12th Marine Regiment

FA Journal, Nov-Dec, 2004

In the past two years, the 12th Marine Regiment, Okinawa, Japan, has remained on the "tip of the spear" as the Marine Corps' only forward deployed artillery regiment, providing around-the-clock, all-weather fire support to the 3d Marine Division. In support of operations in Hawaii, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Thailand and India, the 12th Marines continue to be deployed throughout the Pacific Rim in almost 7,000 square miles.

In the latter part of January 2003, the 12th Marines Headquarters with its two organic battalions (1/12 and 3/12) deployed to the Fuji Training Area, Japan, for the month-plus long LFX Fire Dragon. The 12th Marines then hosted a Japanese Officer Exchange Program to help develop the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. In the spring, the regiment participated in Exercise Cobra Gold, culminating in an FSCX with Thai Marines in Lop-Buri, Thailand.

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Operations continued throughout the months of July and August with a series of CPXs with the Republic of Korea forces. In early November, selected 12th Marines participated in the India Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) in New Delhi, India, to improve the artillery interoperability of the two forces and foster professional relationships.

For the rest of the regiment, the close of 2003 saw a bevy of activities. 3/12 deployed to Camp Fuji for a month-long relocation LFX, and 1/12 supported Exercise K-Fires in the Pahakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, for a month. The first half of 2004 saw the continuation of the relocation program, moving live fire off Okinawa to ranges on mainland Japan.

The highlight of 2004, however, has been the yearly Cobra Gold exercise in Thailand. The month-long exercise tested multiple aspects of the regiment's combat readiness, to include embarkation, maintenance and overall artillery proficiency.

The 12th Marine Regiment will continue honing its artillery skills throughout the Pacific area of operations and provide the most accurate, timely fire support possible to the 3d Marine Division. 12th Marines--America's Thunder and Steel!