Operation Military Support just had the privilege to join many other Military support organizations at the America Supports Yo

Dear Donors: We receive these letters on your behalf, they are not to Operation Military Support, they are to you, we just have the honor of receiving them. Together we accomplish so much, Thank you from OMS and the men and women who benefit from your generosity. OMS Board of Directors

Thank you so much for the beautiful package. It really made my day and
the treats were enjoyed by everyone I work with. Thank you so much for
your love and support.
Lilia __________

Greeting from Camp Bucca Chapel,

Thank you for your generous support of our Sailors of the Navy Provisional
Detainee Battalion (NPDB) Six, "Gray Scorpions." The items generously
donated by you and other supportive individuals are a great boost to the
morale and well-being of our Sailors.

Even something as simple as a pack of gun or a piece of their favorite candy
can remind a person of what life is like Stateside and who they are over here
servings.The various food and hygiene items included in packages help
supplement what the Service Member were able to bring with them and
sometimes can't buy at the Post Store due to the lengthy supply lines and
requisition times.

Be assured that your package has been a blessing to our unit. After the
package is received, we sort the items and make them available to anyone
for the asking. We take the boxes of candy, treats, and coffee with us, we
visit the sailor on watch and distribute them during their shifts as quick pick-
me-ups from home. Other items we make available to them for pick up.

Thank you for your willingness to support the troops while they serve the
people of the United States in any region of the glove to which they are
called.

In Deepest Appreciation,

David M.________LCDR, USN

Dear Friends at Operation Military Support,

We received your shipment of snacks, hygiene and other items yesterday.
Thank you so very much! Our free room at the Religious Activity Center was
getting pretty low on supplies, So we took most of the things there. Our
troops and civilian contractors appreciate being able to stop by there to pick
up things that they need. So the support we receive from people like you is
very important in keeping this ministry going. We appreciate you!

Our unit's days in Iraq are rapidly dwindling down now. Not fast enough, of
course.... but we're getting there! We're just over the two months to go
mark now. It will sure be great to get home to our families and friends. We
hope that all is well with you there in California. Please tell everyone
involved in the outreach to us THANKS!!! We truly hope you will experience
God's richest blessings upon you and your families. Take care!

Sincerely,

CH (CPT) _____________Dunn

January 2009

Dear Friends,

On behalf of 303th MI BN, Chaplain (CPT) Charles _________ and
Chaplain Asst PV2 Tiffanee ___________
Thank you so much for giving all your love and support to the soldiers
throughout these years. WE ALL give Thanks to YOU!!!!!!

From the bottom of our hearts.....Thank You so Much and May God Bless...

PV2 R______ and CPT P____

January 12, 2009

Vice President-elect Biden visits Marines in Afghanistan

KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden meets with U.S. Marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan during his visit to Kandahar Air Field, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jan. 11, 2009. Biden spoke to senior leaders with the International Security Assistance Force regarding operations in theater. I am very interested in what becomes of this region because it affects all of us, Biden said. During his stay, Biden reaffirmed his and President-elect Barack Obamas pledge to support the troops and their efforts in the region.
(photo by Sgt. Juan D. Alfonso)

CAMP BASTION, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan U.S. senators and U.S. military leaders sit and talk after eating lunch during their visit to Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Jan. 11, 2009. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. John Nicholson (left), biden3

the deputy commander of Regional Command South; U.S. Army Gen. David McKiernan (second from left), commander of the NATO-led force in Afghanistan; Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles (center), the British ambassador to Afghanistan; U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden (right); and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham (second from right) visited Camp Bastion during their tour of Afghanistan and met Marines of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), and Combat Logistics Battalion 3, the ground and logistics combat elements of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan.
(photo by Lance Cpl. Brian D. Jones)

CAMP BASTION, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden (center) and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham (right) speak with Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles (left), the British ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, during their visit to Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, Jan. 11, 2009. They visited Camp Bastion during their tour of Afghanistan biden4

and met Marines of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), and Combat Logistics Battalion 3, the ground and logistics combat elements of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan.
(photo by Lance Cpl. Brian D. Jones)

CAMP BASTION, Helmand Province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan U.S. Vice President- elect Sen. Joe Biden (left) and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham (right) pose for a photograph with U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Francois D. Stills (center), at the Camp Bastion mess hall, biden1

