TWINS AND THE MARINE CORPS

Marine Corps Pvts. Shaun and Gabe Vanderwall are identical twins who went through recruit training together at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Marine Corps Pvts. Shaun and Gabe Vanderwall are identical twins who went through recruit training together at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Bridget Keane

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Face of Defense: Twins Complete Recruit Training Together
By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Bridget Keane
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego


SAN DIEGO, Dec. 10, 2012 - Born four minutes apart, Marine Corps Pvts. Shaun and Gabe Vanderwall, Platoon 1035, Company B, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, grew up nearly inseparable.

The 21-year-old identical twins from Ludington, Mich., were always together and enrolled in the same activities since they were children.

"I guess it made it easier for our mother so she didn't have to be in two places at once," Shaun said. "That's where our competitiveness came from."

The twins would hold "friendly competitions" with each other during sporting events, trying to beat each other's times and scores. As they moved on to high school, they both joined track and swim and continued in their competitive nature.

Although the boys' friendly rivalry was taken light-heartedly, they still pushed each other to excel in any activity.

"We're brothers, we wouldn't want to see each other fail at anything," Shaun said.

After graduating from Ludington High School in 2009 and receiving scholarships for their performance in track and swim, both soon realized how expensive college would be even with scholarships.

"Since we were good at swimming, we decided it would be a good idea to join the Coast Guard," Shaun said. "We wanted to do something in search and rescue."

The two went to speak with a recruiter, but were discouraged by the news they received.

"We were told that we'd have to wait two years before we could join," Shaun said. "We decided we were going to wait."

But the Vanderwall twins grew tired of their work at a local retirement home as servers and cooks. Gabe said they didn't want to wait any longer and went back to the recruiting center to look at a different branch of service. He spoke with a Marine Corps recruiter and was pleased to hear that he and his brother would be able to leave sooner. He returned home with the good news to Shaun, and the two enlisted in April.

"We both wanted to get on with our lives, and the Marine Corps gave us so many options with jobs and benefits," said Gabe.

The brothers shipped off to recruit training here Sept. 10 and were placed in the same platoon. Like most recruits, they had a hard time adjusting to the first few weeks of recruit training, they said, but the one thing they had was each other.

The brothers said they motivated each other when times became tough and even kept up with their competitive games during training events such as the combat fitness test.

"We both received a 300 on our CFTs and our times were close," Gabe said. "We both did 100 ammunition can lifts, our 880 was 2 minutes 29 seconds, but I beat Shaun by seven seconds on the maneuver under fire -- I got a minute 50 seconds and he got 57 seconds."

Knowing that they could always rely on each other, they continued to push through training and were noticed individually in the platoon.

"Shaun was more of a natural leader when he arrived, and Gabe was more reserved and quiet," said Marine Corps Sgt. Brandon Rogers, drill instructor. "Gabe is actually the most improved recruit in our platoon."

Rogers, a 25-year-old Fairfield, Calif., native, explained that while Gabe struggled in the beginning but soon started to volunteer more and take charge, both developed into good leaders, morally and physically.

"They motivated the platoon through their actions," he said. "When there was a task that needed to be done, they'd always get it taken care of."

Though the Vanderwall twins now hold the title Marine, their Marine Corps journey isn't over yet. They are scheduled to continue Marine Combat Training at the School of Infantry at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan 8.

Once they finish training there, they will go separate ways for the first time in their lives. It's going to be a big change in their lives, they said, but they're ready to experience it.

"I think it will be a good experience for them," Rogers said. "I'm confident that they'll be fine on their own."

MARINE BROTHERS REUNITE IN AFGHANISTAN

Marine Corps Capt. Dustin Kerlin recently reunited with his brother, Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matthew Kerlin for a mission in Afghanistan. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Timothy Lenzo

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Face of Defense: Brothers Share Family Time in Afghanistan

By Marine Corps Cpl. Timothy Lenzo
Regional Command Southwest
CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan, Nov. 6, 2012 - A pair of Marine Corps brothers had a chance to get together briefly before an operation over Afghanistan's Helmand province.

