Sentinels Forward

ForwardSentinelsSentinelsServing the families of I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group

CONTENTSS E N T I N E L S F O R W A R D • V O L U M E 1 , N U M B E R 2 • A P R I L 2 0 1 2

2 Commander’s Focus

3 Sgt. Maj. Notes

4 Well Being Traveling Rabbi

6 Marine on the Street What do you miss about home?

7 Birthday Tracker April birthdays

8 Promotions & Awards April promotions & awards

12 2/11 Marines Not just another day at the office

17 Taking A Break Marine learns to draw anime

18 Women’s History Month Camp Leatherneck celebrates

19 Keeps Lights On Camp Tombstone uses GREENS

20 SecDef Visit Secretary of Defense visits

21 Motor T Mechanics keep MHG running

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Forward

2/11 Every Marine a RiflemanCover Photo: Cpl. Joseph Taylor, with the

2nd Battalion 11th Marines hands a water bottle to a local Afghan child at a village in Helmand province.

Dear Marines, Sailors, Civilians, Family Members, and Friends of I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group,

I hope you enjoyed our inaugural SENTINELS FORWARD family newsletter from last month, compliments of our superb U.S. Army 350th Public Affairs Detach-ment, which has been supporting us from day one. First Lt. Nixon and his

team have been everywhere both inside and outside the wire so our I MHG families can gain a sense of the tremendous work going on out here by your Marines and Sailors. We are looking for ways to improve your newsletter and I welcome your suggestions on how to make it more enjoyable for everyone back home.

We are another month into our deployment here in southern Afghanistan and my sense is that we are hitting our stride and performing at a very high level. I am very pleased with the performance of the I MHG Forward staff, companies and battalions. It’s truly a pleasure to watch our Marines and Sail-ors step up to the challenge and perform at a level a rank or two beyond their experience. I am proud of the entire team as they demonstrate a strong work ethic, maturity, and courage.

The “S-Shops” are working long hours with tremendous workloads and short deadlines. They haven’t missed a beat as we continue to do more with less. The Sergeant Major and I have had an opportunity to spend additional time visiting our subordinate units here at Camp Leatherneck, as well as a few outlying forward operating and patrol bases.

It is inspirational to see our Marines and Sailors in action, often living in harsh conditions and performing dangerous work. We will continue to get out in the coming weeks to ensure our I MHG units have everything they need for mission success.

It has been particularly rewarding to work with our assigned security force, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, led by Lt. Col. Joe Allena, whose commentary you will read in later pages. The 2/11 Marines are smart, tough, well led, and have demonstrated tremendous initiative and innovation in the security operations they conduct day in and day out in our area of operations. 2/11 is having a tre-mendously positive effect on security in and around our camp. Although not

part of I MHG back in CONUS, 2/11 is a fellow Camp Pendle-ton-based unit and we are very pleased to share some “news from the war front” with their family members.

I MEF Forward under Maj. Gen. Gurganus’ leadership has now assumed responsibility for operations in southwest Afghan-istan and is I MHG’s higher headquarters.

This has also increased our pace of operations as we work to ensure General Gurganus’ staff has all the required support to accomplish it’s mission. As we head into the spring, operations will continue to increase and the weather will turn from cold to hot before we know it. Last week we experi-enced our first major sand storm and we are still cleaning up the fine particles of sand that seem to get into everything.

In closing, I want to thank our family members for providing the support that allows us to perform the mission we need to accomplish here in Afghani-stan. The operation is going well and we are achieving success. I recognize the tremendous sacrifice our families are making, having their loved ones deployed.

I also want to recognize our fine group of family readiness volunteers that sacrifice their time to make our family readiness program the success it is. Although we will miss attending this month’s “Spring Fling” at the Camp Pend-leton Ranch House, we look forward to hearing about the fun you had and seeing the pictures.

Col. Steven M. Hanson

Commander’s Focus

April 2012S EN T I N EL S F O RWA R D 2

Sgt. Maj. K Rocquemore

Dear Marines, Sailors, Civilians, Family Members, and Friends of I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group,

The Marines of I MHG, aka Task Force Belleau Wood (TFBW) have com-pleted their second month of the deployment. Col. Hanson continues to challenge the unit to be excellent. I`m proud to report the Marines of I

MHG/TFBW have accepted.

