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March 15, 2013 Since 1957 Vol. 57 Issue 10 Women’sHistory Month BATTLE COLORS Advice from the top Story on B1 LANCE CPL. LAUREN A. KURKIMILIS ‘Darkside’ deploys to Afghanistan LANCE CPL. LAUREN A. KURKIMILIS Evie Cox, 10, Kaitlynn Woody, 11, and Allison O’Brien, 11, students from Palm Vista Elementary School meet Marines from the United States Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps at the Combat Center’s Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field March 12, after a performance by the Marine Corps’ Battle Color Detachment. Combat Center families enjoy Battle Color Detachment Lance Cpl. Lauren Kurkimilis The United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Combat Correspondent Platoon is a 24-Marine rifle platoon. Their perform- ance is a precision drill exhibition without music, The United States Marine Corps Battle Color cadence or verbal commands. Detachment performed on the Combat Center’s Lance “This is my third year on the platoon,” said Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field March 12. More than 200 stu- Cpl. Anthony Smith, team leader, United States Marine dents from Palm Vista and Condor Elementary Corps Silent Drill Platoon. “I’ve been doing this so CPL. SARAH DIETZ Schools were in attendance as well as service members long that when I’m out there it’s kind of instinct now. Jessica Hernandez, kisses her daughter, Tianna, 2 months, from various Combat Center units. We memorize the drill in sections so the only thing I’m as her husband, Cpl. Anthony Hernandez, maintenance The United States Marine Corps Battle Color thinking of is what the next manual is, not the next management specialist, Headquarters and Service Detachment is comprised of the Marine Corps Drum move. It’s just making sure you’re in the right place at Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, boards the and Bugle Corps, the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon the right time doing the right thing.” bus to begin his deployment to Afghanistan. and the Marine Corps Color Guard. The hard work pays off and getting to speak with Marines and kids after the ceremony is very rewarding Cpl. Ali Azimi The Drum and Bugle Corps, also known as “The Commandant’s Own,” is made up of 85 Marines who says Smith. Combat Correspondent are recruited from civilian drum corps, marching bands “This is my favorite part of the year,” Smith said. “We get to travel and share with people this proud tra- Marines with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd and other musical units within the Marine Corps. dition. Everyone’s reactions are great.” Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, were staged with sea bags and “What we do, and part of our mission, is to The United States Marine Corps Color Guard has weapons while family members and loved ones squeezed in every motivate, inspire and entertain,” said Master three teams that perform in more than 1,000 cere- minute they could with their Marines before the buses arrived. Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Buckles, drum major, United monies every year. The company deployed to Afghanistan in support of States Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps. “We “I think it’s important to come out to events like Operation Enduring Freedom, Tuesday. have these ceremonies, back at the Marine Barracks, this,” said Maj. Jamisen Fox, Combat Logistics Battalion For some Marines, this is a first deployment, but for Cpl. Anthony every Friday, during the summer months. So we 7, executive officer, who brought his 5-year-old son, Hernandez, maintenance management specialist, H&S, 3/4, this is take that large ceremony and turn it into a smaller Aiden, along to watch. “It teaches him about our cus- the first deployment he will be leaving a wife and daughter behind. one that we take out to the public and to the toms and traditions. It helps him to develop a good Anthony and Jessica Hernandez were married in 2012 and Marines. We’re here to show the tradition and pride of the Marine Corps.” sense of our professionalism and our military pride.” See DEPLOY page A5 New battery makes Leaving a history with first launch Cpl. Ali Azimi Combat Correspondent LEGACY Marines with Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, con- ducted their first launch of the M31A1 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System at the Prospect Training Area, March 11. The battery was originally deactivated as a cannon battery and reac- tivated last year as a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System battery. “When I heard that Quebec was being activated, I was excited,” said Cpl. Andrew Robold, launcher chief, Battery Q, 5/11. “A new oppor- tunity to train Marines and make history.” That is what Robold did. He was the first Marine in Battery Q to fire the GMLRS and is now part of the battery’s history. “I’m excited to be part of Quebec’s history and that’s something I’ll never forget,” Robold said. The battery is currently at the Combat Center in support of 3rd Mobile, Ala. director, Advisor Training Group See HIMARS page A5 CPL. SARAH DIETZ Cpl. Sarah Dietz Combat Correspondent > I stand on the shoulders of giants. > General Dunham said once, “A Marine should Col. William Gillespie spent the never be haunted by the ghost of another Marine. We last 30 years having fun. should always strive for operational excellence because Gillespie, a native of Mobile, Ala., to not do so we put Marines lives at risk.” That has and director of the Advisor Training always been something that should motivate you to Group, is retiring today. work the extra hour. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at > You don’t want to be haunted by the death of a 17 years old in 1979. Marine. Although you think you’re doing everything right, After reaching the rank of corporal, you can always improve. You have to constantly pursue he was commissioned as a 2nd lieu- excellence especially because the stakes are so high. tenant in 1983. > I’ve been in the Marine Corps over 30 years. This week, he tells his story and gives > I enlisted when I was 17. I wanted to do my 3 and advice to Marines as he exits active duty. then get out. But then I told myself I’ll stay in as long as I’m having fun, it’s been a lot of fun. It just kind of built Editors note: Gillespie is featured as a special CPL. WILLIAM J. JACKSON into 30 years. edition to the What I’ve Learned series. The Marines with Battery Q, 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, fire the series features various Combat Center personnel See LEGACY page A5 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System at the Prospect training weekly as told in their own words. area March 11. A2 MARCH 15, 2013 OBSERVATION Post WHAT I’VE LEARNED Women’sHistory Month Rebecca San Diego, combat photographer, 20 FLOTO > I’m getting my sailing license in April. Well, I already have one FLOTO HAS BEEN AT THE now but it’s only for a 16 foot Caprice. So, I’m going to get a 25 1/2 foot yacht license so I can take a month off for my 21st birth- COMBAT CENTER FOR day to sail to Catalina with some friends. NEARLY A YEAR.ASONE > When I get out of the Marine Corps I want to buy a boat and OF COMBAT CAMERA’S live on it. I’d probably get a 50 footer. I could rig it up to where I PHOTOGRAPHERS, SHE CAN could do it by myself but you’d probably want to have someone BE SEEN AT MANY COMBAT else there with you. > My worst fear is being in the ocean. I love being on the CENTER EVENTS. ocean but in it is a whole different story. > Sharks! Shark week has forever influenced me. I am almost terrified of water. I’m just barely better than an iron duck. I had this weird idea that maybe one day I could be the first female Navy CPL. SARAH DIETZ SEAL but I can’t even swim without holding my nose. > I was born in San Jose, Calif., and my parents lived in Phoenix. I was adopted when I was a baby and then when I was a little older, we moved to San Diego. That’s pretty much where I grew up. > I did soccer, track and field and a lot of horseback riding. > I was in the Pony Club of America. That’s pretty embarrassing. I did English riding and dressage. That’s basically where the rider shows control of the horse. There’s also cross country where you jump the horse over fixed logs and then you have hunter jumper where the horse jumps over a pole that’s not fixed. You learn how to compete and take care of the horses. > I took a photography class in high school and I was looking at a lot of Pulitzer Prize photos. When I read about them, I saw that a lot of the photographers would use police scanners to find out where things were happening so they could go take photos there. I went and bought one and then heard one time about a hostage situation and thought I could try and get some photos. I put the address in the GPS and it took us right behind the house. When I realized where we were, we drove off and then the police helicopter started hovering above us until eventually it was right behind us. They blinded us with the spot light and told us to put our hands up.

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