Capt. Dustin Kerlin, a pilot with Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161, recently enjoyed flying with his brother, Lt. Col. Matthew Kerlin.

Matthew, an embedded training team deputy commander, arrived here before the operation. Family members do not often deploy together, and his brother appreciated the opportunity.

"Getting to meet up with my brother in Afghanistan was the highlight of my career," Dustin said. "It was great to get to see him."

The brothers, from Albion, Ind., reunited on the flightline for a brief meeting before a joint operation with the two units to transport service members into Helmand province.

"I am thankful any time I get to see a member of the family," the elder brother said, "even if it is for only 20 minutes on a flightline in Afghanistan."

The brothers do not see each other often. Their family is scattered across the United States making it difficult to meet.

"It was great to see him," Dustin said. "My brother has always been a mentor personally and professionally for me."

Like many families, the brothers picked up right where they left off. Though years had passed since the last time they saw each other, they said, it was easy to be themselves with one another.

The rest of the Kerlin family was shocked, but pleased, to hear the brothers got to work together.

"Being dispersed across the U.S. makes it even better when we have a chance to get together," Matthew said.

While the chance to work together surprised the two Marine pilots, the fact that they both chose to be pilots did not surprise anyone. Their father had his private pilot's license and took them flying when they were children. This sparked their love for flying at a young age.

"As long as I can remember, he would take us up in his plane," Dustin said. "We would fly low by the house [and] do tricks like stalls and go to air shows."

For the brothers, the experiences shaped their lives.

"He is the reason I am a Marine pilot, and it's also his fault I am a helicopter pilot," Matthew said. "Flying is his passion, and his knowledge of military aircraft is incredible."

When Matthew was a young teen, he went to a small airport that had an old Bell 47, a two-bladed, light helicopter. He paid $100 and experienced his first helicopter flight.

Whether it was taking rides in helicopters or flying by their house, the two Marines were hooked. Now, many years later and thousands of miles away from their hometown, the brothers got an early holiday gift. For the one operation they flew together, the Afghanistan skyline temporarily replaced the Indiana landscape of their childhood.

MARINES HELP STATEN ISLAND RESIDENTS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Photo:  Marine Corps UH-1N Iroquois "Huey" helicopters with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit deliver meals-ready-to-eat to Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 4, 2012. The Navy-Marine Corps team is well equipped to respond to national disasters when required, through the coordination of U.S. Northern Command. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Megan Angel

 Headquarters Marine Corps

NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2012 - Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived here yesterday via CH-53E helicopters to aid Staten Island impacted by Superstorm Sandy.

The group of 20 Marines worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the New York City Parks Department and other civilian authorities to provide relief to citizens affected by Hurricane Sandy's damaging winds and flooding.

"It feels good to help," said Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Antonio M. Medina, an optics technician attached to the 26th MEU. "We're trying to coordinate efforts with the local and some state agencies so that we can try to help with the situation, take furniture that's rotten, get medicine, whatever it takes to relieve [people's] problems."

The Marines are moving house to house through Staten Island, surveying damaged structures, assisting those in need of medical support and providing manpower to remove damaged household goods from residents' homes.

The 26th MEU Marines are scheduled to provide assistance as the surrounding New York communities return to normal operations and power is restored. The eastern shore of Staten Island has seen some of the worst destruction from Hurricane Sandy; homes were flooded, power lines broken and, as of yesterday, some fallen trees remained atop homes and vehicles.

"... [A]s long as the mission needs us to be here or until we're told to move to somewhere else to help, we'll be here," Medina said. "The [locals] appreciate the help a lot. They shake our hands and say 'Thank you.' They even have offered us food in several locations but we're not here to take their things. We're here to help them out."

