Camp Leatherneck

New solar system powers Marines in Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on April 6, 2012 Afghanistan, Camp Leatherneck, Embedded journalism, Marines

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – The Marine Corps has widely fielded a new solar panel system that can power a variety of radios, computers and other devices common in combat operations centers, officials here said. Full fielding began early this year, said Lt. Col. Rick Schilke, the expeditionary energy liaison officer for I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), which oversees more than 17,000 Marines across Helmand province. Each Ground Renewable Expeditionary Energy Network System, or GREENS, includes eight solar panels that are about four feet high and three feet wide, and four batteries that each can store 500 watts of power. There…

Development in forgotten ‘Marine-istan’ province

By Dan Lamothe on April 5, 2012 Afghanistan, Camp Leatherneck, Embedded journalism, Marines

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Defense officials and military observers alike have jokingly referred to the Marine Corps’ regional command here as “Marine-istan,” a nod toward the thousands of Marines deployed in the region. There’s a significant division in the two provinces that make up the area of operations, however. When Regional Command-Southwest was established in spring 2010, Helmand province was home to a muscular insurgency, while sparsely populated Nimroz province was relatively tranquil. Two years later, Nimroz has continued to progress. Nestled in the southwest corner of Afghanistan along the Iranian and Pakistani borders, Nimroz doesn’t require the heavy sustained…

‘I’m Too Sexy’ at Camp Leatherneck

By Dan Lamothe on April 4, 2012 Afghanistan, Camp Leatherneck, Embedded journalism, Marines

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – I wasn’t looking for a soundtrack when arriving at this sprawling forward operating base, but it appears I’ve found one. Traveling to get security badges here this morning in a van, we were treated to the confident crooning of Right Said Fred and his 1990s classic, “I’m Too Sexy.” The song was playing on a British-run radio station aboard Camp Bastion, which is part of this base. “Forces Radio,” as the DJ called it, is broadcasted to improve morale and keep people informed. It appears to do both of those things – as long as you…

‘I’m Too Sexy’ at Camp Leatherneck

By Dan Lamothe on April 4, 2012 Afghanistan, Camp Leatherneck, Embedded journalism, Marines

UFO deployed to Afghanistan?

By Gina Harkins on March 20, 2012 Afghanistan, Aviation, Camp Leatherneck

Forget “The X-Files.” This is “The Afghanistan-Files.” A recently filed report on a UFO tracking website discusses an alleged sighting at Camp Leatherneck in Helmand province. The report, submitted Feb. 26 by an unknown individual, describes an event on or about Feb. 7, 2010, when seven equally spaced lights were spotted in the sky. Through the duration of the sighting, none of the lights appeared to move or change. The report states that the lights were at a high altitude and didn’t blink, move or make any noise. The witness was sitting in his office at the Marine logistics group…

Photos: Marine general busts a move in Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on March 13, 2012 Afghanistan, Camp Leatherneck, General officers

As noted here, Maj. Gen. John Toolan turned over the reins of Regional Command Southwest yesterday to Maj. Gen. Charles Gurganus, who will lead Marine forces in Helmand and Nimroz provinces this summer. Toolan has repeatedly praised Mohammad Gulab Mangal, Helmand’s provincial governor for his leadership. The general cited Mangal jumping to action as one reason why Helmand didn’t have the same kind of violent protests other parts of the country did after U.S. soldiers burned Qurans at Bagram Air Base last month. To thank Mangal and other top Afghan officials for their year-long partnership, Toolan held a farewell dinner…

I MEF Fwd. takes command of Marine mission in Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on March 12, 2012 Afghanistan, Camp Leatherneck, General officers

The transition is official: Maj. Gen. Charles Gurganus took command of Marine forces in southwest Afghanistan today, becoming the commander of Regional Command Southwest. Gurganus and his headquarters element, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), will lead nearly 30,000 coalition troops over the next year. It won’t be easy: they’ll oversee a massive drawdown of forces, continued combat operations and a shift toward Afghan security forces taking a leading role. Maj. Gen. John Toolan, the outgoing commander, highlighted what to expect in this long-form Marine Corps Times story published last week.

New Marine commanders take over in Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on March 1, 2012 Afghanistan, Camp Leatherneck, Leadership

It’s that time of the year again: Transition is coming in Afghanistan. The Marine Corps is in the process of swapping out the command elements in Helmand province, a rotation that will put new general officers in the driver’s seat. Maj. Gen. John Toolan, commander of Regional Command Southwest and II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), will be replaced March 12 by Maj. Gen. Charles Gurganus, Toolan said. The subordinate command elements in Helmand province already have made the transition. The new commanders are: Maj. Gen. Charles Gurganus Commanding general, Regional Command Southwest and I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) Gurganus will…

Massachusetts battalion takes over in Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on September 14, 2011 Animals, Camp Leatherneck, Infantry, Reserve

As they say in the sports world, it’s time for a homer alert. The unit from my home state — 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, out of Fort Devens, Mass. — has deployed to Afghanistan, taking over this week for 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines, out of Houston. The Massachusetts battalion is part of the Marine Corps Reserve, and includes Marines from across New England. It has companies based out of Topsham, Maine; Londonderry, N.H.; Plainville, Conn.; and Fort Devens. The unit will take over 1/23’s missions, which included providing security at a variety of forward operating bases, including Camp Leatherneck, the…

Marines behind the scenes at the shura

By Gina Cavallaro on June 13, 2011 Afghanistan, Camp Leatherneck, Embedded journalism, Infantry, Reserve

Patrol Base Boldak, Afghanistan — Much has been made of the deftness with which some Marine officers have been able to form productive ties and friendships with local tribal leaders in Helmand province. They meet in weekly “shuras,” or consultations, to discuss needs, problems and ideas. The tribal leaders get to report things that have happened as a result of the presence of the Marines, both good and bad, such as “your tanks rolled over my crop field,” (even though the Marines in this area don’t have tanks) and “we like you better than the British unit that comes down…

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