MCB HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- This week the Hawaii Marine looks back at 2003, recognizing both it's fallbacks and accomplishments. Through-out the year, countless events have taken place to mold the timeless memories which make up the banner year, 2003.While we are not able to include all of the events and images captured last year, here are a few moments that colored 2003.Readers can browse the Hawaii Marine archives to review detailed stories at www.mcbh.usmc.mil.MCB HawaiiImprovements for the year 2003 aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, have been primarily geared towards the safety, comfort and well-being of Marines and families stationed here. The first major improvement of 2003 was the installation of a new playground facility at Reiseley Field on Mokapu Road. The construction began at the end of January and was completed in the spring. Funding to replace the almost 65-year-old post office finally became available this year and the grand opening for the new building, located adjacent to McDonalds on Mokapu Road, was celebrated Nov. 26. Features of the new Post Office include more sales windows, advanced computer systems, a state-of-the-art security system, as well as being a much larger facility overall. The needs of members enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program were addressed with the creation of the Military Committee for Persons with Disabilities.To help improve services for special needs family members, stickers were placed on the entrances of their homes to ensure service members, who are responding to an emergency call, are aware of possible special needs situations. The installment of new street signs has also improved the safety awareness level toward families with special needs members. The new signs will inform drivers and pedestrians to be more cautious and pay special attention to what is happening around the homes of special needs families. More improvements towards special needs youth activities are slated for upcoming years. BayFest 2003 was a very successful event with musical performances by Everclear, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts and Pepper. Marines, Sailors and family members welcomed the public on base to enjoy three days of relaxation and fun in July. The most recent improvement of 2003 was the new alcohol-free Enlisted Club Recreation Center. The grand opening of the facility was on Dec. 17. Located jointly with Kahuna's Sports Bar and Grill, the center is fully equipped with many recreational amenities including Starbucks Coffee, a theatre and computers with full Internet access. The year has drawn to a close but sketches implementing more improvements for next year are already underway. The atmosphere here at MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay is one of constant change toward a more positive environment. Marine Corps Forces PacificMarine Corps Forces Pacific has been through a lot in the last year - from a change of command to Marines returning from Iraq.After two years as commander of the largest field command in the Marine Corps, with nearly 18 months spent leading Marine Forces in the war on terrorism, Lt. Gen. Earl B. Hailston ceremonially passed the MarForPac colors to Lt. Gen. Wallace C. Gregson. A change of command was not the only thing going on at Camp H. M. Smith.Camp Smith Marines were involved with Ulchi Focus Lens, one of a series of exercises involving forces from the U.S. and the Republic of Korea. Although many Marines from Camp Smith were on deployment, Headquarters and Service Bn. kept the home front torches burning with many community events.One hundred and forty-nine service members and civilians met for the Seventh Annual Camp H. M. Smith 5k Grueler at the Sunset Lanai and Bordelon Field Oct. 15.Later that month, Gen. Gregson visited Korea to watch more than 300 Okinawa Marines and 100 California Sailors offload 11,000 items from maritime preposition ships, enhancing the Corps' ability to improve rapid emergency response. The service members transferred 680 combat vehicles, tanks, amphibious assault vehicles and 260 containers with ammunition, tools and spare parts between the ships, starting Oct 26.In November, Camp Smith Marines once again embarked aboard a ship, this time headed for Tarawa. Marines from Camp Smith and Camp Lejeune deployed Nov. 13 aboard the USS Hopper for the 60th anniversary ceremony of the landing at Tarawa.3rd Marine RegimentThird Marine Expeditionary Force's ground combat element in Hawaii, 3rd Marine Regiment, continued constant training in 2003 under conditions as close to combat as possible. Comprised of three infantry battalions, a combat support company and a headquarters company, the Regiment also became an integral contributor to the war on terrorism with their activities in the Philippines.Elements of the Regiment were sent to the South Pacific island nation to combat terrorism - part military assistance and part humanitarian assistance - and to prevent the island nation from