ABSTRACT
I deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, in early September 2005 as part of the advance party for the Second Battalion (Bn) of the Sixth Marine Regiment (2/6). I was fortunate to have an outstanding Company Gunnery Sergeant, as well as an extremely capable Staff Sergeant whom I designated my company “intel chief.” Based on my experience leading a task-organized unit in Afghanistan, I made some changes to the structure of my company in order to facilitate conducting counterinsurgency operations (COIN). Fighting a counterinsurgency requires different capabilities and force structure than is available in the traditional rifle company configuration; all the rifle companies of the Bn changed from a three rifle platoon, one weapons platoon organization, to a four-platoon structure with roughly equal capabilities (now with organic machinegun and assault assets) and manning. This change was essential due to the continuous nature of operations and the necessity of having a general-purpose force to fit the rotation of taskings ranging from security/force protection to raids and combat patrols. The Bn augmented the companies with enough corpsmen to detail two corpsmen to each platoon – this better supported the tempo of operations and was, literally, a lifesaver on a number of occasions. Finally, the headquarters element was augmented with additional personnel.
