MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, North Carolina -- Parachute riggers with 2nd Transportation Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, assisted landing support specialists with offloading gear, vehicles and personnel returning from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Lejeune, April 29, 2016.
As a parachute rigger, their job is to attach parachutes to crates filled with food, water and other necessities to resupply troops on the ground, but knowing more than how to do the basics of their military occupational specialty makes the unit more diverse and mission capable.
“As parachute riggers, we are attached to the Landing Support Company. Knowing how to do their job, in case they’re under-manned, assists the unit as a whole,” said Cpl. Jacob Cole, a parachute rigger with 2nd Transportation Support Battalion.
One of Landing Support Battalion’s missions is to account for all the equipment, vehicles and personnel that are offloaded from ships.
“I want to understand what the Landing Support Battalion does because, as a unit, we work hand-in-hand,” said Cpl. Jordan Tally, a parachute rigger with 2nd TSB. “This sort of training increases the effectiveness of the unit.”
Practicing offloading prepares 2nd TSB for future operations in a deployed environment by allowing the Marines to understand the pace at which supplies need to be offloaded and the actual process of offloading.
“Doing offloads ensures that we have a plan set in place for an effective and efficient offload so we can maintain accountability of our equipment while maintaining a steady supply offload,” said Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Reed, the Landing Force Shore Party staff noncommissioned officer.
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