Just like in the first newsletter I feel obligated to say a little something about the Marines and Sailors working in the various sections. Chief April Merriman has continued to be a standout performer and epitomizes what we expect in our senior enlisted Navy partners.

The Chief and her team of Navy Corpsmen have been a tremendous asset in building morale throughout the unit during the early stage of the deployment.

Always ready to lend a helping hand, the integration between the Sailors and Marines is seamless. Our I MHG Corpsmen show on a daily basis that good leadership is universal throughout our Sea Services.

Congratulations to Chief Merriman on her birthday which happens to be the same day as the Navy Chief`s Birthday.

Besides the compound which houses the TFBW staff we have another com-pound that our Marines of Supply spend the majority of their day with.

These Marines have done a phenomenal job reorganizing and cleaning the warehouse and properly accounting for every piece of gear that Col. Hanson is responsible for. Maj. Simmons and Staff Sgt. Chinchilla run a tight ship and have done a tremendous job with morale in their section.

Yesterday I was at the supply warehouse to exchange some uniforms and pick up a few items. It was a pleasure to be assisted by Lance Cpl. Lord and Lance Cpl. Figueroa who were a tremendous help, even though supply didn`t have my size blouse (hint) it was a great opportunity to talk with these Marines.

It would be unforgiveable if I didn`t mention Cpl. Crawford this month. This Marine has sin-gle-handedly been making and designing plaques, shadowboxes, lecterns, picture frames, bridges, etc.

The list is endless with proj-ects that I and others have asked this Marine to do. Cpl. Crawford stopped by the office today lit-erally covered with sand from riding a four wheeled “Gator” in the middle of a sandstorm.

I`m not sure what that was about, but this Marine can do no wrong in my book. If I could give out awards today Cpl. Craw-ford, Staff Sgt. Castilla and Master Sgt. Holiday would be my top three. All of the Marines have been working extremely hard but these three have gone well above and beyond.

In closing, I would like to assure you that the Marines and Sailors are being well taken care of.

The American People have been very generous with care packages full of candy, hygiene products and DVDs.

I was even told some packages contained I-Pads. (I think that`s an exag-geration but you never know). We hope you have a happy and safe Easter and Spring Break.

Sgt. Maj. Notes


CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – There’s just not enough rabbis to go around. That’s why the only U.S. military rabbi currently serving in

Afghanistan travels regularly from his base at Kandahar Air Field to other military camps here and uses the Inter-net to reach his congregation. It’s not a conventional role for a rabbi, but it helps him reach more people. Army Chaplain Lt. Col. Avi Weiss of Chicago, a father of three and grandfather of 11, recently made his first visit to Camp Leatherneck since his December arrival in theater.

He looks younger than his 61 years and has a friendly, approachable manner. His attire consists of the Army uniform and a black yarmulke that miraculously stays on his shaved head with the help of some bobby pins. His eyes rest on each person individually when he’s talking in a group, like an unspoken invitation for each one’s thoughts.

Anyone who wants to jump in the conversation, how-ever, needs to act quickly. Keeping up with Weiss’ train of thought isn’t easy. He jumps from one topic to another and back again. It’s a habit that his wife, Elcya, teases him about often. Fortunately, Weiss stays on topic dur-ing services.

“Attempting to keep traditional Jewish laws is difficult in this environment,” said Weiss, explaining the shortage of rabbis in the military. “It’s a credit to the military that it does a lot to help someone practice their faith, but it’s still not necessarily the choice environment for someone who wants to live a certain way.”

Travelling Rabbi Visits Camp Leatherneck

Capt. Johannah Thyden (second from left), I MHG S-4 attends her first service at Campl Leatherneck led by U.S. Army Chaplain Lt. Col. Avi Weiss. Weiss is the only U.S. military rabbi currently serving in Afghanistan.

