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GLOBE Serving Camp Lejeune and surrounding areas since 1944
THURSDAY MARCH 15, 20 2012
WWW.CAMPLEJEUNEGLOBE.COM
VOLUME 74 EDITION 11
CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN
CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN
Order reinforces hazing policy OKINAWA PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Marine Corps Bases Japan
Photos by Chief Petty Officer Leslie Shively
Key Afghan leaders from both Helmand and Nimroz provinces joined U.S. military and civilian leadership for a farewell gala hosted by Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, March 8, at the Afghan Cultural Center. Toolan, right, greets Gulab Mangal, the governor of Helmand province. (Inset) Key Afghan leaders from both Helmand and Nimroz provinces joined U.S. military and civilian leadership for a farewell gala hosted by Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, March 8, at the Afghan Cultural Center. Here, Toolan joins traditional dancers celebrating coalition partnership successes.
Key Afghan, coalition leadership celebrate RC(SW) transition CHIEF PETTY OFFICER LESLIE SHIVELY
Regional Command Southwest
Key Afghan leaders from both Helmand and Nimroz provinces joined U.S. military and civilian leadership for a farewell gala hosted by Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, March 8, at the Afghan Cultural Center. Before dinner, Toolan, commanding general, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) and current commander of Regional Command Southwest, took the opportunity to introduce his successor, Maj. Gen. Charles M. Gurganus commanding general, I MEF (Fwd.) during the event. Toolan relinquishes command of RC(SW) to Gurganus next week. The evening was lighthearted and fun. While introducing Gurganus, Toolan remarked that his replacement already has a complete set of Afghan robes. “He will probably wear them sooner than it took me to wear mine,” he said. “I don’t have a turban,” Gurganus said.
“I will leave you my turban,” Toolan responded, laughing. The general wore a complete Afghan outfit to the celebration. Deputy Commander RC(SW), U.K. Army Brig. Nicholas Welch, also introduced his successor, U.K. Army Brig. Stuart Skeates, deputy commander, RC(SW) I MEF (Fwd.) to the gathering. “There’s no difference in the way we operate,” Welch said. “He’s just younger, better looking and slightly brighter.” Helmand Governor Gulab Mangal commended the partnership between RC(SW) and the Helmand province during his remarks. “The relationships we have between the Afghan National Security Forces, the Marines and coalition forces are strong,” Mangal said, adding that now coffee is offered to guests as often as tea in Afghan homes. “There are many achievements in this time,” Mangal said. “Especially along Route 611 through the Sanguin district.” Route 611 extends north through Helmand province into
the Upper Sangin Valley. The road was an insurgent hotbed until late last year, when Marines asserted their presence and reestablished a sense of stability, freedom of movement and commercial development. Traditional Afghan music and dancing followed dinner. “A joint gathering like this strengthens relationships between coalition forces and Afghan officials, tribal leaders and religious leaders,” said Qamar Jabarkhiel, an RC(SW) cultural advisor. “Having a good relationships between representatives of Afghan society, we can reach the communities.” Jabarkhiel said creating a bridge between coalition forces and Afghan society supports the mission of RC(SW), the Afghan government and benefits the people of Afghanistan. “We are warrior developers,” said Col. Michael Lawrence, garbed in a turban. Lawrence, a provincial coordinator for Nimroz province, said he wore the traditional head gear to honor the Nimroz representatives who
came to the gala. “We’ve built close relationships and we’ve watched the Afghan Security Forces grow to a very professional force,” said Toolan. “Through it all we were a team and I think, as a result, there’s been a lot of growth and change in Helmand.” We’ve made some progress and things are better,” Toolan said, adding that his departure from Afghanistan is bittersweet. He said he feels a bond between himself, his team and the Afghan people, especially when he sees the children smile. “You want to help them out. We had an opportunity over this past year to do just that, so I feel pretty good,” he said. “Afghans have got the best chance they’ve ever had in 32 years.” The general said he knows his team has made a positive impact in Afghanistan. “Some people go through life wondering if they’ve made a difference. These Marines and these soldiers don’t have that problem,” he said, referring to a quote from former President Ronald Reagan.
