Task Force East Ready for Iraq

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — Marines with Task Force East assembled for a combat briefing Monday at Little Hall in preparation for an upcoming deployment to Iraq.

Lt. Gen. George J. Flynn, commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, as well as Col. Jay E. Johnson, commanding officer of Headquarters and Service Battalion, and Cmdr. Donald M. Cramblit, HQSVC Bn. chaplain, addressed the Marines.

TFE is comprised of about 160 Marines and Navy corpsmen from the national capital region and will leave for a seven-month deployment on July 10 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The majority of Marines who will deploy with TFE are noncommissioned officers, leaving no lack of competent leadership, said Flynn during his remarks.

This will be the first deployment for many of the Marines with TFE.

“Being a Marine, I just wanted to deploy,” said Lance Cpl. Dustin Walters, a TFE volunteer. Walters will drive a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle during the deployment to support TFE’s mission.

The Marines were visibly excited during the briefing, with many cries of “Ooh-rah!” and “Kill!” as the commanding general wished them Godspeed.

“It’s sweet,” said Sgt. Anthony Mikicic, a team leader with TFE, of the deployment. “I’ve been trying to deploy for five years. It seems gnarly; I hope it is.”

Marines from a large background of occupational fields, from military police to administration, were enthusiastic about deploying to the Middle East.

“I’m excited,” said Sgt. Ashley Ramos, a supply clerk who volunteered for TFE. The chance to deploy from a normally non-deployable environment was enough incentive for Ramos.

“I look forward to the experience,” said Ramos.