Dear Marines, Sailors and family members of CLB 451- 2014 is upon us! It’s incredible to me that despite us just celebrating New Year’s and Valentine’s Day, we are already looking to the summer months and larger training opportunities. I am pleased to report that we have already successfully led and supported two EEAP (Exercise Equipment Allowance Pool) exercises in 29 Palms, had over 60 Marines redeploy home from Afganistan and other locations, and are looking forward to welcoming home even more later this year. Please keep them in your thoughts as you read about all of our nation’s forward deployed forces. We are truly representing our country actively through our collective deployments, training and efforts to maintain a high sense of readiness. As usual, your Unit, Personal and Family Readiness team has pulled together a great newsletter for you. It’s full of good information focused on finances, and as we enter tax season, I think you and your family will find it a great read. Semper Fidelis, LtCol K.D. Pierson Commanding Officer Combat Logistics Battalion 451

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Commander’s Corner

1

SgtMaj’s Rant 1-2

From the FRO 2

Chap’s Chat 3

CREDO

Schedule

4

eMarine 5

Tax Tips 6-8

Military Saves 9

Unit News 11-13

Useful Links 14

Combat Logistics Battalion 451

Unit, Personal & Family Readiness W I N T E R / F E B 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E I , I S S U E 2

SP EC IAL

PO INT S OF

INT E REST :

eMarine

Unit News

Tax tips

Military

Saves!

New resource

from Sesame

Street

and more!

Commander’s Corner

Sergeant Major’s Rant! Marines, Sailors and Families,

The theme this quarter for our newsletter is finances. This allows me to harp on one of the biggest impacts to Marines and their families. Credit Cards!!!

Credit means get it! Debt is a bad thing, and credit card debt in my opinion, is the worst of all. Regardless whether the country's economy is in a recession or boom, this is what banks and numerous other companies market to the masses. Credit card companies blatantly target people from all walks of life. Pushing images of a better life in which a person can feel important in stature based on the color of the credit card he or she has in their pocket, or the amazing places they could travel because they earned points for airline tickets.

The logical concept of this is amazing in nature and at the same time disappointing. The past fifteen years have been riddled with record housing foreclosures, upside down loans and high unemployment numbers. One would think we as a nation would have learned one common lesson.

I am of the opinion that credit cards are not required to make someone successful in life. I also believe that the credit card companies understand this as well. Due to this fact, they market their cards to appeal to a person's sense of self image. The public is bombarded with this every single day. These campaigns are as diverse as they are common, usually portraying images of middle class individuals using the card incentives to purchase materialistic items as a reward. For example, a typical airline credit card will reward a consumer one mile of travel rewards for every one dollar they spend. A trip on United Airlines from Denver, Colorado to Orlando, Florida departing on June 14th and returning June 21st will cost 50,000 reward miles. That is in essence a $50,000.00 round trip ticket. A regular ticket on the same airline for the same dates costs $452.00. In terms of fiscal responsibility, this makes no sense. However, companies sell this to consumers every day and we continue to sign up for the cards. The very idea that selling a message of spending money one does not have in order to make their lives better is wrong to me. Yet, this continues to go on.

Companies do not expect or desire their customers to pay off the balance every month. They need this balance in order to generate revenue off of the card's interest rate. They have become very skilled at selling this to consumers as well. Companies will give customers a low,

P A G E 2

Ms. Kati Toney Family Readiness

Officer CLB-451

Charlotte, NC

704-598-0015 x337 BB: 704-488-9770

kati.toney@usmc.mil

FACEBOOK “Kati Toney-Fro”

From the FRO: Greetings, Marines, Sailors, Families and Friends!

