Marine Assigned to 2Nd Battalion, 3Rd Marine Regiment's Scout Sniper Platoon Focuses in on a Target at Range 400, Twentynine Palms, Admiral William J
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Hawaii ARINEARINE MVMOLUME 36, NUMBER 27 2005 THOMAS JEFFERSON AWARD WINNING METRO FORMAT NEWSPAPER JULY 14, 2006 RIMPAC Metal Body Search A-3 B-1 C-1 Word of thanks Lance Cpl. Luke Blom Tony Blazejack A Marine assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment's Scout Sniper Platoon focuses in on a target at Range 400, Twentynine Palms, Admiral William J. Fallon, commander, United States Pacific Calif. Marines assigned to Hawaii-based 2/3 are in California where they are undergoing training for their upcoming deployment to Iraq. Command, addresses Marines from 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment at the Base Chapel July 7. Adm. Fallon was aboard base to thank 1/3 "Lava Dogs" for their recent efforts in Afghanistan and to further coordinate with the unit's leaders. Snipers: Eye in the sky 3/3 keeps Iraq’s Lance Cpl. Luke Blom “Everyone thinks our job is just company-level assault range here, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment shooting, but I would say that close July 8. to 90 percent of our job is done Range 400 is an assault course waterways safe MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND without pulling the trigger,” said where Marines clear simulated COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE Cpl. Benjamin Pratt, Scout Sniper enemy positions from more than two Sgt. Roe F. Seigle PALMS, Calif. — The Marine scout Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine kilometers of desert terrain. While 1st Marine Division sniper is known to be a marksman Regiment team leader. “Most of the the rifle platoons rush the objec- who moves through a battlefield like time we’re doing surveillance, recon- tives, they’re given supporting fire HADITHA, Iraq — In Iraq, a country where temper- a ghost, taking shots from impossi- naissance, controlling indirect fire by 81mm mortars, 60mm mortars, atures often soar above 110 degrees and terrain is most- ble distances and hitting his mark or CAS (Close Air Support).” and a squad of heavy machine guns, ly fine grains of sand, Cpl. Derek Metallo will tell you with near perfection. While a The “Island Warrior’s” SSP along with the sniper team. that when he arrived three months ago, he’d never have sniper’s accuracy with a rifle is leg- Marines proved their combat diversi- Throughout the entire course, the thought that he’d be patrolling Al Anbar province – in endary, their marksmanship is only a ty while providing support for 2/3’s SSP Marines were perched high a boat. fraction of the skills they bring to Fox Company as they maneuvered Metallo, a 27-year-old Marine reservist from the fight. their way through Range 400, the See SNIPER, A-7 Jacksonville, Fla., is part of a team of Marines who patrol the Euphrates River by boat, providing security to the Haditha Dam – one of the country’s largest sources of electrical power and home to the Hawaii- based 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment’s headquar- Rim of the Pacific 2006 ters. The dam provides electricity to thousands of Iraqis throughout the Al Anbar province as well as portions of Baghdad. While most U.S. and Iraqi military forces operate in the country’s cities and towns, Metallo and the dozens of Marines who make up the dam’s security unit spend their days patrolling the waterways on both sides of the dam. “We patrol around the dam all day to make sure insurgents are not trying to breach the area around the See 3/3, A-4 Sgt. Roe F. Seigle Corporal Derek Metallo, a 27-year-old Marine reservist from Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason C. Swink Jacksonville, Fla., looks over the Haditha Dam during a boat patrol The Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) departs Pearl Harbor for Rim of the Pacific 2006 July 3, in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province. Metallo, a Hawaii-based Marine exercises. Eight nations are participating in Rim of the Pacific 2006, the worlds largest biennial maritime exercise, which is conduct- from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment is assigned to a security ed in the waters off Hawaii from June 26 through July 28. RIMPAC 2006 brings together military forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, unit that patrols the Euphrates River near a large dam in Haditha, Peru, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. Iraq. A-2 • JULY 14, 2006 HAWAII MARINE NEWS BRIEFS Common Access Cards The DEERS/ID Center reminds Marines and Sailors that they have up to 30 days to update their Common Access Card after their promo- tion. Town Hall Meeting In an effort to share information about impor- tant base priorities and to respond to the inquiries from the community, Brig. Gen. Steven A. Hummer, commanding general, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay