Combat Logistics Battalion 24
Encyclopedia
Combat Logistics Battalion 24 (CLB-24) is a logistics
battalion of the United States Marine Corps
. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 27
and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group
. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
, North Carolina
and is in direct support of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
(24th MEU) .
On 1 December 1982, the numbering of MAUs and MSSGs was redesigned. MSSG-32 became MSSG-22 of the 22d MAU, Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic. During this time and for several six-month deployments in 1983 and 1984, MSSG-22 was a part of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon. When Cuban and Communist influence was threatening US citizens and US national interests in the Caribbean islands of Grenada and Caricao, President Reagan ordered the Marines, including MSSG-22, to land and take those islands in October and November 1983.
In the years after the Grenada invasion, the numbering of the MSSGs was shuffled, and MSSG-22 became MSSG-24 of the 24th MAU, Fleet Marine Force
s Atlantic in 1984 and MSSG-24 of the 24th MAU in 1986. MAU Service Support Group-24 became MEU Service Support Group-24 in 1988.
in support of the Kurdish people in Turkey
and Northern Iraq
. In 1993 and 1994, the 24th MEU and MSSG-24 helped keep warring factions in Somalia
at bay during Operation Restore Hope and Operation Continue Hope. The MSSG left the shores of Somalia for the Adriatic Sea
in 1994, where it supported Operation Provide Promise
and Operation Deny Flight
during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina
. Two weeks after returning from the Balkans
in 1994, the MSSG was off to the coast of Haiti
as part of Operation Support Democracy.
MSSG-24 returned to the Balkans with the MEU during its next several deployments in 1995 and 1996 to support operations against Serbian aggression. During 1995, the 24th MEU rescued Captain Scott O'Grady
, an Air Force pilot who had been shot down over Bosnia
. In 1996, MSSG-24 assisted in restoring a bridge over the Drina River in Bosnia. In 1997, the 24th MEU and the MSSG were diverted to the Persian Gulf
to be the landing force for Fifth Fleet in support of Operation Desert Thunder
. During its 1999 deployment, the 24th MEU assumed again a forward presence in the Balkans during the NATO operation against Serbian aggression in Kosovo
. During this deployment, Harriers
from the 24th MEU were the first such aircraft to be used in combat.
with personnel located at Kandahar Airfield
, Camp Bastion
, Forward Operating Base Dwyer
and FOB Delhi.
Military logistics
Military logistics is the discipline of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces. In its most comprehensive sense, it is those aspects or military operations that deal with:...
battalion of the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. They are part of Combat Logistics Regiment 27
Combat Logistics Regiment 27
Combat Logistics Regiment 27 is a logistics regiment of the United States Marine Corps. The unit is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and falls under the command of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group and the II Marine Expeditionary Force .-Subordinate units:* Combat Logistics...
and the 2nd Marine Logistics Group
2nd Marine Logistics Group
The 2nd Marine Logistics Group is a logistics unit of the United States Marine Corps and is headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. 2nd MLG was formerly known as 2nd Force Service Support Group , reorganized with its sister FSSGs into Marine Logistics Groups in 2005...
. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a United States military training facility in North Carolina. The base's of beaches make it a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports allows for fast deployments.The main base is supplemented by five satellite...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and is in direct support of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit is one of seven Marine Expeditionary Units currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Expeditionary Unit is a Marine Air Ground Task Force with a strength of about 2,200 personnel...
(24th MEU) .
Mission
The mission of CLB-24 is to provide timely, reliable, and continuous support to 24th MEU in support of the MEU commander's tactical mission and concept of operations; and to conduct, on order, Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations, Medical treatment and evacuation of casualties on a large scale, and Humanitarian Aid and Assistance operations.1980s
Combat Logistics Battalion 24 has existed in one form or another since the early 1960s. It has participated in many of the important Marine Corps operations of the last half-century. During the 1960s, the Logistic Support Unit, 32d Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU), Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic was temporarily activated to participate in exercises and operations in the Caribbean and Atlantic areas. In the early 1970s, the unit underwent several re-designations and name changes to become the MAU Service Support Group 32 of the 32d MAU—which is very similar to our current name. The MSSG-32 and the 32d MAU participated in numerous exercises and operations in the Mediterranean Area in the 1970s.On 1 December 1982, the numbering of MAUs and MSSGs was redesigned. MSSG-32 became MSSG-22 of the 22d MAU, Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic. During this time and for several six-month deployments in 1983 and 1984, MSSG-22 was a part of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon. When Cuban and Communist influence was threatening US citizens and US national interests in the Caribbean islands of Grenada and Caricao, President Reagan ordered the Marines, including MSSG-22, to land and take those islands in October and November 1983.