Story by Sgt. Christine Samples

P h o to b y S G t. C h R i S t i N e S A m P L e S

Well Being


SENTINELS FORWARD

Produced for the families of

I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group

CoMMandEr

Col. Steven M. Hanson

SErGEant Major

Sgt. Maj. K. Rocquemore

350tH PublIC aFFaIrS dEtaCHMEntPublIC aFFaIrS oFFICEr

1st Lt. Chad M. Nixon

PublIC aFFaIrS nCoIC

Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Duran

journalIStS

Staff Sgt. Daniel SymondsSgt. Laura Bonano

Sgt. Christine Samples

SENTINELS FORWARD is an official publication for the families of I Marine Expeditionary Force Head-quarters Group and produced to provide command information to service members and families. SEN-TINELS FORWARD is produced by the 350th Public Affairs Detachment. The editorial content of this pub-lication is the responsibility of the command’s Public Affairs Office, under the provisions of AR 360-1. Con-tents of SENTINELS FORWARD are not necessarily official views, nor endorsed by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army/Navy or the I Marine Expeditionary Force Head-quarters Group. SENTINELS FORWARD is published monthly. Contact PAO staff at DSN 318.357.3595.

It may not be a choice environment for some, but the military managed to attract Weiss in 1974 and keep him for 37 years as an active duty and Reserve chaplain. He first joined just for the job, but stayed for the unique opportunity to minister.

“I really enjoy the military,” said Weiss. “I don’t want to be a synagogue rabbi. I enjoy jumping out of airplanes (with the 82nd Airborne Division). I really enjoy being in Afghanistan. You can touch people’s lives in ways you can’t possibly do in other places.” Weiss joked that because people can’t go downtown on Friday nights, they’re more open to attending services, which makes his job easier.

Although people can’t hang out downtown, Weiss still has his work cut out for him. Schedules here make it difficult for some to attend services. Five came to Shabbat, four of whom were Marines, but Weiss said he concentrates on indi-viduals, not numbers.

The Jewish population in the military falls well below 1 percent according to Department of Defense statistics, but Weiss believes the actual numbers are higher and some just need to know they’re not alone.

“I try to encourage individuals to think about being more involved in their

faith,” said Weiss. “I’m not really involved with the Afghanistan war or the

issues. I’m more concerned with the individuals here. I can make a little bit of

difference in someone’s life; even one person.”

Capt. Johannah Thyden with I MHG is one person whose spiritual life was

touched by Weiss. She described his service as enlightening and said she felt

welcome even though she’s not a practicing Jew.

“I gained a better understanding of my Jewish heritage and the meaning

behind many of the traditions I had been briefly exposed to growing up,” she

said. Thyden represents the exact type of individual Weiss concentrates on,

but because he can’t be everywhere, he stays connected with the community

through the Internet.

So while there may not be enough rabbis to go around, Jewish service-

members aren’t left on their own. Weiss uses the Internet and travel to make

sure they get as much support as possible.


What Do You Miss Most About Home?“What I miss most about

home is definitely my family and friends. I also miss Texas and American food and outdoor activities like hunting, fishing and kayaking.”

Lance Cpl. Caleb J. Moeller PMO

“I miss weekends and my mom.”

Pfc. Alyssa NidaI MHG S-1

“I miss my red 2012 Camaro. Her name is Cici.”

Cpl. Rito R. AdameMHG Motor T

“I miss my wife and one-year-old daughter.”

Staff Sgt. Eric Gumbert1st Radio Bn.