It seems like I was just writing you wishing you Happy Holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years…) and now, Valentine’s Day is here and it’s tax season! Time really does fly! If you’re anything like me, you may have a tendency to go a little overboard at Christmas. It’s my very favorite holiday and I know I can’t help spoiling those I love and even find myself helping those less fortunate than me. However, that means the financial “belt” gets a little tighter in January. In this newsletter, you’ll find resources that will help you with your finances this new year. Whether it’s questions about taxes, saving and investing, or just general management, hopefully you’ll find some good articles here and at a minimum, a starting point for more resources. We will also be launching eMarine by the end of this month. If you aren’t familiar with eMarine, it is the new method of communication from the command to our Marines and their families and friends. If you would like more information, please feel free to contact me or simply visit www.emarine.org to learn more. Your site DFRO will have the information to help you register for our battalion and there will be more information in this newsletter about eMarine. Our eMarine page will be updated each month with new announcements and resources.

Please remember that your UPFR team is here to assist in any way, should you or someone you know in your unit need it—whether it be financial assistance, assistance with food or any other resources, even counseling options. Whatever your need may be, we stand ready to help. Please feel free to reach out!

Wishing you ALL the best...always!

Kati

C O M B A T L O G I S T I C S B A T T A L I O N 4 5 1

U N I T , P E R S O N A L & F A M I L Y R E A D I N E S S

short term interest rate when they first sign up. After a set amount of time has passed, that rate has gone up. This is especially a boon if they can get an individual to transfer in a high balance. This will allow them to make even more revenue based on interest rates. If that is not enough, the companies will even charge an annual fee just for the privilege of using their card.

Consumer protection is the next item on the line for them to check. The companies will offer protection against fraudulent charges and identity theft. Most will do this as a baseline service for just being a customer. However, many will offer better protection services for a monthly or annual fee. All of this just to get consumers to use credit for their purchases.

At the end of the day, consumers are sold on the ideas of status in society , manageable debt that everyone has and safety. The disappointing piece of this is that we as consumers continue to buy it. Nor does it stop there. If an individual becomes too overburdened with debt, they can claim bankruptcy and shed a high percentage of their debt. One would think they would learn from their financial mistakes and become better at managing their budgets. The credit card companies have an answer for this as well. Now they can offer those consumers credit cards at a higher interest rate or prepaid cards. This helps insure that they do not get out of the habit of using credit cards.

Bottom line, we as consumers seemed to have forgotten the idea of living within our means and saving for those items we desire. Instead we have become more in tune with instant gratification for those things in life we covet. Credit is a hard drug habit to break and the statement of "credit means get it" really caters to our inner most child and sense of unaccountability. This does not need to be the way things. So I will throw this question out to you; what's in your wallet? **If you find that you are struggling financially, whether in crisis mode or just simply trying to learn to budget, please contact our Family Readiness Officer who can provide you with some great resources.** Semper Fi! SgtMaj Neel

P A G E 3 V O L U M E I , I S S U E 2

Chap’s Chat: Greetings Marines, Sailors, and Families! What do you think about this time of year? How about budget cuts, money, federal debt, making ends meet, school loans, IRS, etc? According to the 2012 and 2013 Command Survey of all12 drill sites of CLB 451, money is one of the biggest issues that most of you face. How is this going for you? Are you living from pay-check to pay-check? What is your level of financial stress? God did not intend for you to live with so much stress. So what can you and I do to mitigate stress in this major area of our lives? Let us look at just two basic principles from the Bible about money. Plan ahead. Proverbs 27:23-27 states we ought to always know the exact value of our wealth (or lack of it). "Yeah, Chaps, we hear you. But there is not enough coming in." This is even more reason to know both what is coming in and what is going out. If you are in a hole, don't fret. When you are surrounded by the en-emy, do you just give up? No, you regroup--quickly and efficiently. You need to both RECORD your income and expenses, as well as BUDGET so you don't get caught surrounded by the enemy (e.g. unpaid bills). Please don't spend $20.00 a day on snacks, cigarettes, and alcohol--and wonder why you don't have $600 ($20 x 30) at the end of the month for rent. Prioritize! Be calm. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us the futility of being anxious. Matthew 6:25-33 re-minds us that God cares for each one of you and your needs. Who among us really has enough money? The rich fret over how to not loose what they have. The poor fret over how to get more to begin with. Those in between fret about how to get richer. So we all fret. But should we? I Timothy 6:6-10 is another great passage on wealth. Dave Ramsey, the creator of "Financial Peace University," has excellent information about money and debt, along with 7 basic principle of financial peace. Google “Dave Ramsey" and you will have help at your fingertips. Another excellent web site about what help the Bible may provide for your financial needs is http://www.learnthebible.org/debt_free.htm. Let us always be content, work hard, and prioritize our choices. Live in peace! Blessings, Chaps LT Shawn J. Turpin, Command Chaplain chaplainturpin@me.com / 864-325-1828