Many of the residents expressed their gratitude to the Marines for lending a hand. Salvatore Greco, who served in the Marine Corps during the early 90's, said he was excited when he saw a group of Marines helping out with the recovery.

"It's a blessing," Greco said. "The first thing I asked was, 'Where's my Marines at?'"

Greco's wife, Sebahet, said she wants to see more Marines helping out.

"I was hoping that the Marines were here," she said. "I was happy to see them here."

The Marines, operating from the USS Wasp, USS San Antonio and USS Carter Hall off the coast of New York City, are part of a Navy and Marine Corps team that provides crisis response anywhere in the world. The Navy-Marine team can land forces ashore by air and sea, and is uniquely suited to assist local authorities in moving personnel and equipment.

AN ELITE SECURITY MARINE'S STORY

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Victor Castro, left, helps Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Josue Hernandez climb up a ravine during a partnered patrol with Afghan soldiers in Sagin in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Feb. 20, 2012. Castro, a corpsman, and Hernandez, a rifleman, are assigned to India Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. The Marines trained the Afghan soldiers to patrol on their own with the Marines in a support role. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Timothy Lenzo

 FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Face of Defense: Elite Security Marine Serves in Afghanistan

By Marine Corps Master Sgt. Brenda Varnadore
Regional Command SouthwestNOW ZAD, Oct. 31, 2012 - Marine Corps Cpl. Austen Clark said his decision to join the Corps five years ago was an easy one, especially since he was guaranteed a job to protect the president.

Clark, the 2nd squad leader for 1st Platoon, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, said he decided after graduating from high school in 2007 that the Marine Corps Security Forces was his destiny.

"My granddad was in," the Morristown, Ind., native said. "He was [communications] though. I didn't want to go to college so I joined."

After graduating from recruit training and infantry school, Clark headed to the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., while his security clearance went through. Once all necessary investigations were done, it was time for him to head to Camp David in Maryland to protect then-President George W. Bush.

"President Bush was a huge mountain biker," Clark recalled. "We would always see him out riding. He was hilarious though, and always had time to talk and laugh with us."

After President Barack Obama was elected in 2008, Clark said, he had the chance to not only provide security for him, but to also play some basketball with the commander-in-chief.

Clark moved up quickly while with Security Forces and earned a billet as Reactionary Force Commander, making him responsible for two security teams. His more than three years at Camp David made Clark realize, he said, that his ultimate goal is federal service after his Marine Corps service ends.

"I want to eventually get on with the Secret Service or U.S. Marshals," Clark said. "I was going to do it from [Camp David] with all the connections, but I was scheduled for [2nd Bn., 7th Marines] and knew they were deploying soon. That is what I joined to do, so I re-enlisted."

After Clark arrived at 2nd Bn., 7th Marines, he found out his deployment was not to Afghanistan as he originally thought, but to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. While with the 31st MEU, he found himself in Australia.

"I really enjoyed my time there," Clark said. "Being able to train with the Australians was a great opportunity."

Clark said he found out quickly when he arrived at a regular infantry battalion, however, that he would have to prove himself as a leader.

"I love what I do and being here with a very prideful unit helped," Clark said. "It was an uphill battle, but I proved myself and have progressed to squad leader."

Clark is finally in Afghanistan and said he's set some definite goals for himself.

"I waited five and a half years to get out here," he said. "I want to try to use the time to sharpen my skills as a Marine and try to pick up sergeant."

Whether Clark decides to stay in the Marine Corps for the long haul or transfer to federal service, he said, his parents will always be supportive and proud of him.