Marine On The Street

P h o to S b y S G t. C h R i S t i N e S A m P L e S


Birthday Tracker

P h o to b y S G t. 1 S t C L A S S J e f f R e y D U R A N


RANK FIRST NAME LAST NAME UNIT NAME DATE

SSGT DESTRIAN VALLEJO 1ST INTEL BN 2-Apr

GYSGT PAUL CAREY 1ST INTEL BN 12-Apr

CPL THOMAS JENSEN 1ST INTEL BN 15-Apr

CPL MICHAEL HARTLEY 1ST INTEL BN 20-Apr

SSGT RANDAL LUNDQUIST 1ST INTEL BN 21-Apr

CPL DAVID BELL 1ST INTEL BN 22-Apr

SSGT JASON WHITE 1ST INTEL BN 25-Apr

SSGT NATHAN ASHMORE 1ST INTEL BN 28-Apr

CPL JRIAH GUERRERO 1ST INTEL BN 30-Apr

1ST LT PHILIP KWAK 1ST INTEL BN 30-Apr

CWO3 CHRISTOPHE DIEM 1ST LE BN 5-Apr

LCPL JASON BELCHER 1ST LE BN 10-Apr

SGT FREDDY NIETO 1ST LE BN 18-Apr

SSGT AARON NUCKLES 1ST LE BN 19-Apr

LCPL ATOM SEMMEN 1ST LE BN 21-Apr

SGT JOHN SCRUGGS III 1ST LE BN 28-Apr

SGT MICHAEL MURPHY 1ST LE BN 30-Apr

LCPL JOHN OCONNELL 1ST RADIO BN 7-Apr

LTCOL KEITH PARRY 1ST RADIO BN 8-Apr

LCPL NATHANIEL BOLER 1ST RADIO BN 12-Apr

SGT DAVID MCBRAYER 1ST RADIO BN 15-Apr

CPL ROBERT STERLING 1ST RADIO BN 15-Apr

CPL CASMIR HODKOSKI 1ST RADIO BN 18-Apr

SGT MANUEL PINEDA 1ST RADIO BN 19-Apr

CPL THEODORE WARK 1ST RADIO BN 21-Apr

LCPL ROGER COFFMAN 1ST RADIO BN 26-Apr

SGT ROBERT MARRON 1ST RADIO BN 27-Apr

SGT CARL CULVER II 9TH COMMBN 2-Apr

SGT MATHEW HART 9TH COMMBN 14-Apr

CPL EDWIN SPIEWAK III 9TH COMMBN 17-Apr

GYSGT EMANUEL REID 9TH COMMBN 19-Apr

CAPT DENNIS KATOLIN 9TH COMMBN 21-Apr

LCPL MICHAEL REED 9TH COMMBN 21-Apr

CPL TYLER DALY 9TH COMMBN 23-Apr

RANK FIRST NAME LAST NAME UNIT NAME DATE

SSGT MAURICE PENNINGTON 9TH COMMBN 23-Apr

LCPL JOEY THORPE 9TH COMMBN 24-Apr

CPL ALEXANDER GOLDHAMMER 9TH COMMBN 25-Apr

HMC APRIL MERRIMAN I MHG HQ 1-Apr

CPL FIDENCIO ARMENTA I MHG HQ 4-Apr

CPL KRISTOFER PINTO I MHG HQ 11-Apr

SGT GINNI STOLAAS I MHG HQ 12-Apr

1STSGT CHRISTINA ROMEROAREL-LANO

I MHG HQ 16-Apr

LCPL WHITNEY ZITO I MHG HQ 18-Apr

CPL SHAWN OPAL II I MHG HQ 21-Apr

PFC ALYSSA NIDA I MHG HQ 30-Apr

Pfc. Kimberly Mulligan celebrates her birthday with co-workers at I MHG.

Sgt. Devin Cooper and Marines with I MHG receive awards and recognition for their dedicated service during their deployment aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan March 16.

Promotions & AwardsP h o to b y S G t. L A U R A b o N A N o


(Above) Birgit Freitag, a civilian working for I MHG in the ID card center, stands with the S-1 section after receiving a Certificate of Commendation from them for all her hard work March 10. (Top Right) Lance Cpl. Justin Clark, with I MHG receives an award and recognition for his dedicated service during his deployment. (Bottom Right) Lance Cpl. Denton Israel, with I MHG receives an award and recognition for his dedicated service during his deployment.

Promotions & Awards

P h o to b y S G t. L A U R A b o N A N o




Cpl. Kristopher Pinto and Cpl. Keamus Tillman receive Good Conduct Medals, March 16 for their service as motor transport operators and dedication to honor, courage and committment in the Marine Corps.

