3rd CEB advanced party returns home from Afghanistan

MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. -- Marines and sailors with 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion's advanced party returned home to the Combat Center Oct. 11, 2013. The Marines and sailors were deployed to Afghanistan for seven months.

Families and friends of the Marines gathered at the supply company motor transport lot to welcome the Marines and sailors.

“Some of these Marines are coming home because they have children being born or newborns,” said Erika Capistran, family readiness officer, 3rd CEB. “For some of our families that are here, it is their second deployment within the last two years, so it has to be exciting for them.”

The mission of 3rd CEB is to provide mobility, counter-mobility, survivability, and limited general engineering support.

The unit actively supported World War II, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The battalion began reactivation on Oct. 7, 2007, and is now at full mission capacity.

“We are getting the conditions set for the main body to return home,” said Maj. Michael Salisbury, executive officer, 3rd CEB. “After they return, we will start transitioning towards our deactivation.”

After multiple deployments in support of OIF and OEF, 3rd CEB can now begin the transitioning process into their deactivation scheduled for this summer.