RECENT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PHOTOS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
A U.S. Air Force airman keeps an eye out for role players portraying enemy fighters after he and his team members participated in a mock ambush during a route-clearance mission for an exercise in Thetford, England, Sept. 4, 2012. The airman is assigned to the 100th Security Forces Squadron, based at Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall, England. U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere 　

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Bobby Heimovitz fires a .50-caliber machine gun at an MK-25 smoke target in the Atlantic Ocean, Sept. 5, 2012. Heimovitz is a naval aircrewman helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 9. The squadron is under way with the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman to support carrier qualifications. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Mick DiMestico

Steven Peace, a U.S. Navy veteran and U.S. Paralympic road cyclist, rides past fans while negotiating a hill as he completes the first of three laps for the 24-kilometer road race during the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, Sept. 8, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

  

   U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Patrick McCall, left, receives a high five from an Afghan boy during a security patrol in the Sangin district of Afghanistan's Helmand province, Sept. 6, 2012. McCall is a rifleman assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jason Morrison

THE MARINES: WHERE LEADERS ARE MADE

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Marine Corps Pvt. Zachery T. Douthitt at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Aug.14, 2012. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Walter Marino III.


Marine Recruit Strives for Leadership Role
By Marine Corps Cpl. Walter Marino III
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego SAN DIEGO, Aug. 24, 2012 - Most everyone sets goals for their lives. Marine recruits are no different, and many enter training hoping to earn a leadership position. However, goals sometimes take more time to achieve than expected and for one recruit, it took most of boot camp to get within reach of a leadership billet.
 Throughout recruit training, Marine Corps Pvt. Zachery T. Douthitt, Platoon 3242, Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, strived to be a squad leader or guide. Unfortunately, it wasn't until the later stages of training that his drill instructors noticed his upstanding character.  "He's been a good recruit this whole cycle," said Sgt. Alanser Uruo, the platoon's senior drill instructor. "He always puts out in all the events, whether it's physically training, drill or guided discussions."
 Out of a platoon of 60 recruits, only four are selected as squad leaders and one as platoon guide.
 At 5 feet 4 inches, Douthitt, a 20-year-old native of Muncie, Ind., is one of the smaller recruits in his platoon. He also has a calm demeanor and is soft spoken. While that didn't make him a bad recruit, it did make it harder for him to get noticed.
 "I always tried to show leadership characteristics," said Douthitt. "I don't know why I wasn't picked. I hope to get recognized after boot camp to show I did give everything I have."
 Uruo said that it's possible for Douthitt to pick up a leadership role in the Corps if he does three things: "All he has to do is stand out, be more vocal [and] take more initiative."
 Although Douthitt was a good recruit, Uruo said, it took until the second and third phase of recruit training to notice his outstanding positive and humble character.
 "If I wanted to know how the platoon was doing, I would ask him. That's how much confidence I have in him," said Uruo. "The way he presents himself, his mannerisms, motivates other recruits. He has really good character and is a humble recruit."
 As the weeks passed in training, Uruo said Douthitt's positivity and motivation became obvious, particularly when he would consistently provide input during recruit classes and direct fellow recruits to improve.
 However, Uruo said, by that time it was too late in the game to switch up the leadership roster.
 Fellow recruits called Douthitt a positive light and someone who always helped others during stressful times.
　
"He would help me when I was struggling," said Pvt. Justin E. Duncan, one of Douthitt's platoon mates. "I remember telling him that I didn't know what I was doing here and he told me basically to keep my eyes on the prize of becoming a Marine."
 Although Douthitt did not reach his goal of holding a leadership billet in recruit training, he said it hasn't discouraged him from continuing to excel. Douthitt believes he can earn it during his time in the Marine Corps.
 "He's been that positive person that people have looked up to," said Duncan. "Yeah he's not a squad leader now but if he continues the way he is there is no doubt in my mind he's going to accomplish big things."
 Douthitt said that not being picked as squad leader didn't affect him; it instead drove him to try harder to help others and to be someone to look up to.
 "I'm not going to let my efforts stop here in boot camp," said Douthitt. "I'm going to keep trying to do my best."
 Douthitt is the son and brother of former Marines, and, he said, he plans on passing on to his kids the values of honor and courage he learned in recruit training.