invites all to a Town Meeting to be held July 18 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Base Chapel. The forum will include: Base vision, significant upcoming events, military and housing construc- tion, Marine Corps Community Services NAF construction, and Interactive Customer Evaluation briefs. The meeting will conclude with a question and answer session. K-Bay Pass House Hours Change Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii Pass House’s hours have changed. New hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information call 257-2047. Tax Center The Base Tax Center will operate year-round from the Legal Services Center, Building 215. To setup an appointment to have your taxes pre- Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandan Schulze pared, call the Legal Assistance Office at 257- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe R. Campa Jr. offers his first remarks as MCPON after receiving the ceremonial cutlass from MCPON Terry 2110, ext. 236. The Tax Center will also do taxes D. Scott during a ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard. Scott, who became the 10th MCPON April 22, 2002, will retire with 29 years of service. on a walk-in basis. Campa was selected to become the Navy's 11th MCPON while serving as Command Master Chief Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay. Temporary Beach Closing There will be a temporary beach closing at Pyramid Rock from 8 a.m. July 21 to 8 a.m. July Campa takes helm of 26. The beach will be closed during the amphibi- ous assault portion of the exercise: Rim of the Pacific. During the exercise, amphibious assault vehicles will be utilizing the beach for precombat training support of RIMPAC. Navy’s enlisted force Personnel are not authorized in this area on the dates and times mentioned above as a precau- tion to injury to personal property or personnel. For more information, contact Daniel Petty Officer 1st Class L. A. Scott’s leadership engaged mous interest rates. improving the lives of Sailors Geltmacher at 257-8884. Shively Sailors to bring all manner of Mullen then congratulated and Navy families. Navy Public Affairs people together to solve prob- the newest MCPON. “Together you have made the Lost and Found lems. “Master Chief Campa is not Navy a better place,” he said. WASHINGTON — Master Mullen stressed that many of just an exceptional corpsman, Campa then acknowledged There have been several lost personal items Chief Petty Officer of the Navy the new programs for today’s he’s a terrific leader - a com- his predecessors and set the that have been found on Marine Corps Base, Joe R. Campa Jr. took the helm Sailors were a result of Scott’s mand master chief with an direction for his term in office. Kaneohe Bay and turned in to the Criminal of the enlisted force as the efforts, such as greater educa- enormous wealth of experience “I want every Sailor to Investigation Office, 3rd Street, Building 1095, Navy’s 11th MCPON, receiving tional benefits, redesigned uni- in the fleet that makes him the achieve the full measure of their first floor. These items include: jewelry, bicycles, the ceremonial cutlass from forms that are more attractive right Sailor at the right time to potential because it not only umbrellas, glasses, watches, clothing, keys, wal- MCPON Terry D. Scott, in a and durable, plus incorporating follow MCPON Scott,” Mullen makes them better Sailors – it lets, and others. If you think your lost item(s) may be among change of office ceremony at a culture of fitness aimed at said. “Master Chief Campa, you makes them better citizens,” our found items, call CID at 257-1305. the Washington Navy Yard, July improving both physical and must know how big the shoes said Campa. “And like my pred- 10. mental health. you must fill are, and I have ecessors, this is where my com- The ceremony marked the The CNO also recognized every confidence in you. I mitment lies and this is where Hawaii Marine Accepts Letters conclusion of a 29-year Navy that Scott continued to work appreciate your service and my energy will be focused.” career for Scott, who held the until his very last day in office, your willingness to step up to Campa most recently served Hawaii Marine welcomes comments for the office of MCPON the past four giving a recent interview to a this enormous responsibility,” as Command Master Chief, “Letters to the Editor” section. Letters should be years. major news station about the Campa thanked Scott and his Joint Task Force Guantanamo clear and concise. Hawaii Marine reserves the “He led,” said Chief of Naval problem of predatory lenders, wife in a speech after he accept- Bay after graduating from the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Operations Adm. Mike Mullen. businesses targeting Sailors for ed the office, offering his deep Naval War College in Newport, Comments must be signed with a full name and He elaborated, explaining how payday or title loans with enor- appreciation for their hard work R.I.