Wanted to bring you up to date on what we have been doing lately here at the MSSG. I don’t know if you might have seen the article on the Marine Corps Official Website highlighting the end of operations in Iraq for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU). MSSG 31 is a member of this organization, so this message applies to us and we have completed operations as well. Our focus now has shifted to the multitude of tasks it takes to get a unit ready for redeployment.

I’ve said it before and I will repeat it now. You would not believe how these Marines and Sailors have matured. We held a crew-served weapons shoot the other day to check weapons functioning and to re-familiarize all Marines with the skills required to operate the .50 caliber machine gun and the M240G. The non-commissioned officers manned each weapon and we cycled the junior Marines through to fire. To the man (and woman), they knew what they were doing and handled the weapons with proficiency. These are all Marines whose primary military occupational specialty is something other than infantry, and yet they know how to handle weapons. Even our Corpsmen were involved and they are as competent as the Marines.

Speaking of the Corpsmen, I am extremely proud of the entire Health Services Platoon. Throughout the deployment, their motto has appeared to be, “how can I help.” They have been involved in everything from convoy support to providing medical care to insurgent detainees. Our medical officer led a trauma team at BRAVO Surgical Company during the fight for Fallujah, and I am sure made a life or death difference for many wounded Marines. Since the 31st MEU and the MSSG were at different locations, our dental officer served as the 31st MEU surgeon, and employed her Arab language skills to support the civil affairs efforts in the 31st MEU’s operating area. To top it all off all of the Corpsmen have all qualified for their FMF pins, a difficult challenge requiring them to master many skills normally associated with Marines and pass a proficiency exam. It is unheard of to have a 100% qualification rate.

I’ll keep you posted on our progress. There is still a lot of work to be done, but I am confident the Marines and Sailors of MSSG 31 will do it well. We are all looking forward to seeing the green Island of Okinawa, Japan!

Until next time and as always, I’m proud and you should be proud of the Marines and Sailors of MSSG 31. It is an honor to serve with them

Thanks for all your support

Sincerely,

J. Alex Vohr