Combat Logistics Battalion 15

Combat Logistics Battalion 15 (CLB-15) is a United States Marine Corps military logistics unit based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It is subordinate to Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group, and I Marine Expeditionary Force. When placed under the operational control of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the battalion serves as that formation's Logistics Combat Element, delivering the transportation, supply, maintenance, engineering, medical, landing-support, and explosive-ordnance capabilities needed to sustain Marine forces operating from amphibious shipping or austere shore positions. The unit was activated on 15 October 1987 as Marine Amphibious Unit Service Support Group 15. It was redesignated Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 15 in February 1988 after the 15th Marine Amphibious Unit became the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The organization was designed for scheduled rotational assignment as the combat-service-support element of the 15th MEU. Its early operational history included disaster relief after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, evacuation assistance following the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines, and support to Southwest Asia cease-fire operations after the Gulf War. During the 1990s and early 2000s, the unit supported a wide range of expeditionary and humanitarian missions. These included Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, Operation Support Hope in Rwanda, Operation Vigilant Warrior in Southwest Asia, Operation Southern Watch, and the Australian-led intervention in East Timor. After the September 11 attacks, it supported Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, including the establishment and sustainment of forward operating sites at Camp Rhino and Kandahar International Airport. In 2003 it supported the invasion of Iraq, the securing of Umm Qasr, operations around An Nasiriyah, and humanitarian assistance involving water purification, medical care, and restoration of local services. The organization became Combat Logistics Battalion 15 on 15 March 2006 as part of the Marine Corps reorganization that replaced the former force-service-support structure with the Marine Logistics Group model. The change placed the battalion under Combat Logistics Regiment 17 and retained its central role as the logistics element for the 15th MEU. From late 2006 through 2007, CLB-15 supported operations in Iraq's Al Anbar Province. Its deployment was extended twice, turning an expected six-month assignment into an almost nine-month operation. Later activities included flood-relief operations in Pakistan in 2010, assistance to 62 Ethiopian and Somali migrants rescued at sea, and the 2012–2013 Western Pacific deployment of the 15th MEU. During that deployment, the battalion participated in exercises in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Djibouti. It also received a monitored command code designation in fiscal year 2013, moving toward centralized manning and equipment support from Headquarters Marine Corps rather than relying solely on internal sourcing from the 1st Marine Logistics Group. CLB-15 remains an operational military unit rather than a commercial consumer brand, and its principal outputs are logistics capabilities and mission support rather than products sold in a market.

Combat Logistics Battalion 15 traces its lineage to Marine Amphibious Unit Service Support Group 15, activated at Camp Pendleton on 15 October 1987 and assigned to the 1st Force Service Support Group. Its original function was to provide the combat-service-support element for the 15th Marine Amphibious Unit on a rotational basis. Following the renaming of that formation as the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the support group became Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 15 on 5 February 1988. The unit's early deployments combined operational logistics with disaster response. In 1989 it supported relief work after the Loma Prieta earthquake in northern California. In 1991 it assisted the evacuation of designated personnel from the Philippines during Operation Fiery Vigil after Mount Pinatubo erupted. It also supported Southwest Asia cease-fire activities following Operation Desert Storm. During the 1990s, the organization deployed with the 15th MEU for missions in Somalia, Rwanda, Southwest Asia, and East Timor. In Somalia during Operation Restore Hope, it supported the security of Mogadishu and the American Embassy before moving to outlying locations to assist food-distribution convoys and efforts to restore order. After the September 11 attacks, the unit supported Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from late 2001 into early 2002. It helped sustain the 15th MEU's amphibious entry into Afghanistan, established support at Camp Rhino, and later supported operations at Kandahar International Airport, including the development of a detention facility. In 2003 it deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Its elements supported the securing of Umm Qasr, moved toward An Nasiriyah, and combined combat logistics with humanitarian assistance such as water purification, immediate medical care, and support for local government and public services. The unit later contributed to the 2004–2005 tsunami response in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. On 15 March 2006, the organization was redesignated Combat Logistics Battalion 15 as part of the Marine Corps transition from the force-service-support-group system to the Marine Logistics Group structure. It became part of Combat Logistics Regiment 17 and the 1st Marine Logistics Group, while retaining its role as the 15th MEU's logistics element when assigned. From November 2006 through May 2007, CLB-15 operated in Iraq's Al Anbar Province. Its forces were distributed across locations including Ar Rutbah, Ramadi, and the Haditha area, supporting security operations and the development of Iraqi law enforcement, local government, and economic activity. The deployment was extended twice in response to operational requirements. In 2010 the battalion supported Pakistan flood relief during a Western Pacific deployment. It also assisted 62 Ethiopian and Somali migrants rescued at sea, providing basic life support and medical assistance aboard USS Pearl Harbor until their repatriation to Kenya. The battalion subsequently completed pre-deployment training for the 15th MEU and deployed on Western Pacific 12–02 in September 2012. That deployment included exercises in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Djibouti. CLB-15 marked its twenty-fifth anniversary aboard USS Rushmore on 15 October 2012. In fiscal year 2013 it received monitored command code 1US, reflecting centralized manning and equipment support from Headquarters Marine Corps. The unit returned to Camp Pendleton in May 2013. Its listed honors include a Presidential Unit Citation, a Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendations, Meritorious Unit Commendations, and campaign and service recognition associated with Southwest Asia, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Global War on Terrorism, and humanitarian operations.

