.C., was relieved of command Saturday following his arrest a week ago in connection with a theft at Walmart in Jacksonville. The decision by II Marine Expeditionary Force commander Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton to fire Petit “followed a Marine Corps inquiry into the facts relating to Petit’s Jan. 29, 2011 arrest by the Jacksonville Police Department for misdemeanor larceny,” according to a Saturday evening press release from Paxton’s office. Petit was relieved “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command,” the release…

A Birthday Ball season note

By Gidget Fuentes on October 29, 2010 Camp Lejeune, General officers, History and heritage

With the Marine Corps’ 235th birthday around the corner, there’s one former Marine with a message he hopes will resonate during the traditional celebrations this season. Battle Rattle met Patrick T. Brent, a businessman, freelance writer and former officer, in early October aboard the amphibious assault ship Makin Island, where he joined sailors, Marines and officers for San Francisco Fleet Week events. For Brent, it was an opportune time to reiterate a pitch he has been making for the past year or so: reminding folks of the correct pronunciation of that famous division commander and 13th commandant, Lt. Gen. John…

Behind the Cover: MARSOC's new sales pitch

By Andrew deGrandpre on October 12, 2010 Behind the Cover, Camp Lejeune, Fitness, MARSOC, Recruiting, Training

In this week’s print edition, on newsstands now, staff writer Gina Cavallaro takes readers inside the Corps’ new special operations warm-up course at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Called the Assessment and Selection Preparation and Orientation Course, or ASPOC for short, it represents Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command’s latest effort to curtail a 46 percent attrition rate among Marines looking to become elite critical skills operators. The commandant has challenged MARSOC leadership to cut that rate to 20 percent — a tall order indeed, and one the command is taking very seriously. This three-week course, conducted at Lejeune’s Stone Bay training…

Bored Marine Video: Gas mask + dancing = WIN!

By Dan Lamothe on September 24, 2010 Bored Marine Video, Camp Lejeune

There are a number of certain truths that cannot be disputed. Among these: Marines love to dance with gas masks on. A quick scan of the Internet shows multiple videos along these lines. Some, like the “Tang Gas Mask Dance,” are terrifying. Others, like “Gas Mask Techno Fiend,” confuse as much as they amuse. Since we’re trying to bring you the latest and greatest in bored Marine videos, however, I give you “Clumsy,” Marine Corps-style. Yes, apparently Marines dancing to Fergie songs at Camp Lejeune, N.C., is all the rage: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyCQYdo7dMI[/youtube] In his explanation for recording the video posted on…

A moment of silence amid the flames

By Gina Cavallaro on September 8, 2010 Camp Lejeune, Events

While the debate rages and public condemnation pours in from around the world at the planned burning of a Koran by evangelical pastor Terry Jones on Sept. 11, leaders at Camp Lejeune, N.C., are teaming up with civic officials to remember that day in 2001 in a different way. At Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville around a beam from the World Trade Center presented by New York’s first responders to Camp Lejeune in 2003, there will be a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., a minute after the first plane struck the skyscraper. That silence will be broken by the sound…

Getting ready for a Marine dad

By Dan Lamothe on July 22, 2010 Afghanistan, Camp Lejeune

It’s going to be a light day of posting here at Battle Rattle, considering that Thursday usually includes Marine Corps Times’ major weekly push to get everything in and settled before deadline for the next week’s print edition. Before diving into a few great stories I’m working for next week, though, I wanted to share the photo above. It was taken July 17 at Camp Lejeune, N.C., where families are anxiously looking forward to the return of Combat Logistics Battalion 6, which is finishing up a seven-month deployment in Helmand province, Afghanistan. The battalion is expected to return in early-August,…

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