We have now been at Camp
Leatherneck for two weeks. My platoon wants to start doing their job
but the outgoing unit is still here. When you deploy you are
normally replacing a unit that has reached the end of their tour.
There are usually a couple of weeks when you change over with that
unit and they brief you up on what they have been doing during their
time and what you can expect. This is normally a painful process.
As the new unit arriving, you just want to take over and start
performing your duties immediately. Unfortunately you are unable to
and must endure the time with little to do other than watch the
outgoing unit and take some notes on things you would like to
continue doing their way as well as things you plan to change once
they are gone.
In addition to this, we
were required to sit through a Welcome Aboard/Country Brief along
with an important brief describing our Rules Of Engagement (ROE).
The ROE is a set of guidelines which determine when a Marine may fire
and may not fire there weapon at alleged enemy assets. The intent is
to allow the Marine to accomplish his mission while also minimizing
any collateral damage or loss of innocent lives. I will say this
much. No country goes out of their way to protect innocent civilian
lives in a combat zone more than the United States. I should
probably leave it at that, lest I say anything which could be deemed
derogatory about our ROE. I believe in the old adage, 'It is better
to be judged by twelve than carried by six.'
No comments:
Post a Comment