6A OCTOBER 4, 2012
THE GLOBE, CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.
CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan’s senior enlisted American visits Marines in Helmand province CPL. ED GALO Regimental Combat Team 6
The wind blows gently over the twin flags – one Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel, command American, one Afghan. senior enlisted for the International Security In their shadow below, Assistance Force-Afghanistan, talks to Marines with Marines with Regimental Combat Team 6 stand Regimental Combat Team 6 Sept. 26. Photo by Cpl. Ed Galo
in formation anxiously awaiting the arrival of the senior enlisted American in Afghanistan Sept. 26. Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel walks up to the Marines and calls them out of the formation. He asks them to come closer so he can
speak with them. “First, let me just say it is my honor and pleasure to be standing here in front of you and talking to you today,” said Capel, command senior enlisted for the International Security Assistance ForceAfghanistan.
Capel continued talking to the Marines, thanking them for the sacrifices they made during their deployment. “How many of you missed an anniversary or a child’s birthday?” he asked. A few Marines raised their hands. “How many of you missed Thanksgiving or Christmas?” He asked again. Almost all the Marines in the formation raised their hands. “You all sacrificed your time with your family for others,” he continued. “You all gave the people in Afghanistan a better life. I want to personally thank each and every single one of you for supporting and defending the freedom of Americans, and others across the world.” Capel continued talking to the Marines and mentioned a previous deployment to Afghanistan in 2006. “I was here when the Marines first got to Helmand,” he said. “When the Marines first got here they gave the Taliban a few choices. “Either throw down your weapons and stop fighting, leave Helmand because you will not stay, or you can stay and die.” Capel continued on, thanking the Marines for their service. “You swore (an oath) you would protect and defend our homeland,” he said. “Thanks to you for signing up to do it because we can’t do it without you. I just want to thank you for your service. I am truly honored to serve with you.”
Photo by Gunnery Sgt. Chad R. Kiehl
An AV-8B Harrier with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (Reinforced), 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, flies in position while conducting aerial refueling training operations Sept. 23. The training consisted of MV22B Ospreys and AV8B Harriers conducting aerial refueling with the 24th MEU’s KC130J Hercules planes to practice the skills needed for long-range flight operations. The 24th MEU is deployed with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group as a theater reserve and crisis response force for U.S. Central Command in the Navy’s 5th Fleet area of responsibility. AERIAL FROM 1A for crisis response utilizing the MEU. “Our ability to reach U.S. embassies and American citizens in trouble over 400 nautical miles from the coast is greatly enhanced by our KC-130Js and demonstrates the value of our expeditionary Marine Air Ground Task Force operating from the sea,” said Donovan.