Reserve Marines begin the long journey home

After serving for more than six months in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq’s western Al Anbar province, a group of reserve Marines and sailors from 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, began their movement back to the United States, March 10, 2009.  They are the unit’s advance party and their mission will be to prepare the battalion’s demobilization site in Camp Pendleton, Calif.  The remainder of the battalion is scheduled to arrive at Camp Pendleton in early April.  After a short period of classes and warrior other transition training, the bulk of the reservists will return to their home training centers in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Others will go back to Oklahoma, Ohio, Massachusetts and a host of other states throughout the nation.