Marines, Sailors From 3/7 Deploy

Marines, Sailors From 3/7 Deploy
August 28, 2008
Marine Corps News|by LCpl. Zachary J. Nola

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — Marines and Sailors from 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, departed the Combat Center Aug. 26 and 27 on a seven-month deployment to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

More than 1,000 Marines and Sailors left the Unit Marshalling Area in the early and mid-morning hours of both days to the waves and tears of their families and loved ones.

1st Lt. Evan Bradley, executive officer of Weapons Company, said the battalion has the initial mission of helping with security and training local police forces.

“We’re trying to transition to operational over watch,” explained Bradley, a native of Blue Island, Ill. Bradley added that the long-term goal of the deployment is to slowly turn more control over to the local government and civilian population.

“Basically we’re going to let the take control,” said Bradley. “We’re going to stick by their side, but we want the Iraqi face to be on everything happening.”


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/marine-corps-news/marines-sailors-from-37-deploy.html?col=1186032366495