TRIBUTE PAID TO WWII HERO MARINE CORPS SGT. AUDIE MURPHY

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
An honor guard soldier places a wreath next to the grave of Medal of Honor recipient Army Maj. Audie L. Murphy as Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, far left, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Military District of Washington chapter of the Sgt. Audie L. Murphy Club, pay tribute on the World War II hero's birthday at Arlington National Cemetery, Va., June 20, 2012. DOD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.  

Senior Enlisted Leader, Namesake Club Honor Audie Murphy
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.
ARLINGTON, Va., June 21, 2012 - The military's top enlisted member joined a local chapter of the Sgt. Audie L. Murphy Club here yesterday in honoring the club's namesake on his birthday.
Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined the Military District of Washington Sergeant Audie L. Murphy Club in a wreath-laying ceremony to pay tribute to the American war hero, a Medal of Honor recipient, who is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

"Eighty-eight years ago today," Battaglia said at the event, "we see a young man like Audie Leon Murphy who would become such a great American hero ... through his life – especially the life he served protecting our nation. [It's] quite impressive."

Battaglia noted that Murphy attained the rank of staff sergeant just a year and a half after joining the Army. He received a battlefield commission in October 1944, and rose to the rank of major.

"[But] Sergeant Audie Murphy wasn't someone about awards," Battaglia said. "He was about taking care of his men and women and getting the mission accomplished. And that's why I say ... it's befitting of me to ... recognize Sergeant Audie Murphy on his birthday, a very monumental date in the history of our ... armed forces. But [I'm also here to] thank the members of his club and the loyal and dedicated soldiers that continue to serve honorably and with distinguished contributions and volunteerism throughout their communities and neighborhoods."

Battaglia was joined by Army Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Taylor, president of the local chapter, who serves in the Office of the Secretary of Defense Mess.

"It is my honor today to honor the leader of our charge in the Sgt. Audie Murphy Club – Audie Leon Murphy," she said. "Today would be his 88th birthday. We welcome you all."
Other club members played prominent roles during the ceremony, including treasurer Army Staff Sgt. Tanner Welch, who recited Murphy's biography.

"Audie Murphy was killed in a plane crash on a mountain top in Roanoke, Va., May 28, 1971," Welch said. "Fittingly, his body was recovered two days later on Memorial Day."
"Audie may have been the last American war hero," he added. "He was the best combat soldier in the 200-plus year history of the United States."

Battaglia said Audie Murphy is buried next to "thousands and thousands of great American service men and women," but is special in his own right.

"I think his service in the Army goes beyond just that in the Army," he said after the ceremony, reflecting on what he has read about Murphy. "I'd like it to resonate throughout all the services. He wasn't worried about awards and decorations. The man was there to accomplish a mission, he was there to protect his country, and he was there to protect his men and women. And that's all he really cared about."

Club member Army Master Sgt. Flora McKnight, operations officer for the Military District of Washington, agreed with the sergeant major.

"We do this in order to honor Sergeant Audie Murphy," she said. "Through his abilities as a noncommissioned officer, he took care of soldiers, and that's what we do – we take care of soldiers and give back to the community.

"Through selflessness ... we have an opportunity to give back to others and to show others the correct way doing that," McKnight continued. "The selflessness comes from us giving back to our community – not only the military community, but our civilian community -- because we all form a bond."

Battaglia noted a personal connection. He served a year-long deployment in Iraq, starting in February 2007, with one of the 3rd Infantry Division brigades to which Murphy was assigned.

"He set a legacy that carries on today. ... I think all of our service members, not just soldiers ... can use Audie Murphy as an example to emulate," Battaglia said.

MARINES KEEPING COOL

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Joshua Flores replaces a broken conductor on an air conditioning unit at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 19, 2012. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Marco Gutierrez  

Face of Defense: Marine Keeps Camp Leatherneck Cool
By Marine Corps Sgt. Marco Gutierrez
1st Marine Expeditionary Force
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan, June 14, 2012 - Temperatures can reach more than 100 degrees here, but one Marine battles the heat to keep things cool for his fellow service members.

