06/20/2013 -- Marines from Marine Forces Reserve were temporarily assigned to Marine Corps Logistics Command to assist in the retrograde and reset of communications equipment during a two-week period, June 2-16.
The 13 communications maintenance Marines are reservists from 6th Communications Battalion in Brooklyn, New York, and were here fulfilling their annual training requirements.
The Marines, ranging in rank from private first class to sergeant, tested VRC110 radio sets, the Tactical Operations Center-Network internal communications system and the Driver Visual Enhancement system for mine-resistant, armored-protective vehicles. The equipment recently returned from Afghanistan and is required to be tested for reset.
“Any opportunity to save the Marine Corps money during a time of drawdown is a good thing,” Sgt. Tom W. Moran, Marine technical specialist with Weapons Systems Management Center, MCLC, said. “Even better, is being able to train reservists on gear they normally don’t get to see.”
These communications maintenance Marines have the military occupational specialty of 2841, ground radio repairer, and 2847 telephone systems, personal computer intermediate repairer. While here, they tested more than 3,000 pieces of communications equipment for reset.
“This is important for these Marines because even though they’re reservists, there is still a high possibility that they will be deployed,” Sgt. Eric M. Worth, a ground radio repairer, 6th Communications Bn., Brooklyn, New York, said.
Even though the Marines may not be directly attached to the operating forces, Reserve Marines are currently attached to units all over the world in peacetime and combat, including Africa, Afghanistan, Bahrain and with Marine Special Operations, Worth said.