A policy update by the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James F. Amos reinforcing the prohibition of hazing within the Marine Corps was signed, Feb. 1. The purpose of the order, Marine Corps Order 1700.28A, is to ensure hazing does not occur, in any form, at any level of command, and to improve overall effectiveness as a fighting force. The order requires commanding officers and officers in charge to ensure all personnel within their command are familiar with the current hazing policy, and to provide appropriate training as part of their unit’s orientation and annual troop information programs. In addition to revising the order, Amos also released a statement to service members reiterating his intent in All Marine Message 005/12. “I charge all leaders in the chain of command, from fire team leader to commanding general, to ensure that all Marines are treated with dignity, care, and respect and to be ever vigilant for signs of hazing within our ranks,” said Amos. Hazing, as defined in the order, is any conduct whereby a military member or members, regardless of service or rank, without proper authority causes another military member or members to suffer or be exposed to any activity which is cruel, abusive, humiliating, oppressive, demeaning or harmful. “Typically, hazing occurs as acts of initiation or in congratulations,” said Chief Warrant Officer Ralph Rivera a legal administrative officer for the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate for Marine Corps Installations Pacific. “Confused participants SEE POLICY 6A
INSIDE THE GLOBE
Marine awarded Navy, Marine Corps Medal for bravery LANCE CPL. ADWIN C. ESTERS 2nd Marine Division
AFGHANS, MARINES BRIGHTEN HORIZONS FOR YOUNG STUDENTS PAGE 3A LEJEUNE SPORTS 1B INSIDE LEJEUNE 1C CLASSIFIEDS 5C CAROLINA LIVING 1D
Sgt. Diego R. Zuluaga, a radio operator serving in Company A, 6th Communication Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, located in Amityville, New York, and a fellow reservist were on their way to their drilling station on a seemingly normal Sunday morning on Feb. 13, 2011, when they passed a burning vehicle on the Southern State Parkway in Roosevelt, New York. The accident seemed to have occurred merely seconds before they happened upon it, said Zuluaga. He noticed vehicles in front of him pulling over to the side of the road to avoid a hazard further up the road. Then they saw the danger: a vehicle had apparently lost control and went off an overpass onto the highway below, struck a bridge embankment, and exploded into flames with three male occupants trapped inside. Heavy smoke from the flames obscured the entire area, and the heat added to the chaos of the scene. “When I saw the flames I said, ‘pull over, pull over!’” said Zuluaga, to the driver Sgt.
Luis R. Salavarria, a multi-channel radio operator assigned to his unit, who leapt from the vehicle and ran towards the sound of the flames and cries for help. “I heard, ‘God, someone help me!’” said Zuluaga. “I was close to him, but because of the intense heat I couldn’t get too close. All I kept thinking was get this guy out of there.” With great personal risk to flames, smoke, and possible explosion, Zuluaga approached the burning automobile and could see two occupants in the front and one in the rear passenger side of the vehicle. Zuluaga made the difficult decision to focus his efforts on the passenger in the back of the vehicle. With the assistance of a New York State Trooper who arrived on the scene, they were able to pull the backseat passenger a safe distance from the flame-engulfed vehicle. Paramedics arrived on scene, rushing the severely injured man to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to the injuries sustained in the accident. For his heroism and bravery in the face of grave danger, Zuluaga, was presented the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, which is awarded to SEE BRAVERY 6A
Photo by Lance Cpl. Adwin C. Esters
Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton, II Marine Expeditionary Force commanding general, shakes hands with Sgt. Diego R. Zuluaga, a radio operator with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 12.2, after presenting him with a NavyMarine Corps Medal aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, March 7.