Marine Reserve unit to train at Deschutes Natl. Forest HQ

The Deschutes National Forest will host an Engineering Services Company of the Marine Forces Reserve, known as “the Oregon Marine s,” July 13 -26. The battalion members will be working with the forest on numerous local non-combat projects while camping on the Forest Service compound on Deschutes Market Road.

“The Oregon Marine s” is a reserve unit of Marine s and Sailors responsible for general engineering activities in support of U.S. Marine ground forces. They train one weekend each month and are also required to conduct a two-week annual training exercise.

As part of that annual training, approximately 40 Oregon Marine s are working on the Willamette National Forest while 50 members of the unit will be working on several Deschutes National Forest projects in Central Oregon.

At the Bend Pine Administrative Site on Deschutes Market Road, the unit will construct stairs to anout building, install avian mitigation for one of the refrigeration units that stores seedlings for the forest, and construct an ATV shed.

On the Sisters Ranger District, unit members will decommission the Allingham Guard Station House. Additional projects may be completed if time allows.

“We’re happy to host ‘the Oregon Marine s’ and grateful for their expertise and willingness to work with us to complete several projects and perform much needed maintenance for the forest,” said Deschutes National Forest Supervisor John Allen. “We hope to continue this partnership in the future.”

“By working with the U.S. Forest Service, we’re able to complete the training we need without having to travel outside of Oregon. Not only are we going to maximize the amount of training we can do, we’re also going to save on transportation and logistics costs,” said Major Justin DiRico, Company Commander for Engineer Services Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 23.

“The majority of the Marine s and Sailors of Engineer Services Company live, work and attend school in the state of Oregon. This is an opportunity for our Reservists to improve the public lands and forest that we enjoy.”

While the Reservists are staying on the Deschutes Headquarters compound, the public will see tents, cargo vehicles, stacked material supplies like lumber and portable toilets. Construction and generator noise will be present during daylight hours but noise and activity should be at a minimum during evening hours.