• 2013

  Monitored command code designation

  [1]Combat Logistics Battalion 15en.wikipedia.org

  Beginning in fiscal year 2013, the battalion operated under monitored command code 1US with centralized manning and equipment support.

• 2012

  Twenty-fifth anniversary deployment ceremony

  [1]Combat Logistics Battalion 15en.wikipedia.org

  CLB-15 held a colors rededication ceremony aboard USS Rushmore on 15 October during its Western Pacific deployment.

• 2006

  Redesignation as CLB-15

  [1]Combat Logistics Battalion 15en.wikipedia.org

  The unit became Combat Logistics Battalion 15 on 15 March during the Marine Corps logistics reorganization.

• 1988

  Redesignation as MSSG-15

  [1]Combat Logistics Battalion 15en.wikipedia.org

  The unit was redesignated Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 15 on 5 February after the 15th Marine Amphibious Unit became the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

• 1987

  Activation as MSSG-15

  [1]Combat Logistics Battalion 15en.wikipedia.org

  Marine Amphibious Unit Service Support Group 15 was activated at Camp Pendleton on 15 October and assigned to the 1st Force Service Support Group.

A deployable Marine Corps logistics formation optimized to sustain expeditionary forces across amphibious, conventional, contingency, and humanitarian missions.

• Military logistics capability · 1987

  Expeditionary combat logistics

  CLB-15 provides the practical sustainment functions required by an expeditionary Marine formation, including supply, distribution, transportation, maintenance, engineering, landing support, medical care, and explosive-ordnance response. These capabilities are organized for rapid deployment and operation in locations where permanent infrastructure may be limited or unavailable.

• Marine Expeditionary Unit support · 1987

  Logistics Combat Element support

  When assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the battalion forms the Logistics Combat Element. It supports the MEU's ground, aviation, and command components by moving people and materiel, sustaining equipment, supporting shore and ship-to-shore operations, and maintaining medical and emergency-response capacity.

• 2012WESTPAC 12–02

  Kuwait · United Arab Emirates · Saudi Arabia · Djibouti · Western Pacific

  Deployed with the 15th MEU and participated in Exercises Eager Mace, Iron Magic, and Red Reef, along with sustainment training in Djibouti.

  Outcome. Completed the deployment and returned to Camp Pendleton in May 2013.

  Source
• 2010Pakistan flood relief

  Pakistan

  Supported humanitarian relief during severe flooding caused by torrential rains.

  Outcome. Contributed expeditionary assistance during the flood response.

  Source
• 2004Operation Unified Assistance

  Indonesia · Sri Lanka

  Provided disaster relief after the Indian Ocean tsunami in Sumatra and southern Sri Lanka.

  Outcome. Supported emergency assistance to tsunami survivors.

  Source
• 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom

  Iraq

  Supported operations at Umm Qasr and An Nasiriyah, combining combat logistics with humanitarian assistance and restoration of local services.

  Outcome. Enabled follow-on humanitarian assistance and supported coalition operations in southern Iraq.

  Source
• 2001Operation Enduring Freedom

  Afghanistan · Djibouti

  Supported the 15th MEU's operations in Afghanistan, including Camp Rhino and Kandahar International Airport, while elements also supported humanitarian activity in Djibouti.

  Outcome. Sustained forward operating sites and early conventional Marine operations in Afghanistan.

  Source
• 1994Operation Support Hope

  Rwanda · Somalia

  Supported humanitarian operations in Rwanda and helped relocate the United States Liaison Office from Mogadishu to Nairobi.

  Outcome. Contributed to humanitarian relief and diplomatic-relocation logistics.

  Source
• 1992Operation Restore Hope

  Somalia

  Supported security, food-distribution convoys, and restoration-of-order efforts in Somalia.

  Outcome. Provided logistics support across Mogadishu and several outlying areas.

  Source
• 1991Operation Fiery Vigil

  Philippines

  Supported evacuation operations following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.

  Outcome. Assisted the movement of designated personnel from the affected area.

  Source
• 1989Loma Prieta earthquake relief

  United States

  Elements assisted earthquake-relief operations in the San Francisco Bay Area and undertook additional volunteer work for victims.

  Outcome. Provided logistics and community assistance during the emergency response.

  Source

• 2006

  Transition to the Combat Logistics Battalion structureStrategy

  Background

  The Marine Corps reorganized its logistics forces from the former force-service-support-group structure into Marine Logistics Groups and subordinate combat logistics regiments.

  Action taken

  MSSG-15 was redesignated Combat Logistics Battalion 15 and assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group.

  Aftermath

  The battalion retained its planned rotational role as the Logistics Combat Element for the 15th MEU.

  Source

• 1988

  Redesignation following the creation of the 15th MEUOther

  Background

  The 15th Marine Amphibious Unit was renamed the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

  Action taken

  Marine Amphibious Unit Service Support Group 15 was redesignated Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 15.

  Aftermath

  The unit continued serving as the scheduled support organization for the 15th MEU.

  Source

1. 1Combat Logistics Battalion 15en.wikipedia.org