Lance Cpl. Joshua Daniel Flores, a refrigeration mechanic 9th Communication Battalion, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, works every day to keep his fellow Marines and critical equipment from overheating.

"His mission is important, because he creates a controlled climate environment for the critical communications equipment here, which creates a lot of heat in an already hot environment," said Marine Corps Sgt. Jeremiah Loeffler, the battalion's air conditioning section head and quality control noncommissioned officer.

Flores monitors three sites that contain living spaces, offices and critical communication equipment. He keeps track of more than 170 air conditioning units, performs biweekly preventive maintenance and responds to trouble calls when the units malfunction.
Even though Flores has many people relying on him to get his job done, he always manages to stay upbeat. "He has a good work attitude, likes to learn, and he never does the bare minimum," Loeffler said.

Flores said he enjoys the satisfaction he gets when he repairs an air conditioning unit and knowing his supervisors trust his work.

His biggest challenge is the harsh environment and inclement weather that give the air conditioning units a beating and keep him moving and working. But despite the rigors of his job, he added, keeping Camp Leatherneck running smoothly is all the motivation he needs.

"Biweekly, I go to all my [air conditioning] units," he said. "I do visual inspections, make sure they're good, and clean the dust filters. Right now, I already know just by the wind which ones are dirty."

Even though his job requires him to be out in the blazing hot sun, Flores said, he takes pride in knowing he plays a critical role in helping others keep their cool.

ART AND MOTIVATION IN THE MARINE CORPS

Marine Corps Pfc. Coty Thomas paints the lettering for a going-away canvas for one of the Marines in his shop on May 13, 2012. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Pettway  
FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE 
Face of Defense: Marine Employs Artistic Talent to Motivate
By Marine Corps Cpl. Joshua Pettway
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION BEAUFORT, S.C., June 12, 2012 - Marine Corps Pfc. Coty Thomas uses his flair with paint to motivate his fellow Marines here.

Thomas, an aircraft technician assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, airbrushes different symbols and meaningful pictures on his shop's interior walls.

"I have been airbrushing for the past four to five years and it's easy to become lost in my work," Thomas said. "So far, I've painted a few different things for my shop ... you won't see anything like [my work] in any other shop."

"I like it because it's not something that everyone can do, and I take pride in the end result," he added.

Right outside the Thomas' office is an airbrushed rendering of a knight clad in armor with a shield depicting a previous unit mascot. This work of art was completed with the help of Marine Corps Pfc. Frederick Stewart, a fellow maintenance technician.

"I think it's pretty cool to do something like this for our unit," Stewart said. "Everything looks really good, and it's unique to our shop. And it lets me do something for everyone in it."

Airbrushing can take a lot of time to complete, depending on the level of difficulty and effort behind the image.

"I could spend hours painting because I'm so focused on finishing once I start," Thomas said. "I can't just rush through it because it's my name going on the work, and I want whoever sees it to think it looks good."

Thomas said he always begins from scratch and cuts out all of the outlines for the artwork himself.

"But it's worth it in the end," he said.
Thomas recently completed airbrushing a canvas for one of the Marines in his shop as a going-away gift and reminder of the effort and work they put in before departing for a new unit.

"Starting is the hardest part, but the last project I finished took [about] 22 hours," Thomas said. "With the free time I had after work, I would add as many details as I wanted.
"It's unfortunate being a perfectionist when you really enjoy something because you can't allow yourself to make a mistake," he added.

As Thomas' artwork catches the eyes of the Marines of his shop, he hopes they appreciate it after he leaves.

Thomas' long-term goal, he said, is to establish a portfolio of his work. However, he added, it's an enjoyable hobby creating airbrushed artwork for his fellow Marines.

