26th MEU. They usually bring the pain, now they're bringing the relief!

Note:  More pics of the relief effort.  If anyone knows please get up with me, but I have yet to see these Marines having any type of weaponry.  If the nights are as dangerous as the population in the area is telling us then why don't our guys have a means to protect themselves.  Just an observation on my part.  I would love to hear the rationale behind it.  A totally different concern is how I'm seeing these Marines being used.  Remember the Marine Corps just provides Marines to assist, its up to the civilian leadership to decide how they're used, but I'm seeing Marines being used on the micro instead of macro level.  Helping an individual homeowner is cool, but helping a city would be better.  Taking out the trash is not how these Marines should be used.  How about removing boats from roads?  Repairing broken roads?  Providing security at night?  Understand this is not the Marine Corps fault but the fault of a confused and apparently overwhelmed civilian leadership.

Lance Cpl. Matthew Reynoso, an automotive organizational mechanic. with the 26th Marine Expedionary Unit and a native of Bronx, N.Y., helps take out trash on Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 4. The 26th MEU is able to provide generators, fuel, clean water, and helicopter lift capabilities to aid in disaster relief efforts. The 26th MEU is currently conducting pre-deployment training, preparing for their departure in 2013. As an expeditionary crisis response force operating from the sea, the MEU is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response, and limited contingency operations.

Corporal Thomas Cavallo, an airframe mechanic with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366, and Lance Cpl. Corey Shaw, a cook with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, throw a couch on the street in Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 4. The 26th MEU is able to provide generators, fuel, clean water, and helicopter lift capabilities to aid in disaster relief efforts. The 26th MEU is currently conducting pre-deployment training, preparing for their departure in 2013. As an expeditionary crisis response force operating from the sea, the MEU is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response, and limited contingency operations.

Lance Cpl. Matthew Reynoso, an automotive organizational mechanic with the 26th Marine Expedionary Unit and a native of Bronx, N.Y., shovels trash on Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 4. The 26th MEU is able to provide generators, fuel, clean water, and helicopter lift capabilities to aid in disaster relief efforts. The 26th MEU is currently conducting pre-deployment training, preparing for their departure in 2013. As an expeditionary crisis response force operating from the sea, the MEU is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response, and limited contingency operations.

Lance Cpl. Thomas Gibson, a ground radio repairmen with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and a native of Norton, Ohio, dumps trash into a pile in Staten Island, N.Y., Nov. 4. The 26th MEU is able to provide generators, fuel, clean water, and helicopter lift capabilities to aid in disaster relief efforts. The 26th MEU is currently conducting pre-deployment training, preparing for their departure in 2013. As an expeditionary crisis response force operating from the sea, the MEU is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response, and limited contingency operations.