New from Sesame Street In December 2013, Sesame Workshop released a new book titled "Little Children, Big Challenges." The soft-

cover book and DVD are available to military families through Military OneSource at no cost. The book and DVD

focus on everyday challenges, both big and small. Whether it's a playground conflict, bullying or a life-changing

experience like divorce, the emotions and anxieties from these experiences can be overwhelming for young

children. Sesame Workshop's resilience initiative is focused on helping children confront these and other tough

situations with confidence and success.

The DVD features the cast of Sesame Street and presents children and their family

members with valuable education and skills to cope with day-to-day life at home and at

school. Developed with input from psychologists and child-development experts, this

multimedia tool kit is designed to bolster kids' sense of self, help them develop positive

conflict resolution skills and express their feeling in positive ways. Armed with these

skills and the secure support of adults, children can find the strength to face everyday

challenges.

P A G E 4

“The real measure of

your wealth is how much

you'd be worth if you lost all

your money.”

~Author Unknown

C O M B A T L O G I S T I C S B A T T A L I O N 4 5 1

U N I T , P E R S O N A L & F A M I L Y R E A D I N E S S

CREDO Opportunities

By now, everyone should be familiar with the DSTRESS line. But now they’ve added a new feature...SKYPE!! DSTRESS Line staff not only has call and chat capabilities but they can Skype too! Skype has been used for couples counseling and to talk about the everyday stressors of life. This approach allows couples (even geographically separated couples); another avenue to discuss issues with veteran Marines, former FMF corpsmen with years of experience on 'the green side', Marine Corps spouses or other family members, and licensed behavioral health clinical counselors who have taken Marine Corps-specific training to understand our culture. To set up a Skype appointment, call the DSTRESS Line at (877) 476-7734.

DSTRESS now Skypes!!

P A G E 5 V O L U M E I , I S S U E 2

eMarine!! The eMarine website is a secure site available only to Marines, Service Members, Civilians serving Ma-rines and their Family Members. This system will provide Family Members with a valuable tool to ac-cess documents, view photos/videos, participate in forums, and gain important information about their Marine's Unit from anywhere in the world, 24/7. A Unit's eMarine site promotes a community feeling within Units by providing a place that is customized to the Unit and contains content that is controlled by the Unit. These sites can be accessed any time to view information and photos, read stories, ask questions, participate in Forums, and much more. Online tools include:

CLB-451 will update our eMarine page every month to share announcements, information, and re-sources. If you have suggestions for the page, please don’t hesitate to contact our FRO. ***This is your page and we WELCOME your feedback! ***

Announcements Photo Gallery Download Center News Links

Frequently Asked Questions Forum Streaming Video Calendar Survey

P A G E 6

"We make

Marines and we

win our nation’s

battles. Then we

turn those men

and women back

to America’s

society better

people."

(Quote by

General Krulak,

31st

Commandant,

USMC)

C O M B A T L O G I S T I C S B A T T A L I O N 4 5 1

U N I T , P E R S O N A L & F A M I L Y R E A D I N E S S

FREE Tax Prep con’t. Get Ready to File Your Tax Return Before starting to file your tax return, it is helpful if you gather all necessary tax docu-

ments and additional information.

