IN THE CORPS

Back In Okinawa For A Few Days

Me On The Flight Deck of USS ESSEX, originally uploaded by Villarrealsj.

There's an old "unofficial" motto known in the Marine Corps... "Semper Gumby." Not really military terminology, but it points out the fact that you always have to be flexible... especially in the Marine Corps. We just returned to Okinawa after some training in Guam, providing Humanitarian Assistance in the Philippines and hosting the 61st Commeration of the Battle of Iwo Jima. Totally, not what our schedule was, but hey... "Semper Gumby", right? The good news, we're in Okinawa for a few days, so I'm going to take advantage and post all I can while I am here.

31ST MEU: DISASTER RELIEF IN THE PHILIPPINES

By now, you already know the 31st MEU has been directed to provide Humanitarian Assitance to the Philippino Government in rescuing and recovering the victims of the mudslides that took place a few days ago.

For days now, Marines of the 31st MEU, primarily the BLT, have been digging non-stop in hopes of finding survivors of the disaster.  The entire village has been wiped out.  There is virtually nothing left.  The images say a lot.  Type 31st MEU Philippines in Google to see some.  Other keywords, mudslide 31st MEU.

Keep the victims, families and all who are helping in the rescue/relief efforts in your prayers.

WENT TO GUAM... WHAT'S NEXT?

Finally, I get a chance to post something.  If you're keeping up with our deployment, you'll know we recently visited Guam for a few weeks.  It definitely wasn't what everyone expected.  From training to liberty, it was definitely not what I expected.

TRAINING: I had pictured our training area to be right in the middle of the jungles and wilds of Guam, getting eaten up by mosquitoes, sweating to death with no signs of civilization anywhere near.  Boy was I wrong. 

We ended up setting up on one of the many Naval Bases in Guam, known as NCTMS.  However, instead of pushing through the jungles, we dropped our packs in a large cleared area that seems to have been used for Base Housing in the past.  I could tell because in certain areas, you could still see where the driveways use to be.  Also because there were still a few homes still up nearby.  I thought that was a little odd... funny, but odd. 

Some even had families still living in them.  I would hate to live there.  Think about it... 75% of the time, nothing goes on around there, but for a few weeks here come the Marines with everything they have, they make their home right next to yours and start training.  Amazingly, these people actually enjoyed having us nearby.  In fact, that seemed to be the attitude EVERYONE had in Guam towards us Marines, which is something we are not accustomed to.  As you well know, Marines are stereotyped to be loud, obnoxious, aggressive, etc.  That may be true for some, but not for the majority. 

Marines just train hard and play harder... what do you expect when you're in the field for weeks at a time, no downtime and you get 1-2 days of free time?  Of course, you're going to take advantage of every minute of those 1-2 days, which is what Marines do.  Granted, some go overboard, but hey... college isn't much different.  Enough on that...

The BLT was able to get some great training in, to include my Marines... while I was stuck as Watch Officer and other duties... how exciting for. 

To keep things short, I've provided some links to news articles about the 31MEU and the BLT while in Guam:

USMC.MIL & USMC.MIL
Pacific Magazine
DCMilitary.com
The Pacific Edge
Military.com

I'm sure there are plenty more.  These are just a few.  You can also go to the 31st MEU website.  I can't access it from here, but there's some good stuff on there.

LIBERTY: After all that training, everyone was able to get a few days of liberty(time off) and check out the sites in Guam.  This island has a lot of history and the Marine Corps has history here, as well.  In fact, the major road that runs through Guam is named "Marine Corps Drive".  How's that for motivation!  They also are very much into their historical culture and keeping it a part of the Guam atmosphere for future generations to experience.

One thing I will never forget about Guam and the people of Guam was the hospitality we received.  Never in my time in the Corps and many others that have been around years longer than me have we experienced this type of treatment, appreciation and respect from fellow Americans or anyone for that matter, so if you ever have the opportunity to be stationed in Guam, TAKE IT!  It will definitely be an experience you and your family will never forget.

I'll hit a few major highlights we experienced while on liberty.  If you want to know more let me know.  There's just too much to talk about in one post:

TUMON BAY: This is an area of Guam that is located right along the shores of the awesome beaches of Guam.  One thing I found very odd was how many Japanese tourists are here... every single day.  I later learned that Japanese love visiting Guam and it shows because they come by the busloads.  It's evident everywhere you go in the Tumon area.  I felt as if I were back in Okinawa and that's no exaggeration. 