Cpl. Travis Tarun, with I MHG receives a certificate of appreciation and recognition for his dedicated service during his deployment aboard Camp Leatherneck.

Cpl. Michael Crawford, with I MHG receives a certificate of appreciationand recognition for his dedicated service during his deployment aboard Camp Leatherneck.

Lance Cpl. Brandon Needham, with I MHG receives a certificate of appreciation and recognition for his dedicated service during his deployment aboard Camp Leatherneck.

Promotions & Awards

P h o to S b y S G t. L A U R A b o N A N o



Sgt. Dolphus Hill receives an award from Maj. Mark Wald for serving with the I MHG Color Guard during the RC (SW) of Authority ceremony. Hill assembled a six man team and over nine days put in extra hours during practice.

Promotions & Awards

Gunnery Sgt. Jose Orozco with I MHG S-1 is congratulated on his four-year reenlistment by teammate Gunnery Sgt. Alexander Ortiz, March 20.



2d Battalion, 11th Marines is an artil-lery unit from 1st Marine Division. We deployed just about 5 months ago to

perform our core artillery mission in support of Task Force Leatherneck here in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Soon after arriving here, just after we had assumed the artillery mission, we received an additional new mission - to conduct Secu-rity Force operations at multiple bases. This required us to reorganize in some non-stan-dard ways, in order to accomplish our tasks.

Through it all, we still retain artillery capabilities spread across many locations in support of the maneuver units in combat. We also have a Battery serving as an infantry and artillery unit at the same time. For one of our cannon batteries, they are providing security on two bases; and for our Battalion

Headquarters and the Headquarters Battery, we are conducting security operations and lim-

ited counter insurgency operations as part of Task Force Belleau Wood.

For the artillery mission, our cannon Battery fired the newest precision guid-ed 155mm artillery round scoring two target hits at a record range to target. This was a first for both Marine and US Army artillery. In doing so, we helped support the infantry Battalion who were engaged with the enemy until our pro-jectiles eliminated the threat. Our Rocket Battery provides precision rocket fire in support of ground forces throughout Task Force Leatherneck and Helmand.

For security forces in Task Force Belleau Wood, we are engaged on a regu-

lar basis with a determined enemy in our Area of Operation. Our HQ Battery Marines have trained for this new mission, creatively employed new tactics and technology and adapted to the threat.

They are conducting complex, joint and combined operations with USMC, British, U.S. Army, Bahraini and Afghan forces. These HQ Battery Marines come from various military occupational specialties - and are proving the Marine Corps’ ethos that “Every Marine is a Rifleman”. While serving in Task Force Belleau Wood, our Battalion has been able to work closely with the other units in I MHG. We could not be successful in our missions without the tremendous support of 1st Intel Bn, 5th ANGLICO, 1st Radio Bn, Law Enforcement Det, and I MHG staff.

For those of us in Afghanistan, these past 5 months have seen us adapt to change in mission, bases, higher headquarters and weather. Through it all, two things have remained constant. The first is the outstanding performance of our Marines and Sailors. The second is the outstanding support from our families and friends back home.

There are no words that can ever quantify how proud I am of our Marines and Sailors. It is easy to get consumed in the daily grind and not see just how much these Marines have accomplished in a relatively short period of time.

From my perspective - it is amazing to see young Marines evolve into true professionals. They are gaining a wealth of experience here that has caused them to grow and develop exponentially faster than they ever could in normal training.

They are highly proficient, confident and motivated. It has been a privilege to watch this evolution. The enemy knows when they’ve been in a fight with the Marines of 2/11, but there remains much more work to be done here. I am con-fident they will meet and exceed this challenge.

Lance Cpl. Danny Castro, conducts a search of the ground with a metal detector for IEDs.

Lt. Col. Joe Allena, USMC: Evolution of the Rifleman

2/11 Commander

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2/11: Not just another day at the office

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan—Marines from the 2nd Bat-talion 11th Marines Headquarters Battery plan to prove yet again, that no matter what their job is, every Marine is a rifleman.

These Marines don’t have much infantry background; motor transport mechanics, radio communications operators, artillerymen and even one cook serve as mobile assault platoons.