April may seem a long way off, but it will be here before you know it. Are you ready for tax filing? Rather than putting this task off until the last minute, why not reduce your stress and

take steps to be prepared.

Before starting to file your tax return, it is helpful if you gather all necessary tax documents

and additional information such as:

Social Security numbers and date of birth for you, your spouse, and dependents

child care, education, and adoption costs

W-2 Forms for all employers for you and your spouse

investment income forms

alimony information

Social Security benefits

miscellaneous income

Form 1098-E for student loan interest

Form 1098 for home mortgage interest

charitable donations

medical and dental expenses

real estate taxes

If you have kept careful records, the above items will be easy to find. There are many rea-sons to keep records. In addition to tax purposes, you may need to keep records for insur-

ance purposes or for getting a loan. Good records will help you:

Identify sources of income. You may receive money or property from a variety of sources. Your records can identify the sources of your income. You need this infor-mation to separate business from nonbusiness income and taxable from nontaxable income.

Keep track of expenses. You may forget an expense unless you record it when it

occurs. You can use your records to identify expenses for which you can claim a deduction. This will help you determine if you can itemize deductions on your tax return.

Keep track of the basis of property. You need to keep records that show the ba-

sis of your property. This includes the original cost or other basis of the property and any improvements you made.

Support items reported on tax returns. You must keep records in case the IRS

has a question about an item on your return. If the IRS examines your tax return, you may be asked to explain the items reported. Good records will help you explain any item and arrive at the correct tax with a minimum of effort. If you do not have records, you may have to spend time getting statements and receipts from various sources. If you cannot produce the correct documents, you may have to pay addi-tional tax and be subject to penalties.

P A G E 7 V O L U M E I , I S S U E 2

IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs offer free tax help for taxpayers who qualify.

VITA The VITA Program generally offers free tax help to people who make $52,000 or less and need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in local communities. They can inform taxpayers about special tax credits for which they may qualify such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locations.

TCE The TCE Program offers free tax help for all with priority assistance to people who are 60 years of age and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement issues unique to seniors. IRS-certified volun-teers who provide tax counseling are often retired individuals associated with non-profit organizations that receive grants from the IRS.

Self-Help Tax Preparation In addition to traditional face-to-face tax preparation, the IRS is offering a self-assistance service at many VITA and TCE locations. If individuals have a simple tax return and need a little help or do not have access to a computer, they can visit one of the participating tax preparation sites and an IRS-certified volunteer will guide them through the process.

Find a VITA Site Near You There are thousands of VITA sites located across the country. You may find a site near you between January and April using the VITA Locator Tool (http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Find-a-Location-for-Free-Tax-Prep) or call 1-800-906-9887.

Find a TCE or AARP Tax-Aide Site Near You A majority of the TCE sites are operated by the AARP Foundation’s Tax Aide Program. To locate the nearest TCE site or AARP Tax-Aide site between January and April, call 1-888-227-7669.

Items You Need to Bring To have your tax return(s) prepared at a VITA or TCE site you need to bring the following information with you:

Proof of identification – Picture ID

Social Security Cards for you, your spouse and dependents or a Social Security Number verifica-

tion letter issued by the Social Security Administration or

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) assignment letter for you, your spouse and de-

pendents

Proof of foreign status, if applying for an ITIN

Birth dates for you, your spouse and dependents on the tax return

Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-Misc from all employers

Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)

A copy of last year’s federal and state returns if available

Proof of bank account routing numbers and account numbers for Direct Deposit, such as a blank check

Total paid for daycare provider and the daycare provider's tax identifying number (the provider's Social Security Number or the provider's business Employer Identification Number) if appropriate

To file taxes electronically on a married-filing-joint tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.

It is extremely important that each person use the correct Social Security Number. The most accurate infor-mation is usually located on your original Social Security card. If you do not have an SSN for you or a de-pendent, you should complete Form SS-5, Social Security Number Application. This form should be submit-ted to the nearest Social Security Administration Office.