becoming a haven for Al Qaeda members. The number of training exercises for the Regiment and its elements stretched from the islands of Hawaii all the way to the Western Pacific. From Hawaii Combined Arms Exercises (HCAX) on the "Big Island" to Marine Tactical Warfighting Scenarios in the Philippines and Sri Lanka, the regiment projected its warfighting capabilities throughout the year and demonstrated combat readiness.CSCThe Combat Support Company (CSC) of 3rd Marine Regiment supported training exercises in Hawaii and abroad throughout calendar year 2003. After assisting with HCAX, the Marines from CSC, 3rd Marine Regiment, helped the endangered Hawaiian Stilt reform their nesting habitats for the pre-nesting season with the assistance of their Amphibious Assault Vehicle platoon. The AAV platoon was deployed with 3/3 to serve as the AAV platoon for the 31st MEU and elements of the AAV platoon were also augmented with Marines in California this year.1/3The Lava Dogs of 1st Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment kicked-off their year of combat training by participating in HCAX 1-03 before deploying to Japan with the 4th Marine Regiment. There, they spent the majority of the year training with their sister command under 3rd Marine Division where they were able to utilize the Okinawan training environments to enhance their jungle warfare fighting skills.2/3The Island Warriors of 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines returned from deployment overseas just in time to cross-train with Bravo Co., 1st Royal Australian Regiment during exercise Gold Eagle in preparation for HCAX 2-03 in June. In September, the Island Warriors visited Australia to train on the Aussie's turf during exercise Crocodile 2003. Currently deployed in Okinawa, Japan, the Marines of 2nd Bn., 3rd Marines are serving as the Battalion Landing Team for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.3/3After participating in Hawaii Combined Arms Exercises 1-03 in February and March, 3rd Bn., 3rd Marine Regiment participated in training aboard the USS Nimitz on its way to assist in Operation Iraqi Freedom. After conducting regeneration and reconstitution training in the spring, the battalion was deployed - with short notice - to Okinawa, Japan to serve as the Battalion Landing Team for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). 1st Bn., 12th Marine RegimentEarly in 2003, 1st Bn., 12th Marines were on the move transferring units back and forth as part of the Unit Deployment Package to Okinawa, Japan, as Alpha Battery deployed and Charlie Battery returned to Hawaii in time to participate in the first HCAX of the year on the Big Island in February. The deployed Marines took part in live-fire exercises at Camp Fuji, Japan, while the Marines at home prepared for upcoming deployments to Thailand in support of exercise Jagged Thrust and to Australia for Crocodile '03.In May, 1/12 trained with the Army at Schofield Barracks during a joint-fire exercise, and continued annual training during HCAX 2-03 in June.The warriors of 1/12 recently completed K-Fires training at the Pohakuloa Training Area and are ready to kick off the 2004 calendar year. MAG-24Many occurrences over the past 12 months have made 2003 a memorable year for MCB Hawaii's Marine Aircraft Group 24. Service members have busied themselves with everything from participating in triathlons to earning medals in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. At the beginning of February, MAG-24 set out to PTA for a month-long deployment to conduct combined arms training with other Hawaii-based units. Together, they formed Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 3. Their mission was to conduct training that exemplified fighting the enemy while engaged in maneuver warfare. To accomplish this, they underwent command and control exercises, conducted unit live-fire ranges, worked on close air support and extensive logistics support, and completed drills in maneuver warfare training. During April, Marines and Sailors of MAG-24 came together for a battle of vigor. The annual MAG-24 Olympics took place on the 25th, with both land and water events. The games, which included golfing, a pull-up competition, tug-of-war, and relay events, turned squadron against squadron in a challenge to beat the competition. In the end, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 came out victorious and was recognized as the overall champions. May brought the Seventh Annual MAG-24 Triathlon to Kaneohe Bay. More than 250 service members and civilians participated in the challenge. The triathletes began the competition with a 500-meter swim in Kaneohe Bay before paddling 11 miles around the base, and ending with a three-mile run across the flightline to the marina. In May, Marines at MAG-24 traveled to Thailand to participate in Operation Cobra Gold as the Air Combat Element. Marines combined with all four services as well as Singaporean and Royal Thai Forces in this annual joint/combined multilateral exercise. One