They throw on protective vests and Kevlar helmets after loading up ammunition to head out on a mission. In past months they’ve been through firefights and have hit improvised explosive devices during patrols.

Their uniforms bear the signs of what they have encountered. Brown dirt stains the knees from kneeling during foot patrols and their boots are rugged and worn from the many miles they’ve walked.

The group gears up to leave Patrol Base Boldak for an operation in Hel-mand province, Afghanistan. Up armored vehicles roar to life, black

smoke clouding the already dusty air.

The Marines mount into their trucks and roll out of the base, ready to con-duct a census in the area. They plan to set up checkpoints and speak with local Afghans to gather data on the people living in the area.

A native of Boston, N.Y., Lance Cpl. Danny Castro is a motor transport mechanic by trade, but now conducts operations with the 2/11. He is the first to get out of the vehicle when the platoon stops at a village. Castro mentions a sewed four-leaf clover patch on his vest.

“I’ve got the luck of the Irish,” said Castro.

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Marines step outside familiar territory...

by Sgt. Laura Bonano

Staff Sgt. Jonny Apenanunez and an interpreter talk with an Afghan local during a checkpoint mission in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Cpl. Theodore Criswell, a fire team leader with the 2nd Battalion 11th Marines Headquarters Battery, talks with a local Afghan.


That luck helps Castro keep his team safe outside of the wire. His job is to operate the compact metal detector, a portable tool resembling something a Florida beachgoer would use to find buried trea-sure.

Instead of searching for treasure, Castro uses the metal detector to find buried improvised explosive devices. He clears the way for other Marines to pull security around a compound of houses made of mud.

“This is completely outside of the job I’ve been doing for the past four years, it’s all new,” said Cas-tro, who was usually found in the motor pool back home. “You get to see different sides of the Marines in a combat zone like this.”

The day is quiet as the Marines talk to locals about activity in the area. An Afghan child runs around the Marines and gives them high-fives. One Marine offers the little boy a bag of potato chips as his father talks with the team.

The platoon stays vigilant, using the scopes on their weapons to look for danger. Soon, it is time to head back to base with no firefights taking place this day.

Despite not having an infantry background, 2nd Lt. Matthew Lowen, a platoon commander with the 2/11, said his Marines have done an incredible job coming together.

“They’ve really stepped above and beyond what I think anyone expected of them, they’ve proven that a Marine truly is a rifleman first and cook, com-munications technician, or motor transport Marine second,” said Lowen.


1st Lt. Vincent Lowney, with the 2nd Battalion 11th Marines, talks with elders in Helmand province, Afghanistan March 9. Lowney talks with the local Afghans about activity in the area they live in.


Cpl. Ryan Hoffman with 1st Intelligence Battalion practices drawing in his room after work March 21. Hoffman is learning to draw Japanese anime from a book he ordered online.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Some of you at home may wonder what your loved ones do here when they’re not working.

There are the usual gym workouts, laundry, video games and reading, but one Marine has taken up a new hobby.

Cpl. Ryan S. Hoffman with 1st Intelligence Battal-ion is learning to draw anime, a style of animation originating in Japan.

Hoffman, a tall, lanky 22-year-old, is trying to learn the skill from a book. He described his draw-ing attempts as “atrocious” and is currently working on shading techniques.

Hoffman said he enjoys working in Intelligence because he feels like he has an important job that helps people, but learning to draw in the evenings is a nice break from staring at a computer screen all day.

Because this is Hoffman’s second deployment, he understands the unique opportunity he has to learn new things. Skills that people may overlook when they’re busy with every day life at home enjoy a new appreciation in a restricted environment.

Hoffman said drawing provides a way to express himself creatively rather than in a destructive man-ner. He isn’t eager to share his drawings with others, but he plans to keep plugging away at it until he gets good enough to move onto other types of draw-ings. Then maybe he’ll share with the rest of us. Or maybe not.

