OCTOBER 23, 2009 VOLUME 39, NUMBER 42 WWW.MCBH.USMC.MIL Hawaii Marine The boys are back in town Welcome home 3rd Radio Battalion Lance Cpl. Alfredo V. Ferrer | Combat Camera Sgt. Raymond Daniels, 3rd Radio Battalion, kisses his wife at the 3rd Radio Battalion barracks, Oct. 14. Daniels, along with eight other Marines, returned from a nine month deployment to the Sulu islands of the Re- public of the Philippines in support of Joint Special Operations Task Force - Philippines. Marines return from deployment to Philippines Lance Cpl. Alesha R. Guard Combat Correspdonent Lance Cpl. Ronald W. Stauffer The final group of 3rd Radio Battalion Marines assigned to 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, are greeted by Marines, family members and Hawaiian leis, while deplaning their flight home to Marines arrived home Tuesday at Marine Corps Marine Corps Base Hawaii during their homecoming at Hangar 105, Sunday. The battalion’s main body departed Kaneohe Bay mid April in support of Opera- Base Hawaii after a nine-month deployment to tion Iraqi Freedom. The Marines conducted several missions not usually conducted by an infantry battalion while in Al Asad, Iraq. Southern Philippines in support of Operation Enduring Freedom Philippines. Attached to Joint Special Operations Task Force Philippines, in coordination with the U.S. Country teams, the detachment of 3/3 returns from Iraq Marines conducted Foreign Internal Defense with the Republic of the Philippines Security Lance Cpl. Ronald W. Stauffer The battalion spent roughly six months in mission changed several times before their Forces in order to defeat Jemaah Islamiyah Combat Correspondent the scorching deserts of Al Anbar Province, destination was finalized. and Abu Sayyaf Group high value individuals, Iraq, after departing Marine Corps Base Hawaii “At one point we thought we were going and neutralize enemy safe havens. From the first flight that landed Oct. 13 until mid-April, conducting missions not usually to Afghanistan, on and off, until right before “The detachment of the Marines that the last flight which touched down Tuesday, conducted by an infantry battalion. Christmas,” Schmidle said. “We started to find go to the Philippines do a very unique job relieved families and friends of 3rd Battalion, According to 1st Lt. Christian R. Schmidle, out that we weren’t going to Afghanistan. We for both the Filipino Marines in the armed 3rd Marine Regiment, have shed tears and 3/3 remain behind element officer in charge, were going to Iraq.” forces and the people of the Philippines,” opened their arms upon the battalion’s return the battalion’s primary mission was conducting Headquartered at Al Asad Airfield, the said Master Sgt. Joseph Starosta, operations from its most recent deployment to Iraq. convoy security and also several other tasked battalion’s companies were spread throughout chief, 3rd Radio Battalion. “They go out there “I feel whole again,” said Sabrina Dehaven, missions while deployed. the country in more than eight locations in a small detachment of about 22 to 24 as she held her husband. “It’s the best thing “We did as much as we could, given our conducting convoy security, border security Marines to conduct a wide variety of mission ever, and I’m so proud to have him back.” time and our resources,” Schmidle said. toward the western border and certain border responsibilities.” Dehaven said she took her husband’s Schmidle said the battalion’s pre- crossings from Syria and Jordan, as well as He said the Marines are highly trained and leaving as a challenge — especially after the deployment training, included exercises at detainee release missions involving detained proficient operators who provided intelligence birth of their daughter Gloria, who arrived Marine Corps Training Area Bellows, Defense Iraqis. support at multiple unit levels of U.S. forces shortly after his departure. Training Systems training events, typical Schmidle said Kilo Company was extremely and Armed Forces of the Philippines joint At the same time, her husband said he feels individual, collective, live fire events at successful at conducting personnel recovery operations. great to be home with his family and to meet Pohakuloa Training Area and a exercises at missions. He added the entire battalion helped “The 3rd Radio Battalion detachment his daughter for the first time. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, with the recoveries and helped families who operates in support of JSOTF-P in conjunction What may only seem like a short half-a-year Twentynine Palms, Calif. to some may seem like a lifetime to others. According to Schmidle, the battalions’ See 3/3, A-7 See RADIO, A-8 FIRE IN HOUSING Family recovers after losing home to fire Lance Cpl. Cassandra Flowers Combat Correspondent Burnt housing frames and a water heater is all that remains after a fire destroyed a base housing duplex, and everything inside early Sunday morning. Kailua, Kaneohe and base fire departments rushed to extinguish the blaze. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but officials suspect the fire started in the left carport of the duplex, possibly due to issues with the water heater, said a Military Police Department official. Cpl. Ryan Neace, infantryman, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, and their neighbor made it out of Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Elisia V. Gonzales | U.S. Pacific Command the housing duplex safety. Navy Adm. Robert F. Willard, incoming commander, U.S. Pacific Command, renders a salute as he passes The Neaces’ neighbors lost two of their through side boys during a change of command ceremony held at Camp H.M. Smith on Monday. Willard, family cats in the fire. former commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, assumed command of U.S. Pacific Command from Navy Adm. Timo- “I can’t even believe this happened,” Courtesy Photo thy J. Keating during the ceremony. Neace said. “It’s just devastating. We just The house of Cpl. Ryan Neace, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, burns to the ground on base PACOM receives new commander See FIRE, A-8 Oct. 11. Donna Miles Nabors (Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.) sang the national American Forces Press Service anthem and Ciana Pelekai, the Hawaii state song. Inside today’s Hawaii Marine Weekend Forecast Gates lauded Keating’s 42-year naval career CAMP H.M. SMITH — Defense Secretary Robert in the cockpit, on land and at sea. A U.S. Naval The Champions Scattered Showers M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman Academy graduate, Keating is an F-18 Hornet Intramural Basketball High — 86 of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presided over a pilot with 5,000 flight hours and 1,200 landings teams face off to claim Low — 76 change-of-command ceremony here Monday, as on the deck of an aircraft carrier. the title “Champs” in the Today Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating passed the U.S. But he also distinguished himself on land, as final playoff game,B-2 Pacific Command helm to Navy Adm. Robert F. commander at U.S. Northern Command, Gates Willard. said. Recognizing his accomplishments there, as Scattered Showers Willard assumed command of the well as his “unique skills and strategic vision,” High — 85 250,000-member command that includes all the secretary said, he recommended Keating for Low — 76 Trick or Treat! military forces in the Asia-Pacific region during his most important assignment at the oldest and Saturday a ceremony at PACOM headquarters, high on a largest U.S. combatant command. Find out where to be this Pacific Command’s area of responsibility Halloween with a line-up hillside overlooking Pearl Harbor. Scattered Showers It was a stirring ceremony with ship’s bells and stretches across 36 nations that include more of scary events, C-1 High — 85 a boatswain’s pipe announcing the arrival of the See PACOM, A-7 Low — 75 official party, followed by a 19-gun salute. Jim Sunday A-2 • OctOber 23, 2009 HAwAii MArine NEWS BRIEFS GCSS-MC Demonstration From the Commanding Officer Marines at Kaneohe Bay will receive a first hand look at Global Combat Support System – Marine Furlough Friday activities offered at MCB Hawaii Corps by attending a demonstration provided by The State of Hawaii has an Kalaheo High School graduate, many will be recreational, and Marine subject matter experts and members of the agreement with local teacher my seventh grader at Kailua many will be free of charge. Most GCSS-MC program office on Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. in unions to furlough public school Intermediate and my fifth grader activities for children under 10 Building 222. teachers for 17 days out of this at Mokapu Elementary, I share years of age will require parental This demonstration is the first time that Marines school year, leaving our children the concerns of all parents here supervision, while most of the in Hawaii will be able to see the “greened” up ver- with that much less instructional worried about their students’ older children will be able to time with their teachers and no educational outcomes. Our participate independently. sion of GCSS-MC and look at the features and func- alternatives. children are the future. We I’ve already implemented tionality of the new system. Although mandated to have have to put what’s in their best many of the new or expanded GCSS-MC is the technology centerpiece of Logis- 180 instructional days in the interest first. programs run by our Marine tics Modernization, the program that will forever school year, when half-days, As the base commander, I’m Corps Community Services change the way expeditionary logistics support is holidays and teacher work days committed to the welfare of all right here on Marine Corps Base delivered to the Marines.