Serving expeditionary forces in readiness - Vol.62 No.21 - Camp Lejeune area pools open this weekend

Oct 7, 2026

Serving expeditionary forces in readiness, this issue highlights Marine Corps readiness and training through MEU exercises and expeditionary planning. Coverage includes leadership and awards for a Camp Lejeune engineer, the 26th MEU’s MEUEX pace designed to force different ways of thinking, and the role of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations in Vieques. Quick content addresses Memorial Day observances and Camp Lejeune area water safety with pools reopening for the season.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLifestyle

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Pages40

Reading Time1 h 2 min

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Serving expeditionary forces in readiness

Vol.62 No.21

Camp Lejeune area pools open this weekend

Memorial Day Service

Water Safety

2d MEB,24th MEU make Dynamic Mix in Greece/3A — Camp Lejeune,N.C. THE GL "The Queen BE of Soul"is featured this weekon LCTV-10.See the entertainment www.lejeuneusmc.mil page for listings. # Serving expeditionary forces in readiness Vol.62 No.21 ngineer,Up! eier turns over to MuscaCourthouse Bay today As the Marines from MCES say goodbyeto thcir fellow warrior they make way fur anew one to step up to the plate to meet thechallenges and grect the rewards that comein commanding these engineers. Musca was commissjoned in 1976.Aftercompleting The Basie School and the MarineCorps Engineer School,he was assigned tothe,2d Combat Engineer Bn,and served asplatoon leader,companyexecutiveofficerandcompany commander.During this tour hedeployed with 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade(MEB)to Northerm Europe and 2dCom-bat Enginccr Bn,to GuantanaIIO Bay.Cuba. His personal awards include the BronzStar with Combat Distinguishing Device,Defense Meritorious Service Medal,Meritorious Service Medal with a gold star,JointService Commendation Medal,Navy andMarine Corps Commendation Medal with agold star and Combat Action Ribbon. His personal He is married to the former SuzanneOdziemiecof Kenmore,NY.They have twochildren,Jackie,a rising senior at the Uni-versity of Buffalo,and Joseph,a rising fresh-man at the University of North Carolina. In case of inclement weather the ceremonywill remain a the samc timc,however,it willmove to the Gocttge Memorial Field House. Russoll K Pace-The Cadal CpIDerek A.Shoemake TRADITIONINA DIFFERENT CORPS-On Memorial Day weekend thoughts of 26th MEU Combat Correspondent fallen warriors,heroos and forefathers cross our mind.These men represent USS SAIPAN,Atlantic Ocean-The 26th Marine Expedi-tionary Unit is one step closer to becoming Special Opera-tions Capable,and according to MGySgt David Lynch,it is abig one. honor.courage and commitment.Notonly are these values running strong throughthe Marine Corps today but a different Corps runs parallel-the Corps of Cadets at the Citadel in Charleston,S.C.See how one Lejeune-based warrior attended the Citadel and Stayed Marine!in Cpl Derek Shoemake's story of page 2B. Lynch,who has been part of more than a dozen MarineExpeditionary Unit Exercises (MEUEX),said when the 26thMEU completed their MEUEX May 14,there was no doubt inhis mind they knew what they were doing. Carolina Marines'high-vis missionleft island secure The purpose of MEUEX was to train the MEU's Marinesand Sailors in performing the missions they may be called onto conduct during their deployment to the Mediterranean re-gion in July. "I think that in a lot of ways,MEUEX was like a race,"saidLCpl Danny Riley,26th MEU's files and directives clerk andNew Baltimore,Md.native."We had to execute all these dif-ferent missions and did it all in about six days." That tepid pace was no accident,according to Maj JohnTalnagi.Lakewood,NJ.native and intelligence officer withCampLejeune,N.C.'s Special Operations Training Group(SOTG).The group is responsible for planning scenarios forthe MEU's training missions until their final exercise beforedeployment,and evaluating them along the way. and detachments from Marine LighuAttackHelicopter Squadron-269.Marine HeavyHelicopter Squadron-464.Marine MediumHelicopter Squadron-365 and Marine WingSupport Squadron-274.The FSSG has pro-vided detachments from each of its battal-ions in support of the mission. “(The pace)is designed to force the MEU into differentways of thinking."he said."By firing these missions off inrapid succession it allows the MEU to train their primary andback upteams.Iftheirprimary teamfor a particular mission isin the field,then they have to use the back up team." CompiledBy GLoee Staff More than 600 U.S.Marshals and FBIagents recently teamed up with local Marinesand Sailors to clear trespassers from the Na-val training range in Vieques,Puerto Rico. This is ex

FAQs

What is the focus of the issue titled “Serving expeditionary forces in readiness”?

The issue centers on Marine readiness, expeditionary force preparation, and related training and community updates, including water-safety and Memorial Day items.

What training purpose does MEUEX serve for the 26th MEU?

MEUEX trains Marines and Sailors to execute missions they may be called to perform during deployment to the Mediterranean region in July.

How is the MEUEX pace described, and why does it matter?

The pace is designed to force the MEU into different ways of thinking by executing multiple missions rapidly, enabling use of primary and backup teams.

Oct 7, 2026

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