Combat Center News

Sgt. Maj. Mark M. Geletko, the retiring Headquarters Battalion sergeant major, inspects the battalion colors March 5 before his post and relief and retirement ceremony with Sgt. Maj. James D. Walsh at the Combat Center's Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field. Geletko received the Meritorious Service Medal for his service as the battalion sergeant major. - Sgt. Maj. Mark M. Geletko, the retiring Headquarters Battalion sergeant major, inspects the battalion colors March 5 before his post and relief and retirement ceremony with Sgt. Maj. James D. Walsh at the Combat Center's Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field. Geletko received the Meritorious Service Medal for his service as the battalion sergeant major.

Lily Stockman, a local artist and wife of 1st Lt. Pete Brooks, a special projects officer for the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment operations office, will display her art at the Red Arrow Gallery in Joshua Tree March 6 at 6:30 p.m. - Lily Stockman, a local artist and wife of 1st Lt. Pete Brooks, a special projects officer for the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment operations office, will display her art at the Red Arrow Gallery in Joshua Tree March 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Sgt. Maj. Douglas E. Power, the sergeant major of MWTC, (left), Col. Norman L. Cooling, the commanding officer of MWTC, Marines and family members observe a moment of prayer at the dedication ceremony of the Sgt. Phillip A. Bocks Mountain Leaders Classroom at the multi-purpose building Feb. 22. Bocks, a 28-year-old former Mountain Leaders Course instructor, was killed during combat operations Nov. 9, 2007. His platoon was hit with direct fire from small arms and rocket-propelled grenades from multiple positions during an enemy ambush while returning from a meeting with village elders in Afghanistan’s Nuristan Province, according to the official casualty report. - Sgt. Maj. Douglas E. Power, the sergeant major of MWTC, (left), Col. Norman L. Cooling, the commanding officer of MWTC, Marines and family members observe a moment of prayer at the dedication ceremony of the Sgt. Phillip A. Bocks Mountain Leaders Classroom at the multi-purpose building Feb. 22. Bocks, a 28-year-old former Mountain Leaders Course instructor, was killed during combat operations Nov. 9, 2007. His platoon was hit with direct fire from small arms and rocket-propelled grenades from multiple positions during an enemy ambush while returning from a meeting with village elders in Afghanistan’s Nuristan Province, according to the official casualty report.

Engineers and tankers receive a route clearance mission brief from 1st Lt. David A. Sierleja, the platoon commander for 2nd Plt., Co. A, 3rd CEB, during a mission rehearsal exercise Feb 24. "Route clearance is important in our Afghanistan mission because we are the lead element to allow followon forces to reach their objective; we provide road security so logistics trains can get from point A to point B," Sierleja said. - Engineers and tankers receive a route clearance mission brief from 1st Lt. David A. Sierleja, the platoon commander for 2nd Plt., Co. A, 3rd CEB, during a mission rehearsal exercise Feb 24. "Route clearance is important in our Afghanistan mission because we are the lead element to allow followon forces to reach their objective; we provide road security so logistics trains can get from point A to point B," Sierleja said.

Corporals practice sword manual during the practical application portion of Combat Logistics Battalion 7's Corporals Leadership Course at the Protestant Chapel here Feb. 12. The course included garrison training, such as sword and guidon manual, and also taught the students to be leaders while deployed or in field environments. - Corporals practice sword manual during the practical application portion of Combat Logistics Battalion 7's Corporals Leadership Course at the Protestant Chapel here Feb. 12. The course included garrison training, such as sword and guidon manual, and also taught the students to be leaders while deployed or in field environments.