SAN FRANCISCO -- First Lt. Stephanie Bohlen, a forward operations officer with Combat Logistics Battalion 13, returned home for Fleet Week San Francisco 2014 to help showcase the capabilities the Marine Corps and Navy can provide in the event of an emergency or disaster.
Bohlen said she is glad to be home and able to show the community how the Marine Corps can offer humanitarian assistance and disaster relief for the citizens of San Francisco.
“I think it’s important to be constantly integrated with the civilians who are living in our major cities and explain to them the good work that is being done by Marines and Sailors.”
Bohlen is in charge of CLB 13’s footprint in the city. The battalion brought transportation assets, engineer assets, water purification abilities, a shock trauma platoon and a forward resuscitation surgical system.
“It’s been going really good so far,” said Bohlen. “It’s different working with civilian agencies, but the Marines are learning a lot and they’re getting an opportunity to work with people they normally wouldn’t get to work with.”
What Bohlen looks forward to the most, is a successful mission for the Navy-Marine Corps team during fleet week and that her Marines have a good time.
“It’s been great spending time with the Marines and seeing them enjoy themselves,” said Bohlen. “We were setting up a tent with the United Nations and getting to see my Marines interact with them was a good experience.”
During the course of fleet week, Marines have been demonstrating assets available for the Bay Area in response to a sudden crisis. The intent is to showcase amphibious nature, readiness and the ability to respond to disasters and highlight the role the Navy-Marine Corps team can play in assisting disaster victims.
“The civilian need to know what we can do for them in a time of distress and that we have the capabilities to support them not just in a combat environment, but in peacetime and natural disasters,” said Bohlen. “I think fleet week gives them an idea of what the Marine Corps can do for them and that we can help.”