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http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=7987 Marines set pace at base in Uzbekistan By Rick Scavetta, Stars and Stripes European edition, Wednesday, April 24, 2002 -Similar Marine detachments are deployed to other air bases in Central Asia, which cannot be named for security reasons. STRONGHOLD FREEDOM, Uzbekistan — Normally in wartime, the Marine Corps is relieved by "follow-on" forces from the other services. At this small airfield in southern Uzbekistan, it’s the other way around. Marines arrived last week to establish air traffic control services and base protection for U.S. and coalition aircraft. About 230 Marines from two Marine Air Control Squadrons — one based in Cherry Point, N.C., the other from Iwakuni, Japan — began setting up for operations to begin within the next few weeks. "It’s two squadrons working under the same hat," Marine Lt. Col. Laura Muhlenberg said. "It’s the first time we’ve executed a mission together." Similar Marine detachments are deployed to other air bases in Central Asia, which cannot be named for security reasons. The Marines plan to stay about six months, Muhlenberg said. Some of the Marines had little time to prepare for Uzbekistan, said Marine Maj. George Williams, because they pulled security duty at the Winter Olympics near Salt Lake City, setting up radar. "We went through an amazing amount of work to get here in a short time," he said. Getting to work has not been easy for the Marines. The former Soviet air base had little to offer. Now, they are waiting on Army engineers to improve base facilities. "Normally we’re on the ground and operating within a couple days," Muhlenberg said. "It’s being phased in. Over the next few weeks, we will progressively provide more services." This weekend, Cpl. Mark Kopanski, 20, of Coatsville, Pa., and Lance Cpl. Frank Candiloro, 21, of Readsboro, Vt., strung cables along an access road to the flight line. "We’re running fiber optic wire to the Army switch," Kopanski said. "It’s so the flight line can communicate with the base camp." Part of the Marine mission also is to set up what they call Anti-Terror Force Protection. U.S. Special Forces are setting up a weapons range for Marines to familiarize themselves with heavy machine guns. Marine mentality dictates that all troops, regardless of their job specialty, are basic infantrymen. Still, Lance Cpl. Scott Duncan, 20, from Raleigh, N.C., was glad to train with the Green Berets before taking to his guard post. "We all know to stand post," Duncan said. "This is an opportunity to build up experience. I see it as an opportunity." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Games - play chess, backgammon, pool and more http://games.yahoo.com/ --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