Taking a Break: Marine Learns to Draw Anime

Story by Sgt. Christine Samples



Women’s History Month at Camp LeatherneckPfc. Alyssa Nida, Lance Cpl. Angela Pacheco, Cpl. Mitzi Kaneaster, 1st Sgt. Christina Romeroarellano, Cpl. Josselyn Davis, Lt. Col. Dawn Alonso, Lance Cpl. Abigail Krause, Cpl. Erica Adams and Lance Cpl. Sheila Kennedy take a group photo as part of the Women’s History Month celebration March 25, aboard Camp Leatherneck, Helmand province, Afghanistan. I Marine Headquarters Group (Forward) sponsored the event, where members of the group gave speeches on important women in history who have impacted service members. The theme of the celebration was centered around a quote by Louisa May Alcott, “I am not afraid of storms for I’m learning how to sail my ship.”



CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan—Marines aboard Camp Tombstone in Helmand province, Afghanistan were

hesitant to start using the Ground Renewable Expeditionary Energy Network System when they first heard about it.

But after nightly power outages, the solar panel system has proven to be an important asset to members of the 5 Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Com-pany.

Cpl. Cody Cook, a radio technician with the unit, said radios, computers, printers, lights and even personal laptops can run off of the GREENS system. Cook, a native of Reno, Nev., said their command-operating center uses the grid system as the primary power supply, but when it goes down they can rely 100 percent on the solar panel system.

An added benefit to the system is how easy it is to use. Cook said he learned how to use the sys-tem by studying the technical manual that comes with it, which describes step-by-step how to put it all together. The panel arrays are stackable so two panels can fit into one case for portability in vehi-cles.

Set up of the system is simple. Cook kneels at a case, lifts the panel up at an angle, places a locking pin into the stand and plugs in a cable to connect it to the controller.

The system is then essentially ready to go.

“It was super easy, it probably took about an hour

to set up the whole thing,” said Cook. Even mainte-nance of the system takes very little time. Marines wipe the dust off once a day to keep it clean.

Staff Sgt. Antony Washington, a communica-tions chief with ANGLICO, said GREENS is a joint venture by the Navy and Marine Corps to find alternate power systems to decrease the depend-ability on regular power sources such as batteries, generators and natural fossil fuels in remote loca-tions.

“The Marine Corps is going green,” said Wash-ington.

He said the system takes the solar energy that is provided from the sun and will generate up to 1600 watts of pure energy into the controller system. The controller system will then put that energy into batteries.

Washington said GREENS is still in a testing phase but he is impressed so far. He said initial-ly, they were worried about powering too much equipment, but eventually they even hooked up their air conditioning to it with no problems.

Even though the cost of GREENS may seem high, a whopping $500,000 per system, Washington feels the benefits outweigh the price tag.

“You’re definitely reducing waste a lot because you have convoys that usually resupply fuel in and out on a daily basis, but this system here, it greatly reduces having to do that, in the long run, I think this will be more cost efficient,” said Washington.

Camp Tombstone keeps lights on with GREENS

Story & Photos by Sgt. Laura Bonano

Cpl. Samuel Stark, a field radio operator with 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, wipes down a solar array, a component of the Ground Expeditionary Energy Network System on Camp Tombstone. The panel arrays are stackable units, allowing two panels to fit into one case for portability in vehicles.


U.S. Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta shakes hands with Sgt. Joshua Busath, March 14 during a visit to Camp Leatherneck.

U.S. Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta shakes hands with Sgt. Dolphus Hill, March 14 during a visit to Camp Leatherneck.

U.S. Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta shakes hands with 1st. Lt. Stephen Martinpinto, March 14 during a visit to Camp Leatherneck.

U.S. Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta shakes hands with Sgt. Tyler Ellenburg, March 14 during a visit to Camp Leatherneck.

SecDef Visit

20March 2012S EN T I N EL S F O RWA R D

(Main) Lance Cpl. Abigail Krause binds cargo down to the bed of a truck in I MHG’s motor pool March 12. (Above) Lance Cpl. Gavin Pietrie (left) and Lance Cpl. Andrew Nguyen repair an out-of-commission truck in I MHG’s motor pool March 12.

P h o to S b y S G t. C h R i S t i N e S A m P L e S


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