MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga. -- Twenty two members of Detachment 2, Supply Company, 4th Supply Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Marine Forces Reserve, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, planned and trained for their departure Saturday for Camp Pendleton, Calif., and ultimately Iraq. But that didn’t make it easy.
“It is for real. I think the best thing about being ready to go is that the Marines finally have an opportunity to execute a mission they’ve been trained for,” said 1st Sgt. Jeffrey Kirby, Inspector-Instructor, Det. 2.
“These Marines have volunteered to go get in the fight and see what they’re all about, and we’re going to get back 22 Marines who have combat experience,” he added.
One of those who will return with combat experience is Lance Cpl. Rachel Doss, a 20 year-old from Tallahassee, Fla., who joined the Marines right out of high school.
“I’ve always wanted to be a Marine,” she said, “and now this is really happening.”
Doss, a five-foot-tall warehouse clerk, got a send-off from her sister, mother and father.
“We drove up here in two cars and my husband and I were in one car, and when we backed out of the driveway in Tallahassee, it hit me,” said her mother Kim.
Unit leaders expressed confidence in the readiness of the Det. 2 Marines, based on previous and recent training activities.
“I am very confident in the commitment and abilities of the Marines from Detachment 2 that we currently have in-theater, those we are deploying now with I MEF, and those who are part of our sustained plan for future deployments,” said Maj. Kerry K. Mengelkoch, officer-in-charge of Det. 2. “The December pre-deployment training conducted at Quantico for the Marines of 4th Supply Battalion is the latest investment by 4th Supply Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, and MARFORRES (Marine Forces Reserve) to ensure that reserve Marines are proficient and current on required training.”
Family support services are available for the families of deployed personnel, and Marines that left MCLB Albany know their families have a point of contact for questions and issues.
Many family support resources are available at MCLB Albany, said Kirby, who also is the unit Family Readiness Officer.
“We have many resources that we can utilize, such as Family Team Building and others. But I’ll be the primary contact for any questions that family members may have and also for information on the various services available to them,” he said.
Since Det. 2 Marines are reservists who may not live in the Albany area, getting information out to the families is complicated, said Kirby.
“We just keep pushing the information out there and do our best to educate family members about benefits, using the Internet or any other way we can to get the word to them,” he added.
Mengelkoch echoed his sentiments and pointed out how the experience level within the unit varies.
“We have a mix of experienced Marines and first term Marines, those who have been to Iraq and those who have never deployed before, much like the active force. However, I know these Marines are fully prepared to integrate seamlessly with their active counterparts and immediately contribute to the gaining force command and the pre-deployment op-tempo,” she said.
Lance Cpl. Mark Jones, warehouseman, Det. 2, from Live Oak, Fla., echoed the sentiments of the entire group when he said he wanted to “come home safe.” For him, it’s his first trip overseas for the Marine Corps.
Being safe and getting the job done is on the minds of everyone involved in the deployment.
“We are responsible for ensuring we can augment the active force and there is no question in my mind that our Marines are ready and motivated to execute their duties and have a successful deployment. I know they will make us proud,” said Mengelkoch.