3,000 Marines headed to Afghanistan... and i'm one of them

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Accord

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You've all probably heard on the news about the proposal to send 3,000 Marines to Afghanistan, well the proposal was just approved by the SecDef and I am one of those 3,000 Marines who are going.

Our unit was originally a MEU(SOC), we just completed the entire workup and certification exercise for a MEU(SOC) and now all that **** has gone out the window. For the past 6 months we were planning on just going to some exotic libbo ports and going on a booze cruise in the med for 9 months with a humanitarian mission or two mixed in as well as a 3 week stop in Kuwait to train with their military, well all that is now out the window and now we're flying straight to the Ghan and will be in Helmand, the most brutal province in Afghanistan. We will be a part of NATO and our AO is actually controlled by the British, all those crazy videos of the British Royal Marines in Afghanistan you've seen on Youtube, that's where i'll be.

I won't specifically say when we're deploying due to OPSEC but let's just say that we're deploying so quickly that predeployment leave has been cancelled.



KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan welcomed on Thursday U.S. plans to send an extra 3,000 troops to fight the Taliban insurgency, but Washington's move highlights divisions between Western allies over how much to commit to the country.

In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer welcomed the U.S. plans but stressed that a number of European allies had in recent months also added forces there.

The Pentagon said on Wednesday U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was considering sending an additional 3,000 Marines to thwart any Taliban spring offensive, bringing to around 30,000 the number of American troops in Afghanistan.

Around half the current U.S. contingent serves in a 40,000-strong NATO-led International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF), while the rest conduct missions ranging from counter-terrorism to reconstruction to training Afghan troops.

Zahir Azimi, a spokesman for Afghanistan's Defense Ministry, said a U.S. troop increase would help anti-insurgency operations as the new national army continued to grow.

"As we are in the fight together with the international community, the deployment of additional troops to Afghanistan is considered necessary in the current situation," he said.

However, "the Afghan National Army is the answer for the long-term security in Afghanistan to thwart internal and external threats to the country and to maintain the force balance," he said, adding that the number of trained soldiers would grow from 58,000 to 70,000 in the next two months.

Washington, stretched by last year's troop surge in Iraq, has for months been trying in vain to persuade NATO allies to commit more combat troops to Afghanistan to take up the slack.

'CAN DO BETTER'

European governments have been reluctant to increase their operations here and, wary of a big dip in domestic public support for their continued presence, have been scaling back.

Under the U.S. plan, most of the Marines would join British, Canadian and Dutch troops in southern Afghanistan, scene of the worst fighting.

NATO's de Hoop Scheffer pointed to recent smaller additions from countries including France, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland -- which on Wednesday announced it would add 400 troops and helicopters -- to its existing 1,200-strong contingent.

"You cannot say the allies are not active enough, because they are active. ... But I still think we can do better," he told reporters at an event in Brussels, noting persistent shortfalls in NATO's forces.

He also stressed the ultimate answer was not military but a long-term commitment to reconstruction and development.

"The solution for Afghanistan is not pouring in tens of thousands of forces," he said.

While NATO says it thwarted last year's attempted Taliban spring offensive, overall violence is up 27 percent over a year ago and has risen by 60 percent in the southern province of Helmand, the U.S. military said last month.

De Hoop Scheffer argued that much of the good news in the country -- such as what he said was a doubling in the average Afghan personal income from 2001 -- was being overshadowed.
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Well, from a Canadian teen sitting here in a free country, I think we all owe men and women like you a huge thank you, because we'd not be able to were it not for you all.

Safe journey, and good luck!
 
Accord,

Stay safe, keep the faith and honor your buddies.

Your generation of veterans is making all other previous generations of veterans damn proud.

You are among the finest we have in this country.

God Bless.

Jeff
 
God Bless All You Leathernecks!

Thank you for your service. I second the comment: "Good Hunting"! Stay "frosty", keep yer powder dry, and watch your 6!
 
Thank you for your service!
Watch your six and keep your head down devil dog. Spring offensive Rrriiiiggghhhttt. They are 0 for 2 and are trying for a last minute win b4 the plug gets pulled. Sorry about the leave but the demons need to eat. Happy hunting, take some dry lube for the SAW.
 
As others have said, thank you for your service.

If it makes a difference to you, remember the Sep 11 attacks came from the 'Ghan. The remnant of our enemies in Afganghan needs to be mopped up. As difficult as you allies may be, as uncomfortable and dangerous as the work during your deployment will be, it is important work, and it make a difference to America and Americans.

Stay safe and stay strong.
 
ww41.jpg


During WWII THERE WERE TEN PROHIBITED SUBJECTS

1. Don't write military information of Army units -- their location, strength,, materiel, or equipment.

2. Don't write of military installations.

3. Don't write of transportation facilities.

4. Don't write of convoys, their routes, ports (including ports of embarkation and disembarkation), time en route, naval protection, or war incidents occurring en route.

5. Don't disclose movements of ships, naval or merchant, troops, or aircraft.

6. Don't mention plans and forecasts or orders for future operations, whether known or just your guess.

7. Don't write about the effect of enemy operations.

8. Don't tell of any casualty until released by proper authority (The Adjutant General) and then only by using the full name of the casualty.

9. Don't attempt to formulate or use a code system, cipher, or shorthand, or any other means to conceal the true meaning of your letter. Violations of this regulation will result in severe punishment.

10. Don't give your location in any way except as authorized by proper authority. Be sure nothing you write about discloses a more specific location than the one authorized.
 
Take care and watch your buddy.

Drink water even when your not thirsty and don't oil your weapon to much. It will lockup.

6/41ST FA 3rd ID 90 and 91.

We are all thinking of you guys.
 
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