The Marine Corps is moving toward a different mission in Iraq as it progresses further into the early months of 2009.
Forces are currently centering their efforts to transitioning control of terrain and operations to Iraq’s military forces with the goal of serving as advisors instead of primary combatants.
The outcome of the Corps’ mission lies partly in the hands of Marine advisors serving both past and present in Iraq. These advisors serve among fellow Marines and sailors amidst battalions, brigades and divisions of the Iraqi military, training with them, living with them, eating with them and becoming brothers-in-arms with them.
Maj. Mark Slusher, the deputy operations officer for the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, is one of the many advisors that have served among Iraqi forces. Slusher and the three-week Basra Campaign showed just one example of how Marine advisors can influence the growing Iraqi military.
The Lebanon, N.J. native was awarded a Bronze Star with a combat distinguishing device, Jan. 12, for heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against insurgency in the city of Basra that contributed to the success of Iraqi forces in the region.
Slusher served as team leader for Military Transition Team 111 of 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division from Aug. 22, 2007 to Aug. 17, 2008. During this time, he simultaneously advised the Iraqi Army battalion commander and led his 15-man MTT through combat operations that cleared multiple insurgent strongholds and weapons cache sites throughout the city, according to Slusher’s award citation.
“It’s fire in the belly courage and leadership,” said Brig. Gen. Juan G. Ayala, commanding general of 2nd MLG. “It’s because of American advisors putting their lives on the line that the Iraqi Army is on its feet.”
Ayala, having served as senior advisor to the 1st Iraqi Army Division the year prior to Slusher’s tour, said the efforts of American military members make this a very significant time in U.S. and Iraqi history. Ayala went on to say Slusher’s efforts epitomize military advisors and show how much of an impact they can have.
Lt. Col. Chuck Western, who served with Slusher as the brigade MTT leader, said Basra was a dangerous place at the time they were there. Slusher’s team and the Iraqi battalion were bombarded by continuous mortar and small arms fire in the early days of the campaign.
According to his award, Slusher repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to direct his team’s defensive actions and advise the Iraqi battalion commander in combat.
“Mark was able to convince the Iraqi battalion commander to stay in the area where he was at,” Western said. “He stayed there shoulder-to-shoulder with the battalion commander. He gave him time to get over his concerns and become a combat commander.”
This same quick action and presence of mind was displayed while elements of the MTT were exiting the Basra city limits, April 24, after conducting a combat patrol. One of the transition team’s vehicles was attacked by an explosively formed penetrator, which is an improvised explosive device commonly used to penetrate armor at stand-off distances. The device destroyed the vehicles and wounded all five members inside.
Slusher immediately retrieved the injured personnel from the burning vehicle while under steady small arms fire, and moved them to a covered position to administer first aid. His citation said his actions resulted in a successful air and ground casualty evacuation of the injured Marines.
“We operate there alone and unafraid,” Slusher said, speaking of how a MTT functions. “Everyone knew their roles and I was truly blessed with the men I had on my team. It’s great to know we were able to positively influence what happened in Basra and the rest of the country.”
The year 2009 has began with a positive outlook on the future for the country of Iraq as more Iraqi units take charge of military operations in their country. Western said Slusher and the Basra campaign shows just that.
The Basra campaign featured "a Shia government and a Shia force clearing a Shia city," Western said. "The efforts of advisors for the last five years have done this."