Combat Logistics Battalion 15

Combat Logistics Battalion 15
CLB-15 Unit Crest
Active	15 October 1987 to present
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Type	Combat Logistics
Role	Amphibious / Expeditionary
Size	Battalion
Part of	Combat Logistics Regiment 17 or 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (when so assigned)
Garrison/HQ	Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Nickname	"Blackout"
Motto	"Leaders in Combat Logistics"
Colors	Scarlet and Silver
Anniversaries	25 years active on 15 Oct 2012
Engagements	Operation Desert Shield Operation Fiery Vigil Operation Restore Hope Operation Support Hope Operation Vigilant Warrior Operation Southern Watch Operation Stabilize Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Unified Assistance
Commanders
Current commander	LtCol John J. Wiener 27 Jan 2011 to Present
Notable commanders	MajGen Charles L. Hudson 10 Aug 1990 to 6 Sep 1990 MajGen Robert R. Ruark 19 Feb 1999 to 24 Aug 2000

Combat Logistics Battalion 15 (CLB-15) is a military logistics battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Pendleton, California. It consists of approximately 300 Marines and Sailors. It is part of Combat Logistics Regiment 17 (CLR-17) within the 1st Marine Logistics Group (1st MLG), I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF). When assigned under the operational control of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU), it becomes the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) providing expeditionary combat logistics support to all supported elements of the Marine Expeditionary Unit. CLB-15 has two sister MEU CLBs also based out of Camp Pendleton: CLB-11 and CLB-13.

Mission

Provide expeditionary combat logistics to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit in order to enable accomplishment of all assigned missions across a wide spectrum of conventional and selected maritime special operations.

Subordinate Units

• Headquarters Detachment (S-1, S-2/3, S-4, S-6, EOD, Military Police, Food Service, Embark, Postal, Disbursing)

• Communications Detachment (Radio, Wire, Data)

• Transportation Support Detachment "The Red Patchers" (Motor Transport, Landing Support)

• Engineer Detachment (Combat Engineers, Heavy Equipment, Bulk Water, Bulk Fuel, Utilities)

• Maintenance Detachment (Motor Transport, Engineer, Ordnance, Communication)

• Supply Detachment (Organic, Intermediate Consumable, Secondary Reparable)

• Health Services Detachment (Battalion Aid Station, Dental, Shock Trauma)

History and Lineage

Inception and Early Years (1987-1990)

Marine Amphibious Unit Service Support Group 15 (MSSG-15) was activated on 15 October 1987 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton California and was assigned to the 1st Force Service Support Group (1st FSSG). The battalion's intended purpose was to serve, when so assigned and on a scheduled rotational basis, as the Combat Service Support Element (CSSE) for the 15th Marine Amphibious Unit (MAU). The battalion was redesignated as Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group (MSSG-15) on 5 February 1988 to reflect the renaming of the 15th MAU to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). During October 1989, elements of MSSG-15, under the operational control of the 15th MEU, participated in the Loma Prieta earthquake relief efforts in the San Franscico Bay Area of California by performing their assigned relief missions and also taking on several volunteer projects to help the victims of the disaster. During August 1990, elements of MSSG-15 participated in support of Operation Desert Shield in Southwest Asia.

Post Desert Shield/Storm Years (1991-2000)

During June 1991, MSSG-15, under the 15th MEU, participated in Operation Fiery Vigil by assisting in the evacuation of designated personnel from the Republic of the Philippines after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. From December 1992 to January 1993, MSSG-15, under the 15th MEU, participated in Operation Restore Hope to assist in the civil war torn and famine stricken country of Somalia. While in Somalia, MSSG-15 supported the securing of the capital city of Mogadishu and the American Embassy on the first day then quickly moved out to outlying areas of Berdera, Baido and Kismayo to assist with food distribution convoys and help restore order. From July through August 1994, MSSG-15, under the 15th MEU, participated in Operation Support Hope in Rawanda and then later assisted in the relocation of the United States Liaison Office from Mogadishu, Somalia to Nairobi, Kenya. From September through October 1994, MSSG-15 participated in support of Operation Vigilant Warrior in Southwest Asia. In February 1996 and again in July 1997, MSSG-15, under the 15th MEU, participated in Operation Southern Watch in Iraq. In February 2000, MSSG-15, under the 15th MEU, participated in support of the Australian-led Operation Stablize in East Timor.

