III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Bases Japan July 27, 2007 www.okinawa.usmc.mil FROG leaps Two Foster into Marine Teaming gates will Corps’ arsenal up Down close Aug. 1 Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Hlavac Cpl. Warren Peace OKINAWA MARINE STAFF OKINAWA MARINE STAFF CAMP FOSTER — Marine Under CAMP FOSTER — Gate Corps Systems Command 5, near the commissary, announced recently that and Gate 1B, the “Sergeant Flame Resistant Organiza- Major Gate,” is scheduled tional Gear, or FROG, will to close Aug. 1 and reopen become standard issue this Jan. 31 during the first part summer for Marines headed of a three-phase gate reno- into combat zones. vation project on Camp The initiative to develop Foster. FROG began in 2006 to ad- The $4.8 million gate dress the need for protec- improvement project is tion against burn injuries scheduled to be complete caused by improvised ex- by February 2009 and in- plosive devices and other cludes enhancements to types of explosives. six gates to fulfill antiter- The Corps plans to is- rorism and force protection sue about 120,000 of the needs, according to Lt. Col. new uniforms this year, Michael J. Murphy, the and all Marines in the U.S. deputy camp commander Central Command theater of Camp Foster and Camp of operations should have Lester. the uniforms by Septem- “At the moment, some ber, according to John M. of the gates are not on par Hernandez, a FROG proj- with others,” Murphy said. ect officer for the Infantry “The improvements will Combat Equipment Office, sufficiently meet today’s MARCORSYSCOM. threats.” According to the Sys- Planned improvements tem Command Web site, include raised 18 inch curbs the gear is separated into around the gates, reinforced two levels. The first level guard houses with an over- includes flame resistant watch building, pop-up Nomex gloves, a balaclava barriers and vehicle inspec- and a long-sleeve under- tion areas surrounded with shirt that is designed to blast barriers. be worn with the utility Additional personnel uniform or other flame will be on staff at Gate 6, resistant gear. The bala- or “Legion Gate,” to com- SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, QUEENSLAND, Australia | Gunner Kristofer clava will come in two Williams, with the 108th Battery, 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Army, waits pensate for increased visi- different forms, one for aboard a U.S. naval landing craft June 22 to go ashore with fellow Australian soldiers tor sign-ins resulting from cold weather and one for and U.S. Marines and sailors with Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, the Gate 5 closure, Murphy hot weather. 1st Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, during Exercise Talisman Saber said. Visitor sign-in will SEE FROG ON PG 6 2007. SEE STORY ON PAGE 10. Photo by Lance Cpl. Eric D. Arndt SEE GATE ON PG 6 TIGHTENING THE BELT LIVING IN THE PAST IN THE CARDS A recent All-Marine Message Experience Okinawa’s past with a More than 30 players face off in the DE I requires all Marines, active and visit to Shuri Castle, a 14th century Marine Corps Community Services reserve, to earn a tan belt under the structure that features a mixture of Texas Hold’em Harley Challenge at Marine Corps Martial Arts Program. Japanese and Chinese architecture. the Palms on Camp Hansen. INS pg. 9 pg. 12 pg. 17 Okinawa Marine | NEWS | July 27, 2007 3 Northfield Airfield, S.C. | Australian army Around the Capt. Stuart Ware, right, chief officer for aerial delivery systems unit, RAAF Base Richmond in Sydney, Australia, counts down before U.S. Marine, Air Force, and Australian army parachutists jump from a C-17 Globemaster III during a joint service exercise For more Marine Corps stories and photos, July 12. Photo by Airman 1st CorpSvisit http://www.marines.mil Class Nicholas Pilch MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. |A CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter belonging to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Rein.), Marine Aircraft Group 16, flies over desert terrain during a training operation July 20. Photo by Lance Cpl. Jessica N. Aranda SHIROKYI LAN TRAINING RANGE, Ukraine Cpl. Austin R. Embleton, G Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, responds to a question about the M-240G machine gun from a Georgian soldier during Exercise Sea Breeze July 11. Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Donald E. Preston ARLINGTON, Va. | “The Commandant’s Own,” U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, plays prior to a speech delivered by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates at the Marine Corps Association dinner at the Crystal Gateway Marriott July 18. Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess Okinawa Marine | OPINION & EDITORIAL | July 27, 2007 5 Simple steps can prevent career-threatening injuries Lance Cpl. Robert C. Frenke cal discharge, which worried me more than sometimes make. It would be foolish to take on anything. I was unsure of what I would do if a professional football player if you are not one ports and other physical activities go hand I had been discharged. Thankfully, I was not yourself; and an average person would be an in hand with service members. From a discharged and will continue to stay in the idiot to spar with Jackie Chan. Sgame of football to scuba diving, we as Corps as long as I continue to improve. But not To me, safety comes down to two factors: service members will try almost anything for a having a choice in the matter is not something preparation and protection. good time. I enjoy. My friend lost his daughter and her boyfriend Safety should be top priority in all activities I go through physical therapy three times a in a snowmobile accident. They went out at to help prevent accidents. Some are less serious week and to the hospital constantly. I am lim- night and didn’t bother checking the headlights than others, but most can be avoided by taking ited in what I can do both at work and at home. I before leaving. On their way home, they ran the proper precautions. can’t even walk or stand for long periods of time into side railing and off the cliff near her house. I know this first hand. I am recovering without feeling a significant amount of pain. They died before the ambulance arrived. from two recent surgical procedures because If people approached recreational activi- I’m not saying that all injuries are prevent- of a sports injury. The injury could have been ties like they approached battle, fewer injuries able or even foreseeable, but if we take the time avoided if I took proper safety precautions would occur. I wouldn’t go into a war zone to invest in our own safety, there will be fewer and the game seriously. Now, I am paying the without making sure I had my weapon, flak incidents. consequences. jacket and Kevlar for protection. It would be Most people, especially service members, As a result of the surgeries, the muscles in foolish and basically be committing suicide. are role models for at least one person. So, my knee are damaged, and I have screws and So, why get on your bike without a helmet or why not set the example by ensuring we make pins in it. I also had a hole that went deep into go play soccer without cleats and shin guards? safety important in all aspects of our lives. the knee, which required cleaning twice a day. Going above your experience level in rec- Frenke is a staff member of the “Okinawa I could have received an immediate medi- reational sports is another mistake Marines Marine” newspaper. Sempertoons Created by Gunnery Sgt. Charles Wolf marine corps fact check UNIFORM STARCHING I read in the Marine Corps uniform regulations that starching the camouflage utility uniform is authorized at the individual’s discretion, but everyone I ask says it Q: is not authorized? Can you tell me who is right? According to Marine Corps Order P1020.34G, Marine Corps Uniform Regulations, the starching of the current combat utility uniform is not authorized. The order states in chapter 10, paragraph 10104, that the use of starch, sizing or any process that involves dry-cleaning or a steam press will adversely A: affect the treatment and durability of the uniform and therefore is not authorized. The order also states in the same paragraph that the use of starching and sizing of the “camouflage” utility uniform is authorized. All references in the order to the “camouflage utility” uniform, vice “combat utility,” refer to the previous green camouflage utility uniform that, as of Oct. 1, is not authorized for wear. 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