JALALABAD, Afghanistan -- The Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee, accompanied by the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. John L. Estrada, on Sept. 26, visited the Marines and Sailors of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, who are currently deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Escorted by Lt. Col James Donnellan, battalion commander, and Sgt. Maj. Robert J. LaFleur, battalion sergeant major, the top leaders interacted with the “Island Warriors” during their visit.
Gen. Hagee promoted two Marines, combat meritoriously, and awarded six Purple Heart Medals to Marines and Sailors who had been injured during combat operations.
“All the focus is on Iraq, so it’s nice to know we’re remembered in Afghanistan,” said Lance Cpl. Carlos C. Plata, nuclear biological chemical specialist, from Plainview, Texas.
Plata was one of the Marines who was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for his injuries sustained when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device.
While visiting the Marines, the general talked about the future of the Marine Corps and also conducted a question and answer session.
The first topic discussed was the future of deployments, with 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, scheduled to be the second to last Marine infantry battalion deployed to Afghanistan.
The commandant also discussed the Marine Corps’ intent to continue working toward a two-to-one deployment schedule and then, optimally, to a three-to-one rotation schedule instead of the current one-to-one, referring to days spent at home versus days spent deployed.
Gen. Hagee also explained to the battalion how the integration of Reserve units for deployments helps to alleviate some of the stress on active duty units.
Also discussed were changes in technology and Marine Corps policies for the future. Ideas such as equipping every Marine with a radio, night-vision devices and ACOGs, or even the possibilities of every Marine having a day- and night-vision capable scope, which would eliminate the need to change out the scopes.
The changes also included updated tactics being taught at the schools of infantry with a heavier emphasis on patrolling.
“We’re empowering NCOs to make policy,” said the general “You Marines in the field are the ones who will be determining policy for future Marines. The decisions you make will last.
“The future holds a greater likelihood of irregular wars fought in urban environments. Wars will no longer be force-on-force, battalion-on-battalion. The enemy has seen that they know they will lose that way. We have to be prepared to fight against thinking enemies using asymmetric tactics,” he continued.
The Marines and Sailors were glad for a chance to hear the news about changes in policies straight from the commandant and sergeant major of the Marine Corp.
Staff Sgt. Michael R. Kirby, supply chief, from Roanoke, Ala., said, “I think it’s great that both the commandant and the sergeant major came and greeted the Marines and Sailors and allowed time for questions in order to give us information about the future of the Marine Corps.”