CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq -- The Marines and Sailors of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment recently wrapped up imparting all the knowledge they learned during their deployment to Iraq to their replacements from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment to continue the Global War on Terrorism.
Once the members of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines accounted for their gear and stowed it away, they accompanied the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines during their daily tasks to make the transition as smooth as possible.
“The Marines of three-eight - at all levels - did an excellent job of providing their seven months of experience,” said Maj. Christopher Dixon, executive officer of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines. “This knowledge and expertise provides a solid foundation from which the Marines of 2/2 can build throughout the area of operations.”
It started off with the basics of showing the 2nd Battalion Marines where the different posts are and the basic tasks they would be performing on a daily basis. The Marines of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines were still in control while their replacements watched and made mental notes of everything.
After a few days of shadowing their predecessors, the 2nd Battalion Marines were given more active roles working alongside their counterparts. Once the 2nd Battalion Marines knew what to look for in certain areas and had a firm grasp of what their operations would be like, the 3rd Battalion Marines took the back seat position and gave advice if they saw anything that could be done better.
After the incoming Marines absorbed all the information they could get from their mentors, they started doing tasks on their own. This gave the Marines leaving time to check all their gear and pack up for their long trip back home to the United States.
“Thanks to 3/8, we have a solid base of knowledge and experience from which to start,” Dixon stated. “Without them, we would be walking in blind to an unknown situation.” While the Marines and Sailors of 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment go home for some well deserved refit and retrain, their replacements from 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment will continue to help Iraq get back on its feet.