Regimental Combat Team 8

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RCT-6 Marines take over for RCT-8 in northern Helmand

By Dan Lamothe on January 5, 2012 Afghanistan, Infantry, Korea, Sangin

The regimental headquarters that has overseen infantry operations in northern Helmand province, Afghanistan, for the last year is headed home. Regimental Combat Team 8, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., has been replaced in Afghanistan by Lejeune’s RCT-6, said Marine officials in Afghanistan. Like RCT-8, RCT-6 will be based out of Camp Delaram II in northeastern Nimroz province, overseeing operations in Sangin, Kajaki, Musa Qala and other nearby districts. For RCT-8, commanded by Col. Eric Smith, it has been a long deployment in which several units have seen continued combat. Most recently, they included 1st Battalion, 6th Marines; 3rd Battalion, 7th…

RCT-8 headquarters to begin deploying this weekend

By Dan Lamothe on January 13, 2011 Afghanistan, Infantry, Sangin

The Marine Corps will begin its leadership transition in Afghanistan’s northern Helmand province soon, with Regimental Combat Team 8, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., replacing Lejeune’s RCT-2, Marine officials said. The RCT-8 deployment will begin this weekend with advanced parties of Marines deploying. They’ll eventually replace RCT-2. For those who lead RCT-8, the assignment won’t be an easy one. It oversees some of the most violent territory that Marines patrol right now, including the contested Taliban stronghold of Sangin. Infantry battalions under RCT-8’s control will include 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.; elements of 3rd Battalion, 25th…

Browsing: Regimental Combat Team 8