Combat Logisitcs Battalion 31
Commanding Officer's Welcome Aboard Letter
To our Marines, Sailors and Families,
Welcome to “Atlas Battalion!” As the Commanding Officer, I want to be the first to welcome you to CLB-31. Some of you are joining us from the United States and others from units aboard Okinawa. In either case, we are honored and excited to have you and I am thoroughly convinced that you will find your tour here both professionally and personally rewarding.
Professionally, you are joining the Logistics Combat Element for the only continuously forward deployed Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in the Marines Corps and III Marine Expeditionary Force’s primary crisis response force. We are deployed aboard amphibious ships throughout the Asia/Pacific Region for several months each year and when not deployed, we are training for our next deployment. CLB-31’s mission is to provide tactical combat logistics support to 31st MEU and in this capacity, we have over seventy different military occupational specialties represented within the battalion. We support the Marine Air Ground Task Force across thirteen mission essential tasks and support combat operations and theater contingencies as directed.
From a personal standpoint, you will also enjoy living in Okinawa. There are numerous historic sites and recreational activities on the island and you will have the unique opportunity to explore Japan and other countries throughout this region. Many of our Marines, Sailors and families travel to destinations such as Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia on leave or special liberty. I encourage you to make the most of your time living and working here.
With CLB-31’s high operational tempo, family and personal readiness is paramount to me. My concern applies to our single Marines and their families in the United States, just as much as to our accompanied Marines. Our goals are simple: keep families informed; ensure families know how to get assistance; and ensure families are ready for their Marine or Sailor’s deployment. To ensure these goals are met, CLB-31 has a Command Team and a Family Readiness Program to support us, and we actively seek your involvement and feedback.
Our Family Readiness Officer (FRO), SSgt Delia Gardner, should have already contacted you, or will do so soon. The FRO, and the entire Command Team, stands ready to assist you with any need you may encounter. SSgt Gardner can be contacted at DSN 315-623-3129, by cell phone at 080-8367-1856, or email at delia.gardner@usmc.mil.
Again, welcome to the CLB-31 Team.
Semper Fidelis
Siebrand H. Niewenhous IV
Lieutenant Colonel, United States Marine Corps
Commanding