Numerous Lejeune units to deploy in surge - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Numerous Lejeune units to deploy in surge

The Pentagon announced Monday that 8,500 additional Marines will deploy to Afghanistan, including 1,500 by the end of the month as part of battalion task force headed by Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based 1st Battalion, 6th Marines.

A small portion of 1/6 already has deployed, with the rest of the task force arriving in the next few weeks, said Master Sgt. Keith Milks, a Marine spokesman at Lejeune. They will supplement existing Marine forces in southern Afghanistan comprising Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan, headquartered by 2nd MEB based out of Lejeune.

In addition to 1/6, the following Lejeune-based forces will deploy this spring:

• Headquarters Company, 2nd Marines

• 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines

• 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines

• Alpha Company, 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Company

• Bravo Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion

• Delta Company, 2nd Tank Battalion

• Combat Logistics Battalion 6

• Company Logistics Company 16

• Detachment, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group

Additionally, the Corps will deploy Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464, based out of Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., and 2nd Low Altitude Defense Battalion, based out of MCAS Cherry Point, N.C. About 6,200 Marines and sailors in the ground combat units preparing for deployment will comprise Regimental Combat Team 2, headed by 2nd Marines. RCT-2 will supplement existing Marine forces in Afghanistan headed by RCT-7, headed by 7th Marines, based out of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, Calif.

In all, the surge will increase Marine forces in Afghanistan to about 19,500, causing the Corps to adjust course with its command structure in Afghanistan.

In July, Marine officials said 1st MEB headquarters, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., would assume command of MEB–A in the spring, but the Corps will now instead deploy 800 Marines with Pendleton’s I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). In the spring, Maj. Gen. Richard Mills, commander of Pendleton-based 1st Marine Division, will assume command from Brig. Gen. Larry Nicholson, commander of 2nd MEB, with Brig. Gen Joseph Osterman assuming command of the Corps’ ground combat element in Afghanistan.

Pentagon officials said Monday that the Marines will be sent as part of 16,000 additional troops, “the initial elements” of the surge authorized by President Barack Obama on Nov. 30. A brigade combat team with 3,400 soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, out of Fort Drum, N.Y., also will deploy early in spring 2010 as part of the initial forces to conduct a training mission.

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