More ‘green’ Marines aboard ships

[unhappycamper]

Petty Officer 3rd Class Calvin D. Brooks, left, and Lance Cpl. Ngan Nguyen, right, lift weights aboard the amphibious assault ship Bataan earlier this month.


More ‘green’ Marines aboard ships
By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Feb 17, 2009 21:16:14 EST

ABOARD THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP BATAAN — Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class Kleynia McKnight has deployed with Marines before. But this year, as she gears up for a cruise on the Bataan, McKnight has seen a lot more green-clad grunts who seem especially wobbly at sea.

“There’re a lot more new Marines out there. We see them wandering around the O-6 level and you’re like: ‘What are you doing here?’ ” McKnight said.

After more than seven years of war, Marines have drifted from their naval roots. That’s starting to change as Commandant Gen. James Conway has made it a goal to get Marines back on ships.

As the Bataan prepares to deploy in May with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, roughly three-quarters of those Marines will go to sea for the first time. Years ago, at least half of the leathernecks in a typical MEU had some experience on a ship, Marine officials said.

So pulling sailors and Marines together for a trans-Atlantic float demands planning and preparation — above and beyond the historical norm.


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/02/navy_bluegreen_021809w/%2e