Source: www.irs.gov

P A G E 8

"We make

Marines and

we win our

nation’s

battles. Then

we turn those

men and

women back to

America’s

society better

people."

(Quote by

General

Krulak, 31st

Commandant

, USMC)

C O M B A T L O G I S T I C S B A T T A L I O N 4 5 1

U N I T , P E R S O N A L & F A M I L Y R E A D I N E S S

Special tax circumstances apply to service members.

As a service member or military spouse, there are some things you need to keep in mind as you file your return. Special tax circumstances apply to service members, and being familiar

with the following tax topics can help you file accurate tax returns and not overpay your taxes.

Types of pay are taxed differently

Combat pay is not taxed, but that money can be included as earned income to qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit. Among the other types of income not included in gross income when calculating taxes are allowances for living, family, death and

moving.

Tax breaks for relocations and everyday expenses

Following are some tax breaks you may not know you could be claiming:

When moving for a permanent change of duty, you may be eligible to deduct unreimbursed expenses necessary for the relocation of your household. (You don’t have to itemize your deductions to take this tax break.)

If your next move is back to civilian life, some job search expenses incurred may be tax-deductible as itemized deductions.

The unreimbursed cost and upkeep of military uniforms may be qualified itemized tax deductions.

You can deduct unreimbursed travel expenses if you travel more than 100 miles away from home to report for reserve duties.

Filing rules based on time in combat zones

When serving in a combat zone, exceptions are made to when tax returns are due. The

extension to file tax returns and even pay taxes due is 180 days after the later of these dates:

the last day served in the combat zone or the last day the area was designated as a combat zone

the last day of any continuous qualified hospitalization for an injury from service in a combat zone

In addition to the 180 day extension, your deadline is further extended by the number of days you had remaining to file your tax return when you entered the combat zone. Example: If you entered the combat zone March 1, 2013, your 2013 return deadline is further extended by the 1 ½ month or 46 day period (March 1, 2013 through April 15, 2013) that you had remaining to file your 2013 return when you entered the combat zone. Thus, you would have 226 additional

days to file your return.

Deployed and stationed outside the United States or Puerto Rico

If you are on a tour of duty outside the United States or Puerto Rico, you have an automatic two

-month extension to file your return. Applying with the IRS for an extension to file gives you an

additional 4 months. Unless on a tour of duty outside the United States or Puerto Rico, or

serving in a combat zone, you must have submitted your tax return by April 15, 2014, unless

you applied for an extension with the IRS. To avoid late fees and interest, you must estimate

your taxes owed and submit payment with the extension.

Tips for Filing Accurate Tax Returns

On Feb. 24, the Department of Defense will kick off this year’s Military Saves Week, part of

their larger Military Saves campaign.

Military Saves Week recognizes the unique financial challenges facing service members

and encourages service members and their families to work toward financial stability by plan-

ning for the future and making responsible financial decisions on a daily basis.

This week-long focus on creating financial security within military households brings service

members together with federal, state and local resources, including military banks and credit

unions, to focus on the financial readiness of military members and their families. Service

members and their families are encouraged to take the Saver Pledge and formally commit

themselves to saving money, reducing debt and building wealth over time. Since the first Mili-

tary Saves Week, more than 158,000 individuals have taken the pledge and committed to fo-

cusing on financial readiness within their families.

Military Saves Week 2014, with the theme "Set a Goal, Make a Plan,

Save Automatically," will feature a variety of events to promote finan-

cial readiness and planning for the future. Installations around the

world will host events encouraging service members and their fami-

lies to take the Saver Pledge. These events will offer further informa-

tion on tools and resources available to help them meet debt reduc-

tion and savings goals.