The locals say that Guam is to Japanese what Hawaii is to Americans because it is so much closer and I can see why.  Everything from the hotels, the stores, restaurants, television channels to the stores.. did I say that already? 

Here a some links on the Tumon Area:

Guam Online
What To Do In Guam
Nightlife In Guam
Guam's Visitors Bureau

Military and headed to Guam temporarily or permanently?  Check out this site.

ASSAN TOUR:  We were fortunate to be able to experience a Battle site Tour of Guam.  Some companies were able to see more than others, but we all were able to gain a lot more respect for what happened on this island.  Many Marines lost their lives defending Guam.  It's quite an experience to actually stand on the ground where Marines once landing to fight the Japanese that had a stronghold on Guam.

The tour guide knew quite a bit about the history of Guam and the Marine Corps's role during the battles here on Guam.

To read more about the history of Guam and the Marine Corps on Guam, here are a few links:

Wiki-Asan, Guam
Historical Landmarks
Guam's Culture

3rd MARINE DIVISION ASSOCIATION: Without a doubt, the best time we had was at a BBQ, hosted by the 3rd Marine Division Association!  For 7 days straight, after every battle sight tour, the Marines were transported(on 7 tons) up in the mountains to a piece of land owned by a Marine Corps vet.  This man voluntarily donated a piece of his land to this association and as a result, they have managed to build a small museum and collection of military vehicles, signs, weapons, etc.  They've even got a sweet looking motorcycle custom made for them!

What's more, the BBQ was possibly the best one I've ever been to!  Not only did they have awesome food, but they had enough to go around and around all night, every night!  Can you believe they had enough beer to sustain the entire night... yes, EVERY NIGHT!  If you know Marines, that's one thing they can definitely do is drink.

The Marines had a great time.  At the end of the night, a group of traditional dancers ranging from ages 4 to 40 all came out and performed traditional dances.  Very cool.

Unfortunately, due to the slow connection I have here, I can't upload any photos here, but when I get a chance, I'll be uploading them to my Flickr page, so check back.

That's about it for now.  As the people of Guam say... "HAFA ADAI!"

DOES BODY ARMOR ACTUALLY WORK? SEE FOR YOURSELF

In light of the Outer Tactical Vest(OTV) recalls and other issues regarding thes body armor we currently use, here's a perfect example of what the OTV is capable of.

IMPORTANT NOTE: WITH THE SMALL ARMS PROTECTIVE INSERTS(SAPI) INSERTED

If this doesn't motivate you, what does?  I'd be interested in hearing what was going through this guy's head when he got hit and was completely fine.  I wonder what happened to those cowards behind the camera.

FOX COMPANY TRAINING: BOAT RAIDS

Here's an article written about the BLT's Boat Company(A.K.A Fox Company) conducting Boat Raid Training recently.  It's a pretty cool article with a few good pictures:

Gunnery Sgt. William J. Ray, Jr.
KIN BLUE BEACH, OKINAWA, Japan (Dec. 29, 2005) -- Marines of Company F, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted Combat Rubber Reconnaissance Craft training here Wednesday and Thursday as part of their preparation for an upcoming special operations capability test. The training was also conducted as a re-familiarization exercise for the company. Full Story

Coincidently, at least one of these Marines has his own blog, which is actually pretty interesting.  Click here to visit his blog. 

SOME CLARIFICATION

Wow, I'm getting lots of positive feedback on my blog!  I didn't even realize anyone was reading, other than my wife... LOL.  Anyway, I want to clear up a few things, so those who decide to read my blog don't get confused.

1.  I am not currently in Iraq.  If I mentioned Iraq, it is because my unit(2nd Bn 5th Marines) was there from August 2004 until March 2005, spread out throughout the city of Ramadi, Iraq in different  Forward Operating Bases(FOB).  Those were crazy days... I'll tell you about them later.

2.  Yes, I am currently in Okinawa, Japan, but will soon be boarding a large Naval Vessel along with the rest of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.  That's about all I'll say to that.  I won't go into detail as to days, locations, etc... I value my rank, LOL.  If you want to learn more, do a little research on the Marine Corps, the Marine Expeditionary Unit or Okinawa.  You'll find plenty of info.  Here are a few links to check out:

31st MEU Homepage

Official US Marine Corps Website

Official III Marine Expeditionary Force Website

TODAY'S MOTO PHOTO

KIF_0369
Originally uploaded by Villarrealsj.

I had to take a photo of this sign. It's posted right outside the exit from Camp Hansen.