purpose of the training is to promote a positive relationship between the different nations. Cobra Gold is one of the Pacific's largest peacetime exercise that the United States military participates in. Captain John E. Marshall, fragmentation officer for MAG-24, said one of the biggest events this year was when Headquarters and HMH-363 worked with all the other services while acting as the ACE in Operation Cobra Gold.Another positive achievement that took place for MAG-24 was the recognition of Capt. Anthony Muralt, administrative officer for Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 301, who was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a Combat Distinguishing Device for his actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Muralt was deployed in January with 1st Tank Battalion, Twentynine Palms, Calif. to Basra, Iraq. Muralt and his unit were trying to protect a bridge - their only means of traffic to and from the city - when he got word that an attack by enemy soldiers was underway. He radioed that they were in need of close air support and without the help of grid coordinates, gave their position using only visual prominent terrain features.Forty-five minutes later, after four AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters answered the call, Muralt's unit, along with British soldiers, had a stronghold on Basra.The end of the year brought a sense of accomplishment to MAG-24 because it was the unit's tenth consecutive year without a major mishap on the flightline. A major mishap means damage to government property in excess of $1 million and/or death, dismemberment or serious incapacitation of a military member. Nothing of that magnitude has occurred at Kaneohe Bay since 1994. Another positive year filled with accomplishments has expectations rising to uphold the successful operations in upcoming years for the Marines and Sailors at MAG-24, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.CSSG-3When the Training and Exercise Employment Plan (TEEP) for Fiscal Year 2003 was put together, no one at the Combat Services Support Group 3 thought it would be as challenging or rewarding as it turned out to be. In a typical year, CSSG-3 provides support for the two HCAX conducted by 3rd Marine Regiment and 1/12. Additionally, they might add on a field exercise or two to be completed as a group at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows or the Kahuku Training Area. This year, however, the group was much more ambitious. In Hawaii, they supported the two HCAX's - MCB Hawaii and Fleet Marine Forces - and conducted a group level exercise in Kaneohe Bay. In addition to their duties at home and overseas, they supported III Marine Expeditionary Brigade (III MEB) at Cobra Gold 2003 in the Royal Kingdom of Thailand and Crocodile 2003 in Australia.In January, CSSG-3 was well into the planning phase for Cobra Gold and HCAX 03-1. Group personnel were Thailand conducting site surveys and attending planning conferences.After a short workup phase, Combat Service Support Detachment 79 stood up for HCAX 03-1 and deployed to the "Big Island" from Feb. 7 - Mar. 21. Combat Service Support Detachment 79 was comprised of 225 Marines and Sailors who worked and billeted in an area that became affectionately known as "The Dust Bowl," Firing Point 303.The mission was to provide combat service support to Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 3 while exercising Navy and Marine Corps Intranet and Common Logistics Command and Control System in a deployed environment. The CLC2S is an experimental logistics command and control system that CSSG-3 has been testing in conjunction with the Marine Experiment Center in the Fleet Marine Forces. Hawaii Combined Arms Exercise 03-1 proved to be a success for both testing and support.By the time personnel returned from the "Big Island," Brigade Service Support Group 3, headed by Col. James Harbison, had already stood up for Cobra Gold 03. Equipment heading to Thailand had to be prepared earlier than usual to accommodate the three-week shipping time and to meet the rigorous inspection process for all incoming shipments.The BSSG-3 was comprised of 450 Marines and Sailors from Hawaii and Okinawa, which left only 300 Marines and Sailors with CSSG-3 back in Hawaii to conduct HCAX 03-2 and provide limited support to MCB Hawaii.Cobra Gold was considered the pinnacle exercise conducted by CSSG-3 in 2003 because of the functions the unit provided to III MEB, and the force they brought to Thailand. They deployed more than 50 percent of CSSG-3's personnel strength and combined them with select augments from Okinawa. They were able to test the reorganization that had been in effect for just about a year when this exercise was conducted. Supply and maintenance companies were combined to give the supported units a one-stop shop where they could get fixed and resupplied simultaneously. Transportation support and engineer companies were also combined for efficient employment due to similar assets. While BSSG-3 was supporting