MARINE RECYCLES TO CUT COSTS

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matthew S. Belk, a motor vehicle mechanic with Combat Logistics Battalion 4, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), attaches leads to a dead battery at the CLB-4 compound on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 20, 2012. The battery, which had been drained of power during tactical logistics support operations, was recharged as part of the battalion's battery recycling program. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Mark Stroud  

Face of Defense: Marine Embraces Recycling to Cut Costs
By Marine Corps Cpl. Mark Stroud
III Marine Expeditionary Force
OKINAWA, Japan, June 1, 2012 - Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Matthew S. Belk, a motor vehicle mechanic with Support Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 4, 1st Marine Logistics Group (Forward), came up with a plan to help his battalion save money in a combat zone through recycling on Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.

Belk's idea was to implement a system that function-tests depleted tactical vehicle batteries. Under the new system, each spent battery that passes the function test is then recharged and redistributed throughout the battalion for use in its vehicle fleet.

"This is [Belk's] brainstorm. He came up with the idea and [gathered all of the necessary equipment]," said Marine Corps Cpl. Edgar E. Aguilar, noncommissioned officer-in-charge at the battalion's hazardous waste accumulation point.

"The program has saved over $120,000 so far on purchasing new batteries," Aguilar said.
Prior to implementation of the recycling program, all dead batteries were delivered to Camp Leatherneck's hazardous waste accumulation point for proper disposal, Aguilar said.

"The value of the program is that it saves money for the battalion," said Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Troy C. Havard, maintenance officer, Support Company, CLB-4. "It is also friendly to the environment since it keeps us from having to dispose of the batteries."

The battalion's maintenance Marines used battery chargers to test batteries on tactical vehicles when they came in for maintenance work, Belk said.

"I used to work in the maintenance bay," he said. "I knew they had chargers, and I knew we could use them [at the CLB-4 hazardous waste accumulation point] for a recycling program."

The Marines ensure re-energized batteries maintain their charge by testing them for proper function before distributing them for use in the battalion's fleet of vehicles.

"We measure the voltage of the batteries after they have been charged ... if they meet a certain requirement, we separate them and leave them for a day," Belk said. "I measure them again and, if they are still holding the charge, they are good to go."

Batteries that do not properly maintain a charge are delivered to the Camp Leatherneck hazardous waste accumulation point for disposal, Belk said.

The battery recycling program saves the battalion money and helps the environment, Belk said, and also provides a good example for other Marines to follow in the areas of fiscal responsibility and protecting the environment.

U.S. NAVY CHAPLIN KEEPING SOME READY FOR THEIR JOB

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Navy Chaplain (Cmdr.) Francis Foley rides in the back of a truck as he leaves Combat Outpost Now Zad, Afghanistan, May 27, 2012. Foley delivered care packages and attended to the spiritual needs of Marines and sailors at the outpost. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Lamberth  

Face of Defense: Chaplain Provides Spiritual Aid on the Fly
By Marine Corps Cpl. Isaac Lamberth
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
COMBAT OUTPOST NOW ZAD, Afghanistan, May 31, 2012 - Marines and sailors have fought alongside each other for more than 230 years, with Navy corpsmen, doctors and nurses continuously keeping Marines fit for battle. But for many, spiritual needs are another important element of readiness.

Navy Chaplain (Cmdr.) Francis Foley, command chaplain for 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, visited Marines and sailors here May 27.

"It is such a great feeling when the chaplain comes out here to visit us," said Marine Corps 1st Lt. Rick Chapman, police advisory team executive officer for 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Chapman said the visits not only increase morale, but also allow service members to seek spiritual guidance.

