[marines] Digest (03/03/1999 18:00) (#1999-34)
Veterans News & Information Service
(#1999-34) - Topics This Issue:
1) Marine Musicians Join Kuwait Celebration
2) nternational Csc Students Expand Horizons
----------------------------------------------------------------------
==============================
Date: Wed, 03 Mar 1999 16:03:10 -0800
Subject: Marine Musicians Join Kuwait Celebration
Marine Musicians Join Kuwait Celebration
By Sgt. Melinda Weathers
AHMEDI, Kuwait (Feb 26) -- Eight years ago, the efforts of
32 nations massed against Iraqi invasion forces climaxed,
and Kuwait was liberated during Operation Desert Storm.
At the latest stop on the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band's
goodwill tour through Southwest Asia, band members helped
Kuwait celebrate National and Liberation Day when they
performed here for an audience which included Kuwaiti war
heroes and a group of foreign dignitaries.
The event brought together United Nations coalition members
as they enjoyed food, swapped old stories, and listened to
music provided by the Marines. Although the gathering was
festive, many paused to pay homage to the more than 600
Kuwaitis who are still prisoners of war or unaccounted for.
The celebration took place in the Al-Qabundi house, which
served as a makeshift headquarters for the Kuwaiti
resistance during the Iraqi invasion of August, 1990. "We
were running the resistance from this house before the
liberation," said Ahmed Al Rayyis, a Kuwaiti national. "We
would talk to our allies from this house
with phones and faxes."
At the celebration, when the clock struck midnight, American,
British, and Kuwaiti flags were raised as the band played
each country's national anthem. "Most of our allies are here
tonight and this is the first time we've had a Marine band
here. We are truly grateful," Al Rayyis said.
"When I see the Kuwaiti flag flying with other nations' flags, it
sends shivers down my spine," said Shaikh Saud Al Sabah,
current oil minister to Kuwait and former Kuwaiti
Ambassador to the U.S. "(Kuwait) has witnessed
overwhelming support from the U.S. and I extend my deepest
thanks to our friends and allies," he added. "I hope our
relationship will continue to prosper and strengthen for the
future."
"Few people (in different cultures) get to see Marines in this
environment," said Lt. Col. Michael Bulawka, Marine Forces
Pacific force protection officer for the tour. "We were very
fortunate (to be able) to perform in Kuwait (now). It's a great
day to be here," he added.
As the band concluded their concert, Chief Warrant Officer-3
Ronald H. Fucuals, 3rd MAW Band director, called for all the
Kuwaiti children in the audience to join him on the conducting
podium. As the children waved Kuwaiti, British and American
flags, the band played Stars and Stripes Forever, which drew
rounds of applause from the audience.
The 3rd MAW Band left their home base at Marine Corps Air
Station, Miramar, Calif. on Feb. 12. They are scheduled to
return to California Mar. 6 after performances throughout
Southwest Asia which included stops in Kuwait, Oman,
Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
------------------------------
==============================
Date: Wed, 03 Mar 1999 16:04:09 -0800
Subject: nternational Csc Students Expand Horizons
International Csc Students Expand Horizons
By 1stLt. Don Cicotte
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C.
(Feb 25) -- Learning from lectures in a classroom is one of
those painful, but acceptable, methods of professional
military education. Fortunately, 23 international military
students from Command and Staff College at Marine Corps
University in Quantico, Va., got to break up their routine
classroom lectures with a more exciting and innovative
method of learning.
The International Military Student class, which is comprised
of O-4 and O-5 officers from as near as Jamaica and as far
away as Singapore, took to the road. The group, representing
more than 20 different countries, recently visited two Eastern
North Carolina Marine bases to fulfill curriculum
requirements.
The group's first stop was at Camp Lejeune, N.C. There,
during II Marine Expeditionary Force's capability exercise,
they learned firsthand how the ground and air combat
elements interact. They also gained an appreciation of how
the combat service support element provides the necessary
support to allow units to continue the fight.
"Today's capability exercise will demonstrate the powerful
capabilities of a Marine air/ground task force," said LtGen.
Peter Pace, commander, Marine Forces Atlantic, as he
made opening comments at the start of the CAPEX to about
200 military and civilian spectators.
