SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, QUEENSLAND, Australia -- SHOALWATER BAY TRAINING AREA, QUEENSLAND, Australia - As Crocodile 2003 gets ready to swing into full force, Marines from all over the world continue to arrive here and set up shop in preparation for the biennial training evolution.
With the hard work and dedication of the Marines from Brigade Service Support Group from Okinawa, Japan, logistics, food, water and billeting were available within days after they arrived Aug. 30.
Currently, more than 2,200 Marines from various commands in Hawaii and Okinawa, Japan, along with reserve units from the United States are on the ground and charging hard while being supported by BSSG.
"Within five days of their arrival, the Marines from the III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group established 75 general-purpose tents and set up the Marine Expeditionary Brigade command operation center," said 1st Sgt. Russell Brown, first sergeant for Camp Sam Hill aboard the SWBTA and the III MEF Headquarters Group based in Okinawa, Japan."
As soon as the general-purpose tents were set up, the 7th Communications Bn., Okinawa, Japan, was hard at work installing the proper wiring necessary for a flow of electricity to the command operation center.
While making electricity possible for the command operation center, the engineers ran into a slight setback - the generators were only capable of supporting American power levels. To make it possible for the generators to serve the Australian electrical devices, the generators had to be converted.
One Marine with the III MEF Headquarters Group was responsible for the rewiring of all the generators that support the COC. Lance Cpl. Antonio Pinkney, an electrician with the MEF, spent hours rewiring the generators, and within a day's work, he had the generators capable of supporting Australian electrical devices.
"It was difficult to get into the generators and rewire them to support the Australian electrical appliances," said Pinkney. "I knew it was not going to be easy, but it had to get done.
"I spent the day connecting and disconnecting wires, but in the end, the appliances were up and running. I'm glad I was able to help the entire camp."
As tents and infrastructures were established, workers with Marine Corps Community Services were there to support the Marines as they established a full gym. The gym includes weights and cardiovascular equipment, an Internet cafe and a phone bank so Marines could call home in their spare time. Along with these amenities, the Marines were glad to hear they could watch movies at night in a theater setting, also provided by MCCS.
"The MCCS establishments are strictly for the Marines' morale," said Maj. Clay Tipton, Camp Sam Hill commandant. "We want the Marines to be able to contact their loved ones while they are out here and be able to take a break from the day-to-day rigorous operations."
While the Marines work up an appetite from hours of hard work, the food service specialists are in the kitchens making the meals. They rise every morning at 2:30 a.m., knowing they have to properly feed more than 2,200 troops so they can perform and accomplish missions during Crocodile 2003. Everyday, the food service specialists provide two meals for the troops in the trenches and make sure they are issued a meal, ready to eat for their afternoon meal.
"The [food service specialists] are working some long hours in the kitchen," said Sgt. Hopeton Witter, head cook with the MHG, based in Okinawa, Japan. "We start preparing the meals four hours before they are to be served. They are working hard and not complaining at all."
In order for the Marines to get all the supplies necessary to complete the mission, Marines in the Camp Sam Hill Motor Pool made numerous six-hour roundtrips to Rockhampton bringing in supplies, vehicles and tactical equipment.
"The Marines have worked hard since the day they got here, and continue to make things happen," said Tipton. "This exercise has gone well and will continue to as long as the Marines perform the way they have so far."