"The Chaplain Corps provides Marines the opportunity to look into the spiritual side of life," Chapman said. "When the chaplain visits and the Marines attend the services, it gives them a taste of home and allows them to forget about the worries they have around here."
Chapman said Marines go to the services to partake in religious activities and to be around others who share their beliefs with a leader of their faith. But the chaplain's presence also gives them a chance express their anxieties and day-to-day frustrations, he added.
"Father Foley's visit gives the Marines here the ability to vent to someone else," Chapman said. "It's very helpful for them to talk to an outsider about certain subjects."
Foley is one of four Catholic chaplains in Regional Command Southwest. With so few chaplains in the area, Foley said, he tries to get out to various outposts to speak with Marines and let them know their sacrifices are appreciated and that their hard work does not go unnoticed.

"I always thank the troops for what they do," said Foley, who hails from Philadelphia. "To hear that from a stranger means a lot to these guys."

Many Marines at remote outposts, such as this one in Afghanistan's Helmand province, do get many chaplain visits as they'd like. Foley said he tries to get out to these troops as much as he can, often delivering care packages to help in raising their spirits.
"Bringing the care packages is a really big deal to these guys," Chapman said. "Little things like peanut butter, snacks and socks mean so much to them. It gives them insight from home and what they're fighting for."

The visits also give him first-hand perspective into how the Marines and sailors live, the chaplain said, and give him a great appreciation for the amenities he has at Camp Leatherneck. Marines in remote outposts sometimes go days without electricity, rarely receive hot meals and sleep on cots nightly.

Foley said he has visited about 18 forward operating bases and combat outposts and plans to visit many more Marines and sailors while he is out here.

"I try to get out as much as I can and see the Marines out there," he said. "If I can get them to smile and laugh, I've done my job and made it easier for the next chaplain who comes to visit them."

MARINES BECOME U.S. CITIZENS

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE
Marine Corps Sgt. Jose Guadarramapedraza, left, and Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jason Constable pose for a photo at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 16, 2012. They earned their U.S. citizenship before deploying. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Lamberth  

Face of Defense: Marines Earn Citizenship Before Deployment
By Marine Corps Cpl. Isaac Lamberth
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan, May 24, 2012 - Two Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 273 reached a turning point in their lives before deploying to Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Jason Constable, a watch officer and combat engineer, and Sgt. Jose Guadarramapedraza, an administration specialist, are now citizens of the United States.
"I've always felt like I was an American," said Constable, a native of New Zealand.
Constable said he came to the United States in 1985 and completed his sophomore year in high school after having stayed in the country for four years. He returned in 1991 and became a security guard at a hospital in Phoenix before joining the Marine Corps in 1993.
"My father wanted me to join the French Foreign Legion," he said. Instead, Constable sought his friends' opinions on what the hardest option would be to serve in the U.S. military. His friends told him it was the Marine Corps.

Constable enlisted in 1993 and left the Corps when his enlistment ended four years later.
"I lived a pretty uneventful seven years after that," he said. "After I got out, it just wasn't the same."

Constable said he missed the camaraderie and his sense of belonging and having a purpose in life. After the 9/11 attacks, he said, he felt a resurgence in patriotism and re-enlisted in 2004. In 2005, he deployed to Iraq, where he earned a Purple Heart after being injured when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

Constable said he wanted to earn his citizenship, and he also needed it to perform his duties. "I started needing clearances that I couldn't get because I wasn't a citizen," he explained. He took his citizenship oath hours before he deployed to Afghanistan.

Guadarramapedraza migrated to Idaho from central Mexico with his family of 11. He grew up in Mountain Home and enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2004. He said he had permanent residency before he joined, but that not being a citizen began to hamper his ability to carry out day-to-day activities at work.

"I can do my job easier and not have headaches from having to renew my green card and not be able to do certain tasks with my job," he said. "It's a huge relief."
Guadarramapedraza said gaining his citizenship has opened new avenues for him at work. As an administrative specialist, he ensures squadron personnel are paid their entitlements and receive their awards. The new clearances allow him to access secure networks while he's deployed.

"I felt proud," he said. "It was the right thing to do for my family and the Marine Corps. In order to do my job and be proficient and support my Marines, I needed my citizenship," he said.