Celebrate Military Saves Week Feb. 24 – March 1 and take advantage of the financial re-

sources available to active-duty service members and their families. For more information,

and to take the Saver Pledge, visit the MilitarySaves website. (www.militarysaves.org)

***Military OneSource also offers a Military Saves Toolkit! You can find it at:

www.militaryonesource.mil/pfm/military-saves-toolkit

P A G E 9 V O L U M E I , I S S U E 2

Military Saves Week: 24 Feb - 1 March

State residency rules for spouses

Service members often retain residency status in their home states, despite frequent moves during active duty. If you are a military spouse, the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act allows you also to retain residency status in your home state if you move with your spouse. Under these rules, the pay you earn where your spouse is stationed may not be taxed there, but instead in the home state.

Residency must be declared and you must meet these 3 requirements to qualify for relief:

You moved with the service member to the duty state in compliance with military orders.

You are living in the state solely to be with the service member.

You and the service member share the same home state.

If you have questions about filing your tax return, please call 1-800-342-9647 and ask to speak with a Military OneSource tax counselor. Trained tax counselors are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET year-round, and with extended hours during tax season: 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., ET.

Source: The Tax Institute at H&R Block

P A G E 1 0

"We make

Marines and we

win our nation’s

battles. Then we

turn those men

and women back

to America’s society

better people."

(Quote by

General Krulak,

31st

Commandant,

USMC)

C O M B A T L O G I S T I C S B A T T A L I O N 4 5 1

U N I T , P E R S O N A L & F A M I L Y R E A D I N E S S

Managing Financial Stress Are you swimming in debt? Are you confused about how to begin to get your finances back on track? Do

you always owe more money than you make?

If you answered “yes” to any or all of these questions, then you are not alone. Millions of Americans deal

with financial stress on a daily basis; however, financial stress does not have to be an everyday reality for

the rest of your life.

So how do you work toward alleviating the stress you feel over your finances? First, come up with a plan.

You may have heard the saying “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” This is especially true with personal

finances.

Set realistic, flexible goals. Start with short-term goals for more immediate needs such as starting an

emergency savings fund. Next, list intermediate goals such as paying off debt, saving up for a down

payment on a vehicle or home, or saving for a vacation. Last, list long-term goals such as saving for

retirement and funding your children’s college education.

Whether you use a spreadsheet, online budgeting software, or simply write down income minus expenses

in a notebook, you must find a way to identify where your money comes from and where it goes. Prioritize

needs versus wants, and then cut expenses if needed, set spending limits, sell unwanted or unnecessary

items, and increase income if possible.

Establish emergency savings. Even if you are only able to save $10 a month, anything is better than

nothing. Emergency funds are especially important to have for unforeseen life occurrences, such as job

loss, a vehicle breakdown, unexpected medical expenses, or a PSC move requiring out-of- pocket

expenses due to an increase in the cost of living.

Review insurance coverage. Review your policies to ensure that you are properly covered in the event of

an emergency. Educate yourself on other types of policies you may need such as renters’, flood, and

GAP insurance. Shop around and ask about multiple policy (and military) discounts.

Come up with your own debt management plan. Make minimum payments on all debts until you have

established your emergency savings fund. List all of your debts, the minimum monthly payments, the total

balances and annual percentage rates (APRs). Decide if you want to pay off the smaller balances first or

focus on the higher interest debts. You could decide to pay off debts in the order of APR. You would start

with the debt that carries the highest interest rate first and work in descending order.

Understand your rights on credit reporting and debt collection. This is very important to service

members, as debt can adversely affect a security clearance.

Reach out to professionals. Whether you just want to bounce your ideas off someone, have a few

questions, or want assistance with follow-up appointments to help you progress, you have help available

to you. Military OneSource financial counselors are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to

10:00 p.m. for telephonic financial counseling and to provide additional resources. Call 1-800-342-9647 for

more details.

Each family support center on base has a Personal Financial Management Program available for money

management classes and one-on-one counseling. If available in your area, Military OneSource financial

counselors can connect you with member agencies of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling for

free budget and credit counseling.