Post 9/11 Years (2001-2011)

In September 2001, MSSG-15 again participated in support of Operation Stablize in East Timor. From October 2001 through January 2002, MSSG-15, under the 15th MEU, participated in Operation Enduring Freedom by supporting an amphibious assault over 400 miles into the land-locked country of Afghanistan. Landing at a remote airbase 90 miles southwest of Kandahar, MSSG-15 supported the establishment of Camp Rhino, America's first Forward Operating Base in country while maintaining the first significant conventional ground presence in Afghanistan. MSSG-15 later moved north to Kandahar International Airport securing a new forward operating base. With the move, MSSG-15 was able to continue to support new missions and support the building of a prison camp that housed numerous Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters. In November 2001, concurrent with actions occurring in Afghanistan, elements of MSSG-15 participated in support of humanitarian efforts in Djibouti.

In February 2003, MSSG-15, under the 15th MEU, deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. From March 2003 through July 2003, MSSG-15 participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). During February and March 2003, tactical control of the 15th MEU was assigned to the United Kingdom's 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines for OIF. On March 21, 2003, elements of MSSG-15 crossed the border into Southern Iraq and supporting the securing of the port of Umm Qasr and enabled follow-on humanitarian assistance to begin. By late March 2003, elements of MSSG-15 (with the 15th MEU now back under I Marine Expeditionary Force) moved to An Nasiriyah, Iraq to relieve the Marines of Task Force Tarawa. Elements of MSSG-15 provided humanitarian assistance to the local population that included purifying drinking water, immediate medical care, helping establish the local government, police, and other local services.

From December 2004 through January 2005, MSSG-15 participated in support of Operation Unified Assistance in Southern Asia supporting the Indonesian tsunami relief efforts by providing disaster relief to survivors of a massive tsunami in Sumatra, Indonesia, and southern Sri Lanka. Following this period, the battalion was redesignated as Combat Logistics Battalion 15 (CLB-15) on 15 March 2006 and assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group (1st MLG). The redesignation from MSSG-15 to CLB-15 was as a result of the larger logistics reorganization from the 1st FSSG to the 1st MLG. The battalion's intended purpose remained to serve, when so assigned and on a scheduled rotational basis, as the Logistics Combat Element (LCE) for the 15th MEU.

From November 2006 through May 2007, CLB-15 once again participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. CLB-15, under the 15th MEU, was committed into Iraq to support area commanders in the Al Anbar Province. Spread throughout the region from Korean Village, to Ramadi, and the Haditha triad, CLB-15 supported security actions to the area which enabled the establishment of Iraqi law enforcement, economic progress, and the creation of local Iraqi government. Due in part to their successes, the needs of the area commanders, and being part of the Multi-National Force-Iraq "surge" to defeat insurgent forces across the country, the CLB-15, under the 15th MEU was extended twice, turning what was supposed to be a six month deployment into almost nine months.

From August through October 2010 and during a routine Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment, torrential rains ravaged Pakistan and caused major flooding throughout the country. As a result, CLB-15 participated in humanitarian relief supporting Pakistan flood relief efforts. In the final weeks of September 2010, CLB-15 assisted in the rescue and life support of 62 Ethiopian and Somali immigrants at sea from their disabled skiff. The rescued persons stayed aboard the USS Pearl Harbor into early November 2010 where they were given medical care, food, water, and clothes by CLB-15 before being patriated to Kenya. CLB-15 completed her most recent WESTPAC deployment in December 2010 and is currently preparing for its rigorous pre-deployment training program scheduled for early 2012.

Honors Awarded

Presidential Unit Citation (United States) Streamer (Iraq 2003)

Joint Meritorious Unit Award Streamer (Somalia 1992-93)

Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with Three Bronze Stars (Southwest Asia 1990-91, 1994, 1997–98; Afghanistan 2001-02)

Meritorious Unit Commendation Streamer with Four Bronze Stars (1987–89, 1995–97, 2000, 2004–05, 2010)

National Defense Service Medal Streamer with One Bronze Star

Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Streamer with One Bronze Star

Southwest Asia Service Medal Streamer with One Bronze Star

Iraqi Campaign Medal Streamer with Four Bronze Stars

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Streamer

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Streamer

See also

United States Marine Corps portal

• History of the United States Marine Corps
• List of United States Marine Corps battalions
• Organization of the United States Marine Corps

References

Notes

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

Web

• CLB-15's Official Website