Jan. 11, 2009. Biden, Lindsey and U.S. military leaders in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan visited Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during their tour of Afghanistan and met Marines of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), and Combat Logistics Battalion 3, the ground and logistics combat elements of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan. Stills is the administration chief for 3/8.
(photo by Lance Cpl. Brian D. Jones)

U.S. military leaders in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan visited Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during their tour of Afghanistan and met Marines of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced), and Combat Logistics Battalion 3, the ground and logistics combat elements of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan. Stills is the administration chief for 3/8.
(photo by Lance Cpl. Brian D. Jones)

Sunday, December 14, 2008

3/8 Conducts Live Fire Exercise in Afghanistan

CAMP BASTION, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Lance Cpl. Joseph Merritt, a machine gunner with Weapons Compa soldierwgun

ny, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, fires his pistol during live-fire training outside of Camp Bastion, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 12. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan deployed in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-International Security Assistance Force mission in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. (Photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau)

SOLDIER W GUN CAMP BASTION, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan U.S. Marine Cpl. Kenneth Brown, a fire team leader with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, looks through the windshield of a humvee during live-fire training outside of Camp Bastion, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dec. 12. 3/8 is the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan deployed in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization- International Security Assistance Force mission in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. (Photo by Cpl. Pete Thibodeau)

Sunday, December 14, 2008

U.S. Marines provide British forces security in Afghanistan during Operation Backstop

Story by Lance Cpl. Brian D. Jones

HELMAND PROVINCE, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Marines and sailors with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, the ground combat element of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Afghanistan, successfully completed the first phase of Operation Backstop in Helmand Province Dec. 7-12.

Under the request of Regional Command South, the SPMAGTF-A command element supplied Co. I to provide security for a large British logistics convoy that moved supplies from an area in transient with NATO forces.

During a previous operation British and Estonian combined forces under Task Force Helmand retrograded from the Now Zad area in order to redistribute forces in a realignment of battle spaces. In turn, Marines of 3/8 have filled the battle space in Now Zad.

The British and Estonian forces that previously moved from the FOB to maintain presence elsewhere in Afghanistan left behind military equipment and supplies that accumulated over the past few years. The British convoy of more than 30 large vehicles was sent to retrieve the military equipment and supplies there. The security Company I provided allowed the British free, uninterrupted passage through the area as they collected and relocated the equipment.

As part of a combined team effort, the U.S. Marines of Co. I coordinated with British units for a successful operation. The British supported Co. I with extra communications assets and intelligence. Co. I supported the British with force protection through its lethal firepower and maneuverability. SUNSET

Its always so satisfying to be so welcomed by you guys, said British Royal Marine Commando Cpl. Britney Piers Stacey, the liaison officer working with Co. I. We really do appreciate what you guys do for us, and its no more true as it is today as you all provide this force protection. There are really great guys here, great set up and a great command structure.

Along the route from Camp Barber to Now Zad lie a number of choke points and well-known enemy positions. The Marines objective was to aggressively confront insurgents along the route before the British convoy passed through. Fully equipped with sniper desertandtank

teams, explosive ordnance disposal teams and engineers, the Marines pushed their way through.

In order to let the (British) convoy pass through safely, we (Marines) decided to take a route where we would most likely meet enemy activity and neutralize it, said Capt. Mike Hoffman, the commanding officer of Co. I.

After successfully clearing the route with little interference from insurgents, Co. I set up a deliberate defense to maintain security along the route for the five-day operation. tanks

They picked an area on a map that best fit the mission based on terrain analysis and conducted leadership and engineer reconnaissance to ensure mission success. The defense site was on a slope overlooking a distant view of flat land and small scattered villages. The defense was set up for survivability as the Marines kept the area secure with the use of extra firepower, aggressive patrolling and a good defensive posture.

That was probably the most impressive thing to see these guys do, said Hoffman. It was a great opportunity. It was something the Marine Corps hasn't done a lot of recently in combat, just training. The last five days the Marines stayed out there in the elements, and they stayed as safe as they would have in any FOB, maybe safer because of the work they put into the defense. The operation was completely self sustaining.

As the convoy pushed through without incident, several local Afghans stood outside of their homes observing.
The operation also marked the first time Co. I had operated as a company team during its deployment to Afghanistan.

It went very smoothly and I could not be prouder of the entire team, said Hoffman. For something that complicated to go this well is not surprising, but it is impressive.