Source: Amber Gray, Military OneSource Financial Counselor

P A G E 1 1 V O L U M E I , I S S U E 2

H&S Co - Charlotte, NC

News From Around the Battalion

Maintenance Company-Rock Island, IL Marines, Families and Friends, The last three months have been an exciting time. With the Marine Corps Ball and Thanksgiving in November and the holidays in December, we have closed out 2013 and now move forward into the new year. Throughout the last quarter we have recognized several Marines with awards and promotions. Awards: Reserve Medal SSgt Smith, Sgt Smith, Sgt Carnes, Cpl Cubbage, Cpl Hughes, Cpl Klais, Cpl Peterson, LCpl Miller, LCpl Kane, and LCpl Valenciacantu. Active Good Conduct Medal: Sgt Danzinger, Sgt Schneider, Promotions: LCpl: Biba, Cordrey, Edge, Kelley, Parish III, and Puls Cpl: Kopet, Palmer, and Reimann Sgt: Pool, Garcia We look forward to 2014 and look forward to seeing all the families and friends at the Family Day in May. As always, if you have any questions regarding family readiness issues please feel free to contact me a call at 309-782-6044 ext. 301 or via email me at Justin.l.stokes@usmc.mil

Mess Night was a blast and fun was had by all! Congratulations to the following Marines who were surprised with NAMs at Mess Night: LCpl Petrillo Cpl Kush Sgt Boushey Sgt Moore

P A G E 1 2

"We make

Marines and we

win our nation’s

battles. Then we

turn those men

and women back

to America’s society

better people."

(Quote by

General Krulak,

31st

Commandant,

USMC)

C O M B A T L O G I S T I C S B A T T A L I O N 4 5 1

U N I T , P E R S O N A L & F A M I L Y R E A D I N E S S

Det 2 Maint Co - Gulfport, MS Marines, Families and Friends, What an interesting, busy and excited year we had and are going to have since the last newsletter. Detachment 2, Maintenance Company is slowly growing with new faces arriving ever week. The unit has Marines coming and going either from deployments to annual training and to and from MOS school, all which adds to the chaos of an SMCR unit in transition caused by FSRG. So far this year we have been visited by several VIPS ranging from the Commandant of the Marine and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, to the Marine Logistic Group Commanding General and finally many members of the Battalion Inspector and Instructor and SMCR leadership. February marks another change for the unit here in Gulfport, Mississippi as the I&I First Sergeant, 1stSgt Coston will be leaving and turning the billet of I&I 1stSgt and DFRO to 1stSgt Chamberlain. 1stSgt Coston and his family will leave this month and report into 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines in Hawaii.

We also want to say Welcome Aboard to the following key billet holders that have joined the unit:

GySgt Ruffner (SMCR), SSgt Comer (SMCR).

Awards and Promotions:

Cpl Slagel won the MLG Marine of the Quarter Board and was meritoriously promoted to his current

rank.

The following Marines were recognized for Toys for Tots participation: Sgt Roberts, LCpl Holland,

Cpl Evans, LCpl McPherson, LCpl Bryant.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to give me a call at 228-871-3104 (office) or email me at chad.coston@usmc.mil.

Semper Fidelis, C.M. COSTON 1stSgt, USMC Deputy Family Readiness Officer Detachment Two, Maintenance Company

Det 3 Maint Co - Indianapolis, IN Det 3 Maint Co recently had a change in command, so we welcome CWO Eric Geiger as Detachment Commander!! CONGRATULATIONS to the following Marines:

Cpl Popp and PFC Smith—recently promoted! WELCOME HOME to Cpl Brewer who will resume drilling in March!

