The last Marine infantry regiment in Afghanistan returns home to Twentynine Palms tomorrow. Regimental Combat Team-7 has spent the last 10 months in Helmand Province providing support to two Marine battalions, two Georgian battalions, and Afghan National Security Forces. During RCT-7’s deployment, managing editor Tami Roleff interviewed Marines weekly, and with her final report, she welcomes home the last of our Marines from RCT-7…
Regimental Combat Team-7 first deployed to Afghanistan in 2009, and in the years since then, five other RCT have taken control of combat operations in Afghanistan. RCT-7 returned to Afghanistan last year, and is the only Marine RCT to deploy there twice. So it’s a sign of progress in the war that RCT-7 is not being replaced by another regimental combat team. According to the RCT-7’s commanding officer, Colonel “Sparky” Renforth, “It’s the progress that’s been made that allows us to be the last (RCT).” He added that when RCT-7 furled its flag three weeks ago, it was a big day for all the regiments who came before them. “If it wasn’t for their hard work we wouldn’t be in this position, to be able to leave.” Renforth says the withdrawal of the regiment is beneficial to the future of the Afghan people. “It’s the future of Afghanistan. They have their own security to be able to sustain themselves without having us around. Build their confidence, set us up for the elections in 2014.” Although RCT-7 is the last regiment-size Marine infantry unit in Helmand province, small Marine components continue to train, lead, and mentor Afghan security forces as they begin to take the reins. The first group of Marines and sailors from Regimental Combat Team-7 returned home two weeks ago; the second group will return to Twentynine sometime this weekend. Welcome home!
