ASP keeps Marines locked, loaded
AL ASAD, Iraq (March 20, 2007) -- A Marine starts receiving enemy fire while on a patrol and, in response, pulls back the charging handle of his rifle. He slowly squeezes the trigger to fire, but nothing happens. He removes the magazine to find there is no ammunition inside.
March 20, 2007
By Lance Cpl. Thomas J. Griffith, 2nd Marine Logistics Group
Here in Iraq, that will not happen because the Marines of the Al Asad ammunition supply point distribute ammunition across the area of operations.
“Our main purpose is to support all subordinate units in the AO,” said Master Sgt. Ronald Pressley, the officer-in-charge of the Ammo Detachment, Headquarters Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward). “The arms we take up to serve and safeguard the Iraqi people, they’re using ammo that comes out of this ASP.”
The ASP’s responsibilities extend to Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, as well as units in Al Qaim, Haditha, Camp Korea Village and onwards toward the Jordanian border.
The ASP is made up of three sections: issues, storage and records. All three are required for the ASP to run efficiently.
“It comes down to every single person,” said Cpl. Tiffany M. Chin, the chief of the ammunition issues section. “Without us, what are they going to fire with? Rocks?”
Chin said the ASP supplied Iraqi Security Forces while she was here on her first deployment, but they have since established their own ASPs based upon guidelines laid down by previous Marine units.
“It’s good to know that everything we do is not in vain,” said the Bowie, Md., native. “It means the ball is actually rolling.”
Pressley said he is impressed with the way his Marines are performing, but never expected anything less.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more. They know what I expect,” he said. “They know what I want out of them and how I want things set up.”
The importance of the ammunition the Marines supply goes beyond words, explained the Columbus, Ga., native.
“You can go so long without food and water,” Pressley began. “If you ask a Marine to pick one thing while in front of the enemy, it would be ammo for his rifle. Because that’s what really brings them and their fellow Marines home.”