The CAPEX is held quarterly, and is presented in seven
modules. The exercise is based on a non-combatant
evacuation operation scenario where Marines invade the
fictitious country of
Batista to evacuate 50 Americans working there. Although
the exercise is a great learning opportunity for all of the
spectators, the primary purpose of conducting it is to train II
MEF Marines for similar situations around the world.
From Risely Pier, the students and other spectators watched
as the scenario began with a beach landing which included
close air support. F/A-18 Hornets and AV-8B Harriers flew
low and fast as they "prepped" the beach. Then, AH-1W
Super Cobra and CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters escorted the
landing craft, air cushion, which brought the amphibious
warriors ashore.
Next, the spectators moved inland to watch a tactical
recovery of aircraft and personnel demonstration. The TRAP
mission trains Marines for situations like when Air Force
Capt. Scott O'Grady had to be rescued from behind enemy
lines in Bosnia in 1995.
After watching the successful recovery of the "downed" pilot,
the group boarded their bus and was joined by LtGen. Pace
during the trip to the module three area. LtGen. Pace, a
former-MCU president and CSC graduate, told the
international officers, "The future of military operations is
coalition. Make friends with your classmates and keep in
contact with each other. You never know when your paths
will cross again."
At the river's edge, Marines from Small Craft Company fired
upon the coastline during the small boat demonstration. Amid
this portion of the exercise, the riverine assault craft Marines
assaulted a riverside facility and evacuated four American
scientists. With the evacuation a success, the soldiers of the
sea jumped into their boats and raced down the river away
from a very impressed crowd.
At the next stop, two goals were accomplished. The group
"experienced" Marine Corps chow at a field dining facility, and
saw a combat service support demonstration by 2d Force
Service Support Group devil dogs.
Module five included a short take-off and vertical landing of an
AV-8B on Lyman Road. Crash, fire and rescue crew
members in a P-19 fire truck were standing by during the
demonstration, while 2d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion
gunners protected the air space with their Avenger System.
From the North Carolina road-turned-airstrip, the group went
to Camp Lejeune's Combat Town. There they saw a
non-combatant evacuation operation and a chemical
biological incident response force demonstration.
The CAPEX concluded with a demonstration of military
operations in urban terrain. Marines from 2d Battalion, 8th
Marine Regiment assaulted San Fidel, the capital of Batista,
with a ferocious display of II MEF's MAGTF capability. The
assault integrated close air support, tanks, light armored
vehicles, helicopters and our most deadly weapons, grunts
with rifles.
When asked about the educational value of the CAPEX,
French Army Maj. Nicolas Pic stated, "It was impressive
seeing the organization of the Marine Corps in action. Seeing
the air, sea and land assets coordinate their efforts was very
interesting."
Although the students were able to put a big check in the
"MAGTF capabilities box" portion within their curriculum, the
learning excursion was only half through.
The following morning, the group visited the Naval Aviation
Depot here to learn about the maintenance requirements and
support efforts at a major air station.
There, the students received a command brief by NADEP
commanding officer, Col. Robert N. Leavitt. Then they were
divided into three groups. Each group visited the H-46 and
H-53 hangars, a machine shop and the F-402 (AV-8 Pegasus
engine) test cell.
While in the H-46 hangar watching on going work on the
airframes, Royal Marine Maj. Garth Stuart Conningham
Manger joked, "There are more 46s in this hangar than there
are in the whole Royal Air Force!"
To show their appreciation for the invitation to the CAPEX
and tour of NADEP, the class of international military officers
presented their hosts, LtGen. Pace and Leavitt with plaques.
A small price to pay for the opportunity to get out of the
classroom and enjoy some firsthand interaction with North
Carolina Marines and civilians.
-30-
------------------------------
End marines Digest (03/03/1999 18:00)
*************************************
Disclaimer of Endorsement:
Reference herein to any specific commercial products,
process, or service by trade name, trademark,
manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily
constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation,
or favoring by VNIS. The views and opinions of
authors expressed herein do not necessarily state
or reflect those of VNIS, and shall not be used for
advertising or product endorsement purposes.
VNIS is not a government agency and is a sole proprietorship,
own and operated by Christian L. Wilson USN/Ret
You may subscribe or unsubscribe to one of the VNIS lists,
at the following address:
http://www.vnis.com/vetnews/subscrib.htm