ELECTRONIC W-2 AVAILABLE AT MYPAY

I just received an e-mail from the The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) letting me know that my W-2 is now ready for download through my "MyPay" account, so if you have access to your MyPay account, I recommend downloading and printing your LES to begin preparing your taxes.  Getting access to MyPay is now mandatory.  There's plenty more you can do with your MyPay account.  Just be sure not to lose your PIN.  Getting a new one is a headache.

I also highly recommend when you log into your MyPay account, sign up to receive any updates or notices to your MyPay account.  It's very convenient... especially thos of us on the MEU.

Here's some "official" word taken directly from my e-mail address:

The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) implemented the myPay web-based system in March 2000.  myPay delivers pay information and lets you process pay-related transactions timely, safely and securely. The Web-based system reduces the risks of identity theft associated with postal delivery by allowing members to access electronic W2, LES and other financial information. myPay matches industry standards for the highest level of encryption and security to protect myPay users.

If you do not have a PIN for accessing myPay, you can obtain one via email by clicking on the New PIN button on the myPay website at the web address shown above.  A temporary PIN will be emailed to your official email address.  If you have any questions concerning myPay, please call our contact center toll free at 1-800-390-2348. If the information posted to your W-2 is incorrect, please contact your servicing pay office or your customer service representative for assistance.

SGT MAJ OR THE MARINE CORPS VISITS OKINAWA

This past Monday, myself and a few other SNCO's from BLT 2/5 took a bus down to Camp Foster(another base on Okinawa), where the Sgt Major of the Marine Corps stopped and visited with over 300 SNCO's at Club Chesty's, the SNCO Club.  Luckily, we were one of the first ones there because about 20 minutes later the place was jammed pack with SSgt's, GySgt's, MSgt's, 1stSgt's, MGySgt's and SgtMaj's from throughout the Marine Corps bases in Okinawa. 

At first, it seemed to drag a little, but after running into a few Marines I served with in the past, I began to enjoy it.  If you've ever heard SgtMaj Estrada, I'm sure you will agree he is passionate about what he does and it shows when he talk to his Marines.  It's apparant that he is genuinely concerned about his Marines and the Marine Corps's future.  He definitely pumps you up while he's talking.  Guess it's that Drill Instructor in him!  He ended up showing up quite late.  When he explained why, he asked all Marines in the room that had their spouses stationed with them here in Okinawa.  Lots of hands went up.  "You're wives made me late."  Everyone started laughing, but he had just came from speaking with the military spouses down the road.  He said he had a good time talking to the spouses, addressing their concerns and answering some questions.

Probably the best part of the night was when I ran into my very first 1stSgt in the fleet(after boot camp).  His name is SgtMaj Jackson.  Back then, he was a 1stSgt, but it's been about 10yrs now, so I was very surprised to see him.  This man is a heck of a leader and an outstanding role model.  Would you believe he looks exactly the same, but with more rank on his collar.  Back then, I was a young LCpl, so conversations between the 1stSgt and I were very brief.  Let's see... they went a little something like, "Good morning 1stSgt(in a loud tone)!"  and he would walk right by and say, "Good morning Devil Dog."  Yup, that's about it.  He did stop and talk to us as a group and while on duty, he would ask about the family, etc., but it's not what this man said to me, it was simply how he presented himself day-in and day-out in the most professional manner.  From the squared away uniform, to the motivating cadence when drilling... he just motivated me.

It's Marines like SgtMaj Jackson that help recharge my "moto" batteries when they seem to be running low sometimes.

WORK, TRAIN, WORK, TRAIN...

Well, it's been about 10 days since I last posted.  Since then, not much has happened other than working and training.  The endless cycle of 2/5.  Life really isn't too exciting here on Camp Hansen.  Hopefully things will get a little better once we're on ship.  Granted, the living space is said to be ridiculously small, but visiting these other countries may turn out to be pretty cool. 

NEW TOPICS(CATEGORIES): I've decided to periodically comment on other topics and issues around the Marine Corps, and in the military, for those times I don't have much to talk about.  There's always something going on the Marine Corps. 

I'm calling my first Category, "AROUND THE CORPS."  This is where I'll talk about random issues or news.  No particular area, just random issues.  Immediately after this post, I'll publish my first "AROUND THE CORPS" entry.

MY WIFE'S BLOGGING: If you ever get a chance, stop by my wife's blog called, "Blah-Blah-Blah."  Sounds like a weird name, but if you know my wife, you'll know why it's called that.  She's really doing good with it.  I'm actually impressed at the info she seeks and posts here for others to read.  Particularly the military spouses.