U.S. ARMY GARRISON SELFRIDGE, Mich. -- Reserve Marines from throughout the country are here preparing to deploy to the Horn of Africa in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The Leathernecks will make up U.S. Marine Corps Central Command's Command Logistical Element-Horn of Africa. The force includes members of Headquarters, 4th Force Service Support Group, New Orleans; Headquarters and Service Battalion, 4th FSSG, Marietta, Ga.; Military Police Detachment, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Belle Chasse, La.; Headquarters and Service Co., 4th Combat Engineer Bn., Baltimore, Md.; Company A, 1st Bn., 24th Marines, Grand Rapids, Mich. reinforced by a detachment from Weapons Co., 1st Bn., 24th Mar., Perrysburg, Ohio and a Tube Launched, Optically Tracked, Wire Guided (TOW) anti-armor missile section, Broken Arrow, Okla.; as well as individual Marines from other units.
"Our main responsibility will be base security," said Col. Mario LaPaix, commander, CLE-HOA. "We will keep our guards up, waiting for the unexpected to happen -- keeping any form of enemy threat out."
To prepare, the Marines are conducting training in everything from non-lethal tactics to the use of deadly force.
"Every single class and training evolution we take here before leaving will make us that much more effective," said Cpl. Scott Zeilke, fire team leader, weapons platoon, CLE- HOA from Grand Rapids, Mich.
The Marines have also been refreshing their knowledge on Nuclear, Biological, Chemical warfare including practicing donning their gas masks and chemical biological protective clothing fast and properly.
"The one fear I have is chemical warfare -- I know the Marine Corps has properly trained me in all aspects, and I am very confident in my abilities -- but the fear still exists," said Lance Cpl. James M. Klingshirn, military policeman, CLE-HOA, who volunteered to deploy from his Lexington, Ky., unit.
Each Marine has to know how and also has to be able to employ these techniques at a moment's notice -- military police to the administrative clerk -- everyone, said Zeilke.
"Make no doubt, this is not a training exercise we are attending." said Sgt. Maj. John R. Jennings, sergeant major of CLE-HOA during a formation. "This is a real world operation -- preparation and accountability are everything."
The CLE-HOA force also includes 13 active duty Marines from Headquarters Battalion, MarForRes, New Orleans.
"This is my first time working a real world operation with reserves," said Cpl. Robert A. Simila, a network engineer from the MarForRes G-6, "but the term active or reserve doesn't apply anymore -- we're all Marines tasked to complete the same mission."
?Reserves go from civilians to active duty at a flip of a coin to complete the same tasks active Marines do -- you have to respect that," said Clingshirn, who eventually wants to go active.
The days are numbered until these Marines punch out to HOA. Each day and every hour counts, so they will continue to train and prepare until they receive the word to ship out as part of the coalition of forces against worldwide terrorism.
"The Marines of the past have already laid down the tracks of our warrior spirit," said Jennings. "All we have to do now is follow the same path, and we will come out on top."