In the years after the Grenada invasion, the numbering of the MSSGs was shuffled, and MSSG-22 became MSSG-24 of the 24th MAU, Fleet Marine Force
Fleet Marine Force
The United States Fleet Marine Forces are combined general and special purpose forces within the United States Department of the Navy that are designed in engaging offensive amphibious or expeditionary warfare and defensive maritime employment...
s Atlantic in 1984 and MSSG-24 of the 24th MAU in 1986. MAU Service Support Group-24 became MEU Service Support Group-24 in 1988.
1990s
Following Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the 24th MEU and MSSG-24 were tasked with the humanitarian relief effort Operation Provide ComfortOperation Provide Comfort
Operation Provide Comfort and Provide Comfort II were military operations by the United States and some of its Gulf War allies, starting in April 1991, to defend Kurds fleeing their homes in northern Iraq in the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War and deliver humanitarian aid to them.-Operation...
in support of the Kurdish people in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Northern Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
. In 1993 and 1994, the 24th MEU and MSSG-24 helped keep warring factions in Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
at bay during Operation Restore Hope and Operation Continue Hope. The MSSG left the shores of Somalia for the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
in 1994, where it supported Operation Provide Promise
Operation Provide Promise
Operation Provide Promise was a humanitarian relief operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav Wars, from 2 July 1992, to 9 January 1996, which made it the longest running humanitarian airlift in history....
and Operation Deny Flight
Operation Deny Flight
Operation Deny Flight was a North Atlantic Treaty Organization operation that began on April 12, 1993 as the enforcement of a United Nations no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina...
during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. Two weeks after returning from the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
in 1994, the MSSG was off to the coast of Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
as part of Operation Support Democracy.
MSSG-24 returned to the Balkans with the MEU during its next several deployments in 1995 and 1996 to support operations against Serbian aggression. During 1995, the 24th MEU rescued Captain Scott O'Grady
Scott O'Grady
Scott Francis O'Grady is a former USAF Captain and former United States Air Force fighter pilot who gained prominence after the June 2, 1995 Mrkonjić Grad incident, in which he ejected over Bosnia when his F-16C was shot down by a Bosnian Serb SA-6 while he was patrolling the no-fly zone...
, an Air Force pilot who had been shot down over Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. In 1996, MSSG-24 assisted in restoring a bridge over the Drina River in Bosnia. In 1997, the 24th MEU and the MSSG were diverted to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
to be the landing force for Fifth Fleet in support of Operation Desert Thunder
Operation Desert Thunder
Operation Desert Thunder was a response to threats by Iraq's president Saddam Hussein to shoot down U-2 spy planes, and violate the no-fly zone set up over his country. The operation was designed to bring stability to the region by bringing in a military presence during the negotiations between...
. During its 1999 deployment, the 24th MEU assumed again a forward presence in the Balkans during the NATO operation against Serbian aggression in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
. During this deployment, Harriers
AV-8B Harrier II
The McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II is a second-generation vertical/short takeoff and landing ground-attack aircraft. An Anglo-American development of the British Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the Harrier II is the final member of the Harrier family that started with the Hawker Siddeley P.1127 in...
from the 24th MEU were the first such aircraft to be used in combat.
Global War on Terror
CLB-24 is currently supporting 24th MEU operations in AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
with personnel located at Kandahar Airfield
Kandahar Airfield
Kandahar International Airport is located 10 miles south-east of Kandahar City in Afghanistan. The airport was built by the United States in the 1960s, under the United States Agency for International Development program. It may have been intended to be used as a possible U.S...
, Camp Bastion
Camp Bastion
Camp Bastion is the main British military base in Afghanistan. Accommodating 21,000 people it is situated northwest of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province, and exists to be the logistics hub for operations in Helmand....
, Forward Operating Base Dwyer
Camp Dwyer
Camp Dwyer in Afghanistan is a military base and air field of the United States Marine Corps. It is in the Helmand River Valley in the Garmsir District...
and FOB Delhi.
See also
- List of United States Marine Corps battalions
- Organization of the United States Marine CorpsOrganization of the United States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is organized within the Department of the Navy, which is led by the Secretary of the Navy . The most senior Marine officer is the Commandant of the Marine Corps, responsible for organizing, recruiting, training, and equipping the Marine Corps so that it is ready for...