Cobra Gold, CSSD-79 headed out once again to support HCAX 03-2. The detachment was only marginally smaller than the original detachment with 165 Marines and Sailors because of the organic functions of Combat Service Support going with the BSSG-3 instead. The mission of CSSD-79 during this HCAX was to serve as a bridge between the first HCAX and Crocodile '03, which occurred less than two months after the return of the personnel and gear to MCB Hawaii. Then in November, while CSSD-79 was standing down, CSSD-75 stood up to head out to K-Fires in support of 12th Marine Regiment at PTA. Ninety-eight Marines went out with CSSD-75 to provide combat service support to 12th Marines. While CSSD-75 was deployed, they took advantage of the training available and conducted live-fire training on the ranges. They continued the tradition of supporting units from out in the field, not the base camp. With the frequency that Marines and Sailors deploy to the fields of PTA, operating out in that environment has become second nature for CSSG-3.At the end of the year, there was still no sign of slowing down even though it was the holiday leave period. Planning is well under way for the next HCAX, HCAX 04-1. Roughly 350 Marines and Sailors are getting ready to deploy to the Big Island as soon as today. 2003 has been an extremely busy year for CSSG-3, but it was rewarding every step of the way. The CSSG-3 Marines and Sailors can honestly say that they are living up to the guidance of their commanding officer, Col. James Harbison. They have met the mission for every exercise and supported operations outside of their area of responsibility. Most importantly, they have brought everyone home safely.3rd Radio Bn.The 3rd Radio Battalion aboard MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, has marched through another year with flying colors. Though they battled with an operational tempo that very few Marines had encountered, they continued to meet the demanding missions that the Marine Corps has set for them without ever missing a step.The Battalion is staffed with more than 500 Marines that, at any given time, can be deployed any place in the world to fulfill any obligation with their special skills.This year, the battalion was renamed 3rd Radio Bn. as part of a larger initiative to make way for a new radio battalion; this will enable the Marine Corps to provide a radio signal battalion to each of the Marine Expeditionary Forces.Third Radio Bn. provided signals intelligence and electronic warfare to warfighters of the Marine Air Ground Task Forces - the Marines on the front lines. The biggest mission the battalion underwent this year was their support of I MEF during their deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A contingent of 250 to 300 Marines deployed to Kuwait in support of I MEF's attack on Iraq and 1st Marine Division's march into Baghdad, Iraq. The Battalion has had a great number of its Marines on deployment supporting OIF, but it has also continued to support other operational commitments. It currently has a detachment of Marines supporting the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) out of California and a detachment that is in the process of linking up with the 11th MEU to start their work up. "We had a detachment with 15th MEU that supported OIF and we also had detachments with both the Alpha and Bravo companies of the 31st MEU," said Lt. Col. Mark Aycock, commanding officer of 3rd Radio Bn. "We also provided detachments to support the CAX in Twenty-Nine Palms, Calif. "We also sent a detachment to the Weapons Tactics Instructions in Yuma, Ariz. To support III MEF and Marine Forces Korea during exercise Ulchi Focus Lense in Korea, and throughout the year, we sent a few of our Russian linguist Marines up to the Northern Pacific to ride Maritime Patrol boats to train with the U.S. Coast Guard as they monitor the Russian fishing fleet as they encroach on our fishing waters off the coast of Alaska."I say this battalion has a revolving door, because there are always Marines going out in support of something or returning from supporting something, and it is not unusual for a Marine to return from a major deployment and in 30 to 60 days go back out on another commitment. That was a big issue for us this year because we had Marines return from an eight-month deployment in support of OIF and in about 40 days go to Okinawa on a six-month deployment."The high operational tempo was just as tough on the support Marines that were left behind because they had to fix all the gear that was broken in the field. Radio battalions have specialty gear that is only found in those battalions that have to be fixed and ready to be deployed relatively quickly. Third Radio Bn. has accomplished each mission that they have been tasked with precision and poise. Its work ethic and devotion to duty have been evident in the unit's accomplishments this year. Even with such a high-paced operational tempo, and it will certainly carry Third Radio Bn. into another great year of accomplishments.