SSgt Albright is currently deployed, but expected to return this year! As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our Deputy Family Readiness Officer, 1stSgt Wooten, at 317-923-1584 x2011 or via email at preston.wooten@usmc.mil. You may also contact the Battalion Family Readiness Officer, Kati Toney, directly at 704-598-0015 x337 or kati.toney@usmc.mil

P A G E 1 3 V O L U M E I , I S S U E 2

Motor Transport Company - Orlando, FL Marines & Families, There have been a lot of great things going on with MTCO, Orlando, especially over the past few months. Our annual Toys for Tots program was a huge success. A big thanks to all of the Marines and family members who helped contribute their time and effort. GySgt Hoagland spearheaded another great year, along with countless other volunteers and sponsors. The connections that are made with the local community are immeasurable, as anyone who is lucky enough to be at the warehouse on distribution day would agree. A handful of our Marines were able to get their AT in early this year at the Enhanced Equipment Allowance Pool (EEAP) I and were able to meet Col. Gregory Lemons, the Commanding Officer of Combat Logistics Regiment 45 in the process. EEAP is designed to allow the mechanics and maintainers get hands on experience fixing equipment alongside civilians that work there full time, at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, CA. This annual training allowed MTCO Marines to augment Exercise Support Division’s mission to repair equipment aboard the base. We have some exciting training coming up in the next few months, to include the Rifle/Pistol Range, Crew-Served Weapons Shoot, Gas Chamber Training and Convoy Operations/Night Driving. It’s been a while since we’ve been to the field as a company, so I’m sure that a lot of us are looking forward to it. Congratulations to the Marines that have recently been promoted, and welcome back the Marines that have just returned from deployment.

Semper Fidelis,

Capt Chad Clark

Supply Company has been very busy during the past quarter. The company started the new year off with a live fire exercise and a 3 mile hike at Camp Butner during January's drill. February's drill was followed up with a 6 mile hike and Swim Qualifications at Camp Lejeune. Supply Company also welcomed back the following Marines from deployment SSgt Hunt, SSgt Shannon, Sgt Adcock, Sgt Oneal, Sgt Naumowicz, Cpl Thompson, Cph Phosai, Cpl Donnell, LCpl Jacobs, LCpl Chappell, LCpl Faulk, LCpl Justice, LCpl Phifer, LCpl Pratt, LCpl Tanner, LCpl Trull, and LCpl Williams. Congratulations to the following Marines on their accomplishments. Awards: (CertCom) -LCpl Vanalstyne, LCpl Gomez, Cpl Rich (Mert Mast) - Cpl Bruce, Cpl McKay Promotions: November: Cpl Munoz ,LCpl Drye, LCpl Amenta December: Cpl Faulk (Meritorious) January: SSgt Sobieralski, Sgt Baker, Cpl Hamilton, Cpl Johnson, LCpl Espinoza, PFC Eggars, February: LCpl Ward, PFC Dunn Farewell to MSgt Pensante and his family on retirement after serving over 20 years in the Marine Corps.

Supply Company - Raleigh, NC

Recent Deployment Returns: Recent Promotions:

- SSgt Furner - Capt Gonzalez - Cpl Frost - LCpl Tomashevskyy

- Cpl Esparza - Sgt Clarke - Cpl Rivera - LCpl Spence

- Sgt Hernandez - LCpl Dagley - LCpl White

- Sgt Viera - LCpl Guarnieri

- Cpl Comer - LCpl Plaza

6115 N Hills Circle

Charlotte, NC 28213

Phone: 704-598-0015

Fax: 704-598-0070

Useful Websites and Contacts

Military One Source: www.militaryonesource.com

Military Home Front: www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil

Military Spouses: www.milspouse.com

Marine Parents: www.marineparents.com

Blue Star Mothers: www.bluestarmothers.org

Marine Corps Community Services: www.usmc-mccs.org

Military Pay: www.dfas.mil/militarypay.html

Tricare: www.tricare.mil/mybenefit

American Red Cross: www.redcross.org

Marine Forces Reserve: www.marforres.usmc.mil

Official Marine Corps Website: www.marines.mil

DStress: www.dstressline.com or 877-476-7734

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-TALK

((8255)

National Resource Directory:

www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov

Military One Source Crisis and Prevention Page:

www.militaryonesource.mil/crisis-prevention

Combat Logistics Battalion 451

“USMC:

Improvise.

Adapt.

Overcome”