More Marines Doing Good Things

From my brother Marine Major Pain, currently somewhere in Iraq:

Weapons Company 2/24 is more than "Motorized Mayhem"
Story by Sgt Benjamin Pepich

HABBANIYAH, Iraq (May 12, 2008) -- Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1 of Waukegan, Ill., helped bridge a gap in the Iraqi logistical system to provide compensation for local prospective policeman and civil operations in the North of the Al Anbar Province, May 12. Mobile Assault Platoon 3 (MAP 3) is the Iraqi Police transition team for Weapons Company. Their duties include going on partnered patrols with the emerging security forces in the area, helping them establish logistical and operational readiness, and providing them with a beacon of professionalism to emulate.

The platoon lives in a joint combat operations post with the security forces and conducts numerous trips throughout the week to the local police station to ensure that it is in good, working condition and the policemen manning the station have no reasonable qualms. MAP 3 has been tasked with this mission because their Marines and leadership have the maturity and tactical experience that is required of a partnered unit.

Today was a day that everyone enjoys, payday. The police officers have been working tenaciously for their area without pay or due compensation. They have manned posts on traffic control points, completed mounted and dismounted patrols, and most importantly kept their homes and area safe from insurgent attacks and intimidation without knowing when they were going to get paid.

However, today was a good day for the police officers because MAP 3 went through the channels of bureaucracy and locked on payment for these warriors. MAP 3 spent the day paying jubilant policemen and providing them with funding for the further protection of their station. Additionally, MAP 3 met with the local sheik and provided him with compensation for water deliveries in the area and protection of the local government center from foreign threats.

All in all, it was an extremely productive day for MAP 3. They solidified the working relationship with the local security officials and built upon their strong bond with the local political leader through providing necessary reimbursement for civil projects.

Having a platoon capable of working with the local forces and excelling at it is every commander's dream in this austere environment. MAP 3 has done an exceptional job with this task and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. The country of Iraq needs a functional and completely operational security force for the protection of their people and infrastructure. MAP 3 